Before the province can fund an expansion of the local airport, Lac La Biche County councillors have to show more reasons of why it’s needed, says area MLA Ray Danyluk.
Council was asking for provincial funding for proposed upgrades to the airport in a meeting with Danyluk on Dec. 9.
The current runways are too short and can’t accommodate larger planes typically used by oil and gas companies, said Barry Kolenosky, acting CAO and director of planning and infrastructure services.
Companies like Devon and Cenovus would like to use the local airport to bring in their workers, Kolenosky said, but they use larger airplanes than the local airport can accommodate. So in order for those planes to use the airport, its runways, parking lots and terminals would need to be expanded. More maintenance equipment would also be needed.
These upgrades would cost just under $3 million, states a briefing prepared by county officials.
But Danyluk said before the province could pay for the upgrades, more documentation would be needed.
“You haven’t convinced me yet,” he told council. “Give me a proposal.”
