THUNDER BAY — Remote First Nations deserve better airports, says Bobby Narcisse.
As a deputy grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, the Aroland First Nation member has travelled to communities across Ontario’s far north and seen the short gravel runways and basic terminal buildings for himself.
So has Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa, the province’s only First Nations legislator, and they both say Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet should see it for themselves and do something.
“There’s times where we couldn’t land in a community, because of weather or because of other obstacles that were there,” Narcisse told Newswatch in a phone interview.
“I know at times we hear of Ornge being unable to land to get individuals who needed to be (transported) to hospitals or clinics.
“We have community members calling us to say this is a very significant gap in services that is really affecting the emotional health and well-being of many of our citizens, especially our most vulnerable populations who require immediate medical assistance.
It’s important to remember that “airports are the lifeline of those communities,” Narcisse said.
Mamakwa raised the issue during Monday’s question period in Queen’s Park, saying “airport conditions in northern First Nations are unacceptable.”
“Actually they’re just gravel runways, 3,500 feet long each,” he said.
Saying “safety is a big concern at these airports,” Mamakwa asked “when will this government start treating northern remote airports as critical infrastructure?”
Replying for the government, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the Ford government is making big investments in transportation infrastructure for First Nations near the Ring of Fire and will “build out that infrastructure.”
Mamakwa told Newswatch on Tuesday the minister’s answer was unsatisfactory and that he’ll continue to press the government on the matter.
“I invited him to fly up to one of the fly-in First Nations that have 3,500-foot gravel runways and see some of the (terminal) buildings,” Mamakwa said.
“I think overall there’s not sufficient funding.”
Some large fly-in First Nations, including Sandy Lake and Pikangikum, have busy airports with inadequate facilities and staffing, Mamakwa said.
“Especially in the wintertime when medical evacuations need to happen … what do they do if there’s snow on the runway? That becomes a big issue.”
“During forest fire season, you have big planes there, and we need to upgrade” to better accommodate those aircraft, he said.
Sarkaria’s office did not respond to requests for comment or an interview.
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on May 06, 2026 at 17:05
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