Position Statement Regarding 351 Peterson Road, Kenora

On March 30, 2023, the City of Kenora received notice that the property owner of 351 Peterson Road had applied to Transport Canada to register a water aerodrome, an application that resides under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

The City of Kenora acknowledges Transport Canada’s exclusive constitutional jurisdiction over aeronautics, and it further recognizes that water aerodromes are technically exempt from statutory consultation requirement.

On April 24, 2023, the City through its legal counsel, wrote to the Honourable Minister Omar Alghabra and Transport Canada to respectfully ask that approval for the Aerodrome Application be rejected, or at least withheld, until such time as consultation with key stakeholders and impacted parties occurs and substantial issues are addressed.  While not a statutory requirement, the City felt compelled to attempt to trigger a consultation process given the potential impact to other stakeholders. 

The letter recognized the importance of consultation in stating the legislation’s objectives as:

1. To encourage responsible aerodrome development and operation by requiring proponents and operators to consult affected stakeholders in advance of undertaking aerodrome work through a structured notification process.

2. To strengthen the consultation process for aerodrome work by providing details that will introduce greater clarity and predictability around developments, compel increased communication to identify and mitigate concerns in advance of development, reduce post-construction complaints from affected stakeholders, reduce the chance of delay and costs associated with process-related challenges brought on by affected stakeholders, and allow for better coordination of land use by all interested stakeholders.

On May 1, 2023, the City of Kenora received confirmation the water aerodrome located at 351 Peterson Road was approved and registered in the April 20, 2023, edition of the Canada Water Aerodrome Supplement under the assigned aerodrome designator CPL7.

Although there is no statutory requirement by the Applicant to pursue consultation, the City of Kenora maintains that engaging the community in which it wishes to operate is a best practice and respectful direction when proceeding with the aerodrome development.

The City understands that this is a very sensitive community matter that is completely out of the control of the City of Kenora. Views that are contrary to the registration process or the registry should be directed to the Ministry of Transport, the Honourable Minister Alghabra whose level of government has direct jurisdiction over the matter or your local Member of Parliament, Eric Melillo.