North Bay approves subsidy for Jack Garland Airport

City council in North Bay voted in favour of a $720,000 subsidy for the Jack Garland airport, which is struggling after Air Canada announced it is pulling out.

At a special meeting Monday, city council in North Bay approved a $720,000 subsidy for the Jack Garland Airport.

The airport will be eligible to receive up to $60,000 each month between October of this year and September 2026 when it runs an operational deficit, city councillors were told.

The money will be drawn from existing city reserve funds.

The airport has struggled to recover from the downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and received another blow earlier this month when Air Canada announced plans to end service out of North Bay.

Coun. Gary Gardiner said the airport plays a vital role in the city’s economy.

“It’s important for the public to realize that the Jack Garland Airport could never be closed,” Gardiner said.

“It is so integrated into our local economy and our regional economy. It really supports hundreds and hundreds of jobs here in North Bay and also in the region.”

Each day, he said, there are on average two air ambulance flights carrying people and medical supplies. Bearskin Airlines also operates three to five flights a day serving the mining industry.

And Voyageur Aviation operates out of the airport, where it employs 250-300 people who refurbish Bombardier Dash 8s.

In addition, King said Helicopters Canada operates a flight school at Jack Garland.

Coun. Tany Vrebosch said she wished a lot of that information was in the report to council so the public would know how important the airport is to the city.

“With a 10,000-foot runway, we are the backup to Pearson (International),” Vrebosch said.

“It’s not just about the Air Canada flights, it’s all the other things Coun. Gardiner talked about.”

Longer term, she said she wants to see a strategic plan for the airport.

“How do they stay afloat?” she said.