Printed by the Review
No Region funding for airport
Posted By MATTHEW VAN DONGEN
Regional taxpayers won’t fund the Niagara District Airport this year, despite a $500,000-a-year request from the facility’s commission.
Instead, regional councillors asked staff Wednesday to review what role, if any, the Region should have in supporting any Niagara airport.
Airport commission vice-chairman Ruedi Suter called Niagara District “an integral part of Niagara’s transportation system” – and one deserving full support – the Region.
The facility needs millions of dollars in rehabilitation and upgrades by 2012 and faces a $45,000 deficit this year, he told councillors at the public works meeting Wednesday.
Right now, only St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake fund the airport.
Earlier this month, the Region’s transportation committee supported the request for money, which works out to $1.18 per regional resident.
But Wednesday, councillors set aside that recommendation in favour of a motion from Port Colborne Mayor Vance Badawey, which asked staff for a comprehensive review of air transportation in Niagara.
Badawey said he wanted a report on opportunities for both Niagara District Airport and Niagara Central Airport in Pelham.
Niagara Falls Regional Coun. Norm Puttick said if he had the power, he’d give the airport “a million dollars” right away.
He argued councillors were letting parochialism derail an opportunity to build up Niagara’s economy.
Regional council still needs to approve the review next Thursday.
Article ID# 881454
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