No. ON001/02For release - January 18, 2002
NORTH BAY, Ont. — Bob Wood, MP (Nipissing), on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, along with his Worship Jack Burrows, mayor of North Bay, today marked the opening of the new air passenger terminal building at the North Bay Jack Garland Airport. Under the agreement to transfer the airport to the City of North Bay, the Government of Canada provided more than 75 % of the funding for the $6 million project.
"This project illustrates the success of the federal government's National Airports Policy in transferring Canada's smaller airports to local control," said Mr. Wood. "These improvements will provide better infrastructure for future growth in passenger services and commercial activities for the North Bay Jack Garland Airport."
Negotiations to transfer the North Bay Jack Garland Airport began in October 1996 following the signing of a Letter of Intent by the Corporation of the City of North Bay and Transport Canada. On November 28, 1997, City Council endorsed the proposal to transfer ownership of the airport to the City of North Bay and on January 30, 1998, ownership of the North Bay Jack Garland Airport was officially transferred from the federal government to the Corporation of the City of North Bay. As part of the transfer, the federal government signed a $4.6 million Contribution Agreement with the City to address deficiencies in the old Airport Terminal Building. The City of North Bay decided to apply the $4.6 million to cover a large portion of the costs for the design and construction of a new air terminal building.
"The City of North Bay is extremely proud of its new airport terminal," said Mr. Burrows. "We extend our thanks to the federal Minister of Transport, David Collenette, and our local MP, Bob Wood, for their support during the transfer of the airport to the city and their commitment to the construction of this state-of-the-art facility. This new terminal will serve our city and region for many years to come and is the result of the co-operative effort of both levels of government."
Funding for this project was provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the current fiscal framework.
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Contact:
Julie IannettaCommunications, Toronto(416) 952-0158
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