The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
First Nations leaders call for urgent action on remote airport crisis in northern Ontario
Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Chiefs of Ontario have released a new documentary highlighting conditions at remote First Nations airports in northern Ontario, calling on the federal and provincial governments to address infrastructure deficiencies that can prevent emergency medical flights from landing.
First Nations leaders in northern Ontario have released a documentary highlighting conditions at remote airports serving their communities and urging governments to address infrastructure gaps that can affect emergency medical flights.
The film, titled Holding Pattern, features First Nations leaders, community members, aviation experts and medical professionals describing how runway and facility conditions impact access to healthcare, emergency evacuations and essential supplies.
Officials note that, according to their aviation needs assessment, improving Ontario’s 29 remote northern airports would cost between 1.2 and 1.5 billion dollars, with priorities including runways, lighting, navigational aids, weather monitoring, and terminal facilities, as well as staffing and training.
The organizations cite data indicating that Ornge received more than 33,000 emergency calls from remote First Nations airports between January 2020 and September 2026, with more than 2,300 flights unable to land, underscoring the potential life-threatening consequences of delays.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler stresses that delays in emergency medical care can affect patient outcomes, noting instances where patients died after aircraft could not respond due to weather, airport services or other conditions.
The leaders are calling for immediate and long-term funding from the federal and provincial governments, a phased infrastructure plan developed with First Nations, and an immediate safety audit of Ontario’s 27 remote airports serving First Nations, along with accountability and public reporting.