1. Cargo moved by Air in…

1. Cargo moved by Air in Northern Ontario is not represented in this document. The vast majority of freight is moved by air into Nishnawbe Aski Nation remote communities as the winter road network is no longer reliable due to climate change. These statistics are critical in representing the importance of our remote airports as a lifeline and why food and supplies are so expensive in the remote communities.

2. Recommend a committee be formed for Northern Ontario transportation issues that would include all relevant parties to have continuous discussions on how to improve transportation in Northern Ontario.

3. Earlier funding for the winter road network to better prepare for the season and be more efficient with funding.

4. Increased funding for maintenance of winter road networks during the summer months when clearing and realignments take place.

5. Increased enforcement along winter road networks to ensure travelers safety and reduce contraband coming into remote communities.

6. Alternate mode of transportation for Moose River, ON to allow residents to safely cross the river when helicopters cannot fly due to weather conditions and ice flow makes water taxi's extremely dangerous (Bridge, Cable Car System, Hovercraft, Ornge Medevac helicopter for patients).

7. Regulation of water taxi service across the Moose River, ON to ensure the safety of passengers.

8. Importance of marine transportation for costal communities along James Bay and Hudson's Bay and ways to improve marine shipping of goods to these remote communities.

9. No taxi service available in the communities of Fort Albany FN and Kashechewan FN.

10. Police presence on passenger trains to ensure safety of passengers when travelling long distances in remote areas.

11. Reduce the number of corridors for the all-season road network, hydro transmission lines and rail going north to reduce impacts on wildlife migrations. Collaboration amongst these projects would reduce costs and impacts on the land and animals.

12. Improve road quality in remote Northern First Nation communities to reduce dust and therefore reduce respiratory health problems amongst residents.

13. No long term guaranteed funding for winter road network. Without mining companies there is not enough funding available through MNDM.

14. Improved communications system along winter road network in case of emergencies.

15. Improved Internet connection for remote Northern communities with faster bandwidth and alternate fibre optic lines, as well as run fibre optic cable to remote airports from communities(currently run along rail lines and solely dependent on one main line).

15. Improved landing aid technology at remote northern airports to include LPV approaches where possible to greatly improve aviation safety.

16. Implementation of On-Call Staffing at Remote Northern Airports to guarantee service outside the hours of 8-5 pm.

17. Addition of 27 Full Time Equivalent Airport Staff for remote northern airports to ensure runway clearing, cargo shipments received, medevac landings, passenger flights, etc.

18. Runway extensions at remote northern airports to accommodate larger aircraft and greatly reduce the price of goods shipped by air. Also critical for emergency evacuations of communities and will become more prevalent due to climate change (flooding, wildfires, etc.).

19. Improved agreements between remote FN communities and the MTO to better utilize on-site equipment to maintain the road from the airports to the communities (Nursing Station).

20. Improved methods for remote FN communities to obtain a driver's license and therefore better equip them for future opportunities.

[Original Comment ID: 205371]