Preamble:  Brandon, the second largest City in Manitoba, has been without air service for some time and that lack of air service hinders both tourist and business development opportunities across Manitoba and into Eastern Saskatchewan.

Resolution: That the Federal and Manitoba Governments fund the installation of an instrument landing system at the Brandon airport so as to provide air service to Western Manitoba.

Resolution Report:

MCC Advocacy (additions since last report are in italics):

May 21, 2008: An MCC ‘Inside the Chamber’ Web Story entitled “IT HAPPENED AT THE AGM: PART 3 – MCC Announces Resolutions For 2008-2009″ provided access to each and every Resolution passed at the AGM. Notice of this story was circulated through the MCC e-Omnibus which is sent to all MCC members, Media and Government.

June 4, 2008: For the first time ever the MCC made available its handbook on ‘Policies & Resolutions’ which contains Resolutions in one handy format. An MCC ‘Inside the Chamber’ Web Story entitled “MCC Releases Policy Handbook” announced this initiative. Notice of this story was circulated through the MCC e-Omnibus which is sent to all MCC members, Media and Government.

June 6, 2008: Resolution books were sent to every MLA and every Member of Parliament that hails from Manitoba. The following had this Resolution specifically drawn to their attention with a detailed letter setting out the background to this issue, Government initiatives (where applicable), and an argument for the Resolution:

• Minister of Infrastructure & Transportation

October 2, 2008: Wrote to the sponsoring chamber as well as the Brandon Chamber, seeking their input on how next to proceed on this matter.

October 20, 2008: The 2008 third quarter edition of the Focus mentioned this Resolution in its report on the MCC AGM. The Focus magazine goes out to 10,000 businesses and community leaders across Manitoba.

Developments (additions since last report are in italics):

August 14, 2008: The Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation wrote to the MCC on this issue, stating as follows:

The resolution on a joint funding arrangement between Manitoba and the federal government to cover the instalment of an instrument landing system at the Brandon airport is more challenging to address. Under the Manitoba Airport Assistance Program, municipal airports may be eligible for up to $2,400 for improvement funding. I suspect, however, that this may not be sufficient to cover a significant portion of the installation. As far as federal support, I am aware of only one funding source, the Airport Capital Assistance Program administered by Transport Canada, which does not require co-applications. I suggest it may be worthwhile to discuss eligibility requirements with that office. 

….

I appreciate the tremendous working relationship that exists between my Department and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. The valuable input of your members gives us an important insight into the concerns, ideas and aspirations of Manitoba communities that are often crucial in many aspects of our activities. I look forward to having an opportunity to discuss these issues with you in the near future and invite you to contact my office at your convenience to schedule a meeting.

December 6, 2008: This issue generated some media attention. A Winnipeg Free Press article by Colleen Cosgrove entitled “New landing system at Brandon airport needed after snow affects medical flight” contained the following:

People in Brandon, Manitoba say a recent incident at their airport reinforces their call for the installation of a new landing system.

A Lifeflight air ambulance was unable to pick up a patient yesterday morning due to heavy snowfall.

Dave Wall of Maple Leaf Aviation says the incident could have been avoided if the airport ‘got out of the Dark Ages’ and installed an Instrument Landing System (ILS).

The system provides precision guidance to aircraft approaching the runway using a combination of radio signals and high-intensity lights.

Nav Canada spokesperson Nadege Adam says the presence of an ILS is based on need, and that traffic in Brandon is rather low.

The patient was safely transferred to Winnipeg about four hours later when the skies cleared and the plane returned.

Chief Brent Dane of the Brandon Fire and Emergency Services could not comment on the patient’s status.

‘If we had an ILS, they would’ve completed the approach and landed in Brandon,’ Wall said about the plane’s original attempt to land.

The weather was about half-mile visibility with a vertical visibility of 500 feet, and that’s in the parameters of an ILS.

The cost of the system is more than $1 million.

‘What is the value of one life? Can we put a value on that life?’ Wall asked.

Adam disputed that an ILS would have enabled the pilot to land, claiming visibility was reduced beyond the system’s parameters.

‘The pilot couldn’t see the runway until he was literally on top of it,’ Adam said. ‘The pilot’s first attempt wasn’t successful.’

In 2007-08 Lifeflight made 43 trips to Brandon, and about 500 trips throughout the province, said a spokesperson for Manitoba Health.

Statistics on weather-related delays that affect takeoff and landing aren’t included in government records.

Current Status (additions since last report are in italics):

January 28, 2009: The Brandon Chamber is taking the lead in interacting with federal authorities. There is a hope that the infrastructure spending of the recent federal budget may afford an opportunity to fund the requested upgrading of the airport. The MCC is maintaining contact with the Brandon Chamber and is ready to lend further support on this issue when and if the need arises.