Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach is becoming concerned over an issue at the Northwest Regional Airport in Terrace.
Traditionally, NAVCAN has stationed two technicians at the Airport, who also serve airports in Smithers and Prince Rupert.
NAVCAN employees are responsible for maintaining the airport’s instrument landing, radio, and weather equipment, as well as that utilized by the Air Transport Security Agency.
But, one of those two technicians recently quit their posting due to new federal Covid vaccination mandates, and the other was placed on leave.
This means that the entire Northwest region is currently without a technician, with the closest being in Kamloops.
According to Bachrach, local leaders have been advised that, should a tech be needed, one would be flown in from Vancouver.
Bachrach is gathering support from a number of local leaders for a letter he has penned for NAVCAN requesting immediate action to fill the roles.
There is indeed cause for concern and it extends far beyond just this site. Serious short staffing is a chronic and acute condition within Nav Canada across the entire country. It has become apparent that this company is pursuing a “just in time staffing” strategy and it has not worked. Almost the entire ANS in Canada is one or two sick calls away from closure and excessive reliance on overtime is the norm. Smaller airports and the north are particularly vulnerable but larger units like Vancouver and Toronto are also at risk.
Nick von Schoenberg
Regional Vice-President Pacific
Canadian Air Traffic Controller’s Association