LA RONGE AIRPORT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT SIGNED

Released on April 2, 1998

Highways and Transportation Minister Judy Bradley and Northern Affairs

Minister Keith Goulet today announced the Province is entering into a

seven-year partnership agreement with the Town of La Ronge to operate

the La Ronge Airport.



"The La Ronge airport is the third busiest airport in Saskatchewan and

provides a vital link to La Ronge and northern Saskatchewan," Bradley

said at the official signing ceremony between the Province and the

Town of La Ronge today. "The continued operation of the airport is a

must for the social and economic good of our northern residents and

businesses."



Goulet said, "This partnership with the community is important to help

make the transfer from a federal government owned airport to a

community managed one a smooth transition."



Prior to the transfer, the La Ronge Airport was owned by the federal

government and operated by the Province.



The La Ronge Airport Operating Agreement is a seven-year partnership

that will assist the Town of La Ronge in the transition to full

management, administration and operation of the airport.



This agreement is in two distinct phases. In the first phase, which

ends March 31, 2000, Saskatchewan will continue to operate the airport

and work with the Town of La Ronge in training and the transfer of

administration responsibilities.



In the second five-year phase of the operating agreement, the

Town will take over the operation of the airport and the Province

will share any deficits incurred.



In 1994 Transport Canada announced a new airport policy in which

they were devolving from ownership and operation of the eight

federal airports in Saskatchewan by the year 2000. Most of these

airports are now owned and operated by local communities or local

airport authorities.



The La Ronge airport is unique. Previously it was owned by

Transport Canada and operated by the Province. In most other

situations the federal airports were operated by local

authorities or by Transport Canada prior to the transfer.



The La Ronge Airport is a staging area for northern Saskatchewan

for mining, tourism, medical services, educational services,

forest fire fighting, provincial government services, freight and

scheduled commercial passenger flights.



"This La Ronge Operating Agreement between the Province of

Saskatchewan and the Town of La Ronge represents a significant

step toward self-sufficiency for the La Ronge Airport," Bradley

said. "Our seven year partnership will help assure the airport's

long-term viability."

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For more information, contact:



Stu Armstrong

Executive Director, Northern Region

Highways and Transportation

Prince Albert

Phone: (306) 953-3501