Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation Chief Louie Mercredi and West Wind Aviation President and CEO Michael Rodyniuk at the local airport. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

infrastructure improvements

Fond du Lac Airport still without necessary upgrades: Chief Louie Mercredi

Oct 7, 2019 | 8:04 PM

“We are the most isolated community in Saskatchewan right now.”

Those are the words of Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation Chief Louie Mercredi who flew the media, including larongeNOW, to his small northern community Monday. He did so because he said he wanted the public to understand the transportation issues the residents of Fond du Lac are faced with as they continue to lack the funds to expand the local airport’s runway.

Fond du Lac was thrown into the national spotlight after a passenger flight departing to Stony Rapids on Dec. 13, 2017, crashed shortly after takeoff. All 25 passengers and crew initially survived the incident, but one passenger later died of his injuries on Dec. 25, 2017.

“We’ve had near misses prior to the accident and we still had near misses after the accident,” Mercredi said. “The issue has always been here, but the province, the Feds, no one really thought of taking the time to resolve the issues we faced.”

With the $12 million from the federal government’s Airport Capital Assistance Program and $1.8 million from the provincial government, upgrades to be completed by April 2020 include the addition of high-intensity lighting, runway markings and resurfacing the runway. Mercredi noted the original proposal also included the expansion of the runway from 3,800 feet in length to 5,000 feet and widening it from 75 feet to 150 feet.

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Back in August 2019, Mercredi criticized the Saskatchewan Party government after they failed to provide the airport with the necessary funds to complete the expansion. He said prior to lashing out, Premier Scott Moe had assured him the province was in support of Fond du Lac and the original proposal presented. According to the province at the time, the band missed a deadline to apply for the necessary funding.

Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation Chief Louie Mercredi stands at a memorial at the crash site. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“They are prioritizing landfills, wastewater and swimming pools way before human life – human safety,” Mercredi said. “I just don’t understand why they are doing that and I don’t know why they are saying Fond du Lac had to fill out an application when we have no jurisdiction on the runway. It’s owned by the province, it’s operated by the province, so it’s a political game that they are giving us the runaround on”

If the expansion is competed, Mercredi believes it will not only improve safety for residents, but also alleviate the high price of goods in the community and help bring more economic prosperity. He added the expansion will allow larger aircraft to land, which will significantly boost the volume of goods arriving by plane. Mercredi estimates 90 per cent of goods arrive in Fond du Lac by air.

There does seem to be progress being made between Fond du Lac leadership and the province, however, as Mercredi stated he heard last week they were willing to work with the community. He said he’s been assured upgrades will be done in stages with the Airport Capital Assistance Program upgrades done first.

“If that’s their commitment, lets see it,” Mercredi said. “Talk is cheap and doing it is an entirely different thing. If you want to work with us, we’re ready to work with you.”

West Wind Aviation President and CEO Michael Rodyniuk, who has been with the company for about a year, was also present for the tour. He told reporters the company stands by Fond du Lac, the chief and his concerns.

Rodyniuk also told reporters about the new de-icing equipment now available at the primary seven northern locations at which West Wind operates. It includes an alternating vehicle with a 24-foot lift, as well as a high-pressured hand wand that will spray hot glycol on to the plane to de-ice it. There is also 50,000 litres of glycol currently at locations in the North to last the winter.

“We need to make certain, wherever possible, we’re enhancing safety, so this airport is a model for the way northern airports ought to be run and operated,” Rodyniuk said. “The chief has a great vision for an appropriate-sized runway that can not only serve the North as far as Fond du Lac is concerned, but … go beyond.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno