Stephenville -
A version of this letter has been sent to Premier Williams.
Premier Danny Williams: In the past several years, the west coast and Bay St. George areas have suffered both natural and economic disasters. Through the resiliency of the people and in cooperation from the different levels of government, we have survived. The never-say-die attitude is one of the greatest attributes of the people from this area.
Once again we find ourselves fighting for one of the economic engines of the west coast. The Stephenville International Airport can and will be a viable business. It can only help strengthen the economy in the region. With diversification, the airport will flourish and will help put western Newfoundland on the aviation map. Tourism will reap the benefits, as will businesses in the entire region. The Stephenville International Airport is an important alternate landing facility for both Gander and St. John's International airports. With such a facility already in place it makes no sense to let it fade away, as so many are ready to do.
We see money being offered to companies as incentives to set up in our province, yet we already have a business that can contribute greatly to the future of our region in terms of jobs and self sufficiency. We wonder why we are not worthy of such government funding.
If we want to keep the youth of our province and show them there is a bright future here, then it's time for the government to step up. We want our politicians to speak up, regardless of their political stripe, and tell their leaders and parties to back our cause.
When people speak of rural Newfoundland and Labrador being overlooked, this is an opportunity for the politicians to show that they are indeed watching and listening to the people. The people of this great province have the power to control our future and governments should be willing to listen.
We the airport citizen's committee feel that it is of the utmost importance that the provincial and federal governments be as committed to this facility as we are. One only has to look at our website (www.savestephenvilleairport.ca) and see the support that is building for this cause.
When the business plan for the Stephenville International Airport is presented to the provincial government, we expect our government representatives to indeed stand up and say, "yes", the Stephenville International Airport deserves the funding.
Bill Hynes, chairman, Stephenville Airport Citizen's Committee
