After his five-year battle with Ottawa to secure money to repave the city's super-sized 10,000-foot runway at Jack Garland Airport, two federal agencies are investing $10.3 million in the facility in preparation for the arrival of the G8 Summit of world leaders next year in Huntsville.
"I simply can't wipe the smile off my face," said Fedeli, travelling back from FedNor Minister Tony Clement's Feb. 6 news conference in Huntsville.
North Bay is raking in almost $5.3 million from the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) and another $5 million coming from a special G8 fund set up for the event. The City of North Bay will also make an investment of a few hundred thousand dollars for the project.
The project also includes rehabilitating three taxiways.
Clement's riding, Parry Sound-Muskoka, stands to benefit too with $50 million for "G8 Summit related infrastructure" including a $20 million G8 Centre in Huntsville to host the June 25-27 event.
Fedeli praised the efforts of community leaders and neighbouring municipalities, including the City of Greater Sudbury, who wrote letters and passed resolutions in support of the project.
"This was the result of a strong community effort convincing the government this was a very important regional program."
Fedeli said North Bay stands to play an important supporting role in the event to be held at the Deerhurst Resort.
Though there's nothing definitive if Jack Garland Airport will see Air Force One taxiing up the tarmac, "this certainly paves the way for our role in that."
With its military-length runway, Jack Garland is the closest large airport facility to Huntsville. "We'll be lobbying very hard for North Bay to be the arrival point for the world's dignitaries," said Fedeli.
"No matter what happens if they use our airport or not, every hotel in North Bay will be booked for 10 days. There's no hesitation there's great spinoffs for North Bay."
Fedeli expects to put the repaving project to tender right away and the runway should be done by fall. "As soon as the asphalt plants open this year, we'll start laying asphalt."
With cross-wind runways at the airport, it shouldn't affect daily flight operations that much.
A reconditioned runway will do more than keep a prized piece of local infrastructure in top condition, it will allow the city to renew its marketing efforts in pursuing international cargo traffic, said Fedeli.
"We'll also seriously look at aerospace testing as a venue we can push hard for now. It's now prudent to spend marketing dollars on facility to know that will not be cut back," to 6,500 feet, as originally requested by Transport Canada.
In the past, Bombardier tested its Global Express corporate jet and its Q-400 Dash 8. NASA also used the Jack Garland runway for winter friction testing.
"We've got a long list of testing venues and look to re-invigorate that now they we know we're alive again," said Fedeli.
