Premier Requests Immediate Action for Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority 

Immediate action is required by the Minister of Public Safety, Stockwell Day, on two requests made by the Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority (DLRAA) to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), to provide additional customs officials for two weekly international flights from January to April and to designate the airport as an Airport of Entry.  The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, has written Minister Day to emphasize the urgency of the situation. 

�As of right now the federal government has indicated that it will not provide additional customs resources to the airport and I am concerned that this decision, if not overturned, will deliver a serious blow to the business, the economy and the traveling public on the province�s west coast,� said Premier Williams.  �If this decision stands it will negatively impact a 100 million dollar world class resort, a model airport, an otherwise strong regional economy and perhaps more importantly the image of our province as an accessible, affordable place to visit and do business.� 

DLRAA received a reply on the first matter from CBSA�s Newfoundland and Labrador Regional office who said that the agency cannot provide service to the second weekly flight.  The reason provided was that there is insufficient staff in their Corner Brook office.  It was further suggested by the CBSA that the second flight stop in St. John�s to clear customs on its way to Deer Lake. 

�The response given by the federal government is unacceptable to me, which is why I am requesting that Minister Day intervene immediately,� said Premier Williams.  �Requiring the flight to have an additional stop in St. John�s would create considerable fuel costs to the flight by adding an additional takeoff and landing.  Furthermore, the logistics of having to deplane, clear security again, recheck baggage and clear customs is not practical and essentially is what led to Air Canada canceling the St. John�s - Heathrow flight last year.  The federal government should implement policies that are going to stimulate economic activity, and in this case bolster an already viable situation.�   

The Premier added that it was the decision of the federal government in the 1990s to transfer responsibility for the running of airports to the private sector.  �Implicit in that decision certainly should be a commitment to facilitate the policy and support services required to allow these airports to be successful.  DLRA has been a model of success to date and has seen significant growth, becoming the 4^th busiest domestic passenger service airport in Atlantic Canada,� added the Premier.  �They are now asking the federal government for two positions and the designation as an Airport of Entry so as to help sustain and build on the momentum and success of the airport and related industries.� 

The DRLA is presently undergoing a major $10 million expansion and renovation without assistance from any level of government.  Included in this expansion are state-of-the-art customs and immigration facilities, the design of which involved officials from CBSA.  Currently, CBSA officials are actually flown in from as far as Halifax, St. John�s and other locations to service the DLRA.  The Premier said this is a great opportunity for the federal government to live up to its commitment to increase federal government presence and employment in the province, especially given the obvious need for these positions. 

The tourism sector has largely contributed to overall growth and a healthy regional economy.  As a result of the world class Humber Valley Resort year round international tourism destination, the resort negotiated a deal to have an airline add an additional flight.  Humber Valley Resort plans to expand its marketing initiatives into the Eastern United States which will place further demands on the airport.

�I look forward to Minister Day�s prompt and positive support on this matter as the flights will be commencing within a matter of weeks,� added the Premier.  �The facts clearly speak for themselves.  This is a thriving airport with viable flights that are the result of the tremendous work of the people in that region to grow and diversify their economy.� 

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Media contact:
Elizabeth Matthews
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960, 351-1227
elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca 

2007 01 10                                                        12:00 noon