Mayor to clarify airport issues with feds
By Castlegar Source
Castlegar Mayor Lawrence Chernoff will be setting the record straight this month, when federal Minister of Transportation Chuck Strahl comes to town.
Chernoff said recent funding offered to the Trail airport may indicate some confusion the part of the Ministry.
“I don’t understand why they’re investing money in small airports like Trail’s, when we have a regional airport here – I think they’re confused,” he said. “The Trail airport is run by a regional district – but that doesn’t make them the regional airport.
“Our airport services the entire West Kootenay region – Trail doesn’t have the security options, navigational equipment, airport beacons; it just doesn’t have the same level of service and traffic we do.”
He said he thinks the federal ministry should be investing in ways that improve services for the entire region – which means investing in Castlegar’s airport.
“There are changes we need and improvements we want to make to increase the level of service we offer,” he said. “We’ll be discussing that with the minister when he comes here.”
This comes on the heels of a visit by Minister of State Rob Merrifield, who announced a $215,000 ACAP Grant for a new sweeper at the Trail Airport.
The specific date of Strahl’s visit to Castlegar is not yet known.
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