Nipissing MPP rails against Air Canada’s North Bay pullout

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli blasts Air Canada for ending service to North Bay, calling it a "self-fulfilling prophecy" due to poor scheduling.

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli is scolding Air Canada after the airline announced plans to pull service from the Jack Garland Airport.

Expressing his personal “disappointment” with the airline, Fedeli stated how important it is for a city like North Bay, with a population of about 55,000 people, to have a “quality air service” to get to and from Toronto.

“It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. You need a morning flight and an evening flight to be able to have the system work,” Fedeli said.

Air Canada announced last month it is pulling all service out of the city at the end of January, citing “commercial viability reasons.”

“In the normal course of business, we review our schedule on a regular basis and make adjustments accordingly,” Air Canada said in its statement.

“As mentioned, we took this difficult decision on the basis of the commercial viability of the route.”

This decision drew the ire of local politicians like Mayor Peter Chirico and Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Pauline Rochefort, business advocates like the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce and travellers who use the service.

Operated since 1939

The service has been operating in the city since 1939, when Air Canada was known as Trans-Canada Air Lines.

“Up until COVID, they have been here nonstop in the City of North Bay,” said Fedeli.

“You can’t be a community that doesn’t have flights to Toronto airport.”

He told reporters Friday that Pearson International Airport doesn’t have enough slots for planes landing and that Air Canada is short of pilots and flight attendants, while at the same time it is not offering the right kind of service.

“They have a noon flight out of Toronto, and a 1 p.m. flight out of North Bay,” said Fedeli.

“It makes no sense. It’s no surprise that the loads are so small.”

All passengers with reservations after Jan. 30 or who have other inquiries are advised to contact Air Canada directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

In a previous statement to CTV News, airport manager Bryan Avery said Canada needs a national strategy “to ensure that all communities continue to have regional air service and the opportunities it enables for growth across all sectors.”

Fedeli said that through talks with the Jack Garland Airport, he’s aware it is trying to find a replacement airline for Air Canada.

While North Bay is losing its service, Air Canada also said it was adding daily flights to Toronto in and out of Greater Sudbury. Flights will increase from two to three daily, year-round, effective Feb. 1, 2026.