THUNDER BAY – November 1, 2026
Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Chiefs of Ontario are warning that many remote northern airports are in an “aviation infrastructure crisis” and need immediate upgrades.
Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said people in NAN communities depend on these airports for medical appointments, food and supplies, and safe evacuations during emergencies. When aircraft cannot land, the consequences can be life-threatening, he said. The organizations held a news conference in Toronto and released a documentary highlighting conditions at airports serving communities such as Wunnumin Lake, Sandy Lake, and Attawapiskat.
Fiddler said many of the airports serving NAN members are roughly half a century old. Little or no significant improvement work has been done over that time, he added. The chiefs are calling on both Canada and Ontario to commit funding for upgrades and to develop a phased infrastructure improvement plan. They also want an immediate safety audit of the 27 remote airports operated by the provincial Ministry of Transportation.
The issue has been raised repeatedly over the years. Remote First Nations rely almost entirely on air access for much of the year. Short or poorly maintained runways can restrict the types of aircraft that can land, limit payload capacity, and force cancellations or diversions when weather or surface conditions deteriorate. In medical emergencies, those limitations can delay transfers to hospitals in larger centres such as Thunder Bay or Winnipeg.
The organizations said communities have already identified what they need. What has been missing, they argue, is a sustained commitment of resources from the federal and provincial governments. Past announcements of funding for northern infrastructure have not always translated into completed runway or terminal improvements on the timelines communities expected.
For residents of northwestern Ontario, the state of remote airports affects more than the communities themselves. Medical evacuations, supply flights, and the movement of workers and family members all pass through these facilities. When an airport is restricted, the pressure often falls on larger hubs farther south.
No specific dollar figure or project timeline was attached to the latest call for action. The chiefs framed the request as urgent rather than long-term planning. They noted that the existing infrastructure was never designed for the volume and type of traffic it now handles.
The documentary, titled Holding Pattern, was presented as evidence of conditions on the ground. Organizers said the film shows why incremental maintenance has not been enough. They want governments to treat northern airport upgrades as essential infrastructure rather than optional improvements.
Ontario and federal officials have acknowledged northern transportation challenges in the past. Whether the current call produces new funding commitments remains to be seen. For communities that depend on these airports every day, the gap between identified needs and available resources continues to shape what is possible for health care, supplies, and emergency response.
The warning arrives as other northern files, including roads into the Ring of Fire and broader infrastructure planning, remain active. Airports serving remote First Nations sit outside many of those larger projects, yet they remain the primary connection for dozens of communities.
Chiefs said they have given notice again that resources are required to improve runway safety. The next step, they indicated, is whether Ottawa and Queen’s Park treat the request as a priority.
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