Airport closure could hurt access to health care: northern Alta. leaders
03.09.2008 17:00
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
 A report prepared for Edmonton city council suggests closing City Centre Airport and sellling the land could earn the city $500 million. (CBC)Mayors and chiefs from northern Alberta communities said they will fight any plan to shut down Edmonton City Centre Airport, a public hearing in the provincial capital heard Tuesday. About 60 people are making presentations at the two-day public hearings on the future of the airport, beginning Tuesday at Edmonton city hall. The city estimates it could make $500 million if it closes the airport and sells the 217 hectares of land for redevelopment. A report released in June estimates the land could accommodate 32,000 homes and earn the city an additional $95 million a year in property taxes. But leaders from northern communities say closing the airport could have a detrimental effect on the quality of health care for their residents. Medevac flights land at the airport because its location immediately northwest of Edmonton's downtown core is much closer to the city's two largest hospitals than the international airport, which is 30 kilometers south of the city. "If we had to add another leg to that — transport to the international and helicopter back into Edmonton — people will simply die," said George Schmidt, mayor of High Level, a town 780 kilometres north of Edmonton. Schmidt's concerns were echoed by Chief Roxanne Marcel from the Mikisew Cree First Nation, which is based in Fort Chipewyan, north of Fort McMurray. "We don't have the health-care system in our community, so that's very important. That's why we continue to fight every time the topic comes up with the airport being closed," she said. The Mikisew Cree may take legal action against the federal government if the airport closes, on the grounds that Ottawa has a treaty obligation to guarantee access to health care, said Dale Monaghan, chief operating officer of the First Nation's group of companies. "The treaty actually includes transportation to urban centres that offer medical services that aren't available in the remote areas," he said. Monaghan said he wants Ottawa to come up with an alternative plan for the band's medevac plane. The airport in Saskatoon might be a better and quicker option than Edmonton International Airport, he said. The hearings on the future of the airport continue Wednesday. Edmonton city council will make a decision at a later date. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksCouncil hears arguments on future of Edmonton City Centre AirportReport suggests closing Edmonton City Centre AirportHealth Headlines'Some concern' over BPA's effects on human growth: U.S. reportU.S. government toxicology experts on Wednesday expressed 'some concern' over bisphenol A, a chemical used in plastic baby bottles, saying it may be linked to health and developmental problems in children.Exercise linked to better memory in older test subjectsAs little as 20 minutes a day of aerobic exercise could help people over 50 improve their memory, a new study suggests. Teen suicides dip in U.S., experts worry rate remains highThe number of teen suicides has fallen slightly but the rate remains disturbingly high, researchers said, possibly fuelled by drug warnings that have scared many away from using antidepressants.Mushrooms recalled for possible listeria contaminationCanada's food watchdog along with Ravine Mushroom Farms Inc. issued a recall of Fresh Obsessions brand Ready To Serve Pre-washed Sliced White Mushrooms for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.6 more Quebec cheeses added to salmonella list The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is expanding a warning over cheese products linked to a salmonella outbreak in Quebec that has claimed one life. Health FeaturesIN DEPTHGardasilSevere side-effects rare, concerns lingerYOUR INTERVIEWListeriosisDr. Allison McGeer answers your questionsVIDEOListeriosis Dr. Dara Maker answers questions about outbreak (4:35)IN DEPTHMedical isotopesThe backbone of nuclear medicineNUTRITIONFood supplyNorth America's most endangered foodsVIDEOUniversity nutritionDos and don'ts of dorm dining (5:46)People who read this also read …
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