Latest news with #StephenvilleAirport
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
As Stephenville awaits airport's fate, residents rue unfulfilled promises
Social Sharing Bob Byrnes has been in business in Stephenville for decades, and once served on the board of the non-profit corporation that used to run the airport. He calls the current state of affairs in the west coast town a "desperate situation." People are concerned. "We've regressed from being an international airport to an aerodrome and now just a bit of pavement," Byrnes told CBC News. "It's a terrible travesty that carries a lot of negative weight on this town." A steady drip of bad news for the airport over recent months has gushed into a flood of misfortune. The airport and its owner face millions in legal claims. Earlier this year, Stephenville Dymond International Airport saw its status downgraded to a registered aerodrome. Finally, Newfoundland Power pulled the plug on electrical service, after issuing a notice of disconnection over what it called "outstanding account issues." The airport has been closed since last Tuesday. Some community leaders think things could have — and should have — been done differently. Byrnes — president of the Downtown Stephenville Business Improvement Association Corporation — believes the mayor shoulders the blame. "Tom Rose is the one who pushed this airport deal from day one," Byrne said. "He used the fact that Carl Dymond was looking at coming in here to get himself re-elected and he pushed this deal on that airport board. They were all volunteers and their backs were to the wall." For his part, Rose acknowledges that the current situation is dire, but says there were few other options. "Today we are at a point, at the worst point this airport has ever been in — the power was cut off," he said in a recent interview. "This is a devastating blow to the airport and the town. We have to find a path forward." The mayor rejects criticism of the path that led to Ottawa businessman Carl Dymond taking over the airport. He says there was no appetite for the town to continue funnelling tax dollars into the operation to keep it afloat. "At the end of the day, there was Carl Dymond, or there was nothing," Rose said. "I felt the airport was going to close." Looking back, does he think the town council served the community in the best way possible, given everything known now? "One thousand per cent," Rose said. "I'm very confident that we did the right thing at the right time because it's not as if we had Plan A, Plan B, Plan C. There was only one plan. There was only one thing in front of us. It was Plan A. There was no other option." Former town councillor Lenny Tiller is not sure about that. He served on council while the Dymond proposal was being debated. While most councillors were in lock-step with Rose in supporting the airport's sale, Tiller was often a lone dissenting voice. "It was very unfortunate because it was my understanding the role of a councillor was to be able to speak freely in a committee and in a public meeting," Tiller told CBC News. "At the end of the day I had two choices — toe the line or sleep at night — and I couldn't do both." Tiller resigned a year and a half ago. The airport debate was a major factor. Two other councillors left around the same time. Tiller says there were red flags about the Dymond plan, but town leadership exerted pressure to proceed. "It was something I wanted to be wrong on, when the mayor told me I couldn't possibly understand a file of this size," Tiller said. "I wanted the mayor to be right. I wanted him to be right. I wanted to be proven wrong because the price was too big. I said if what I'm seeing is right, we are going to pay dearly. And now we have." WATCH | Lights out at Stephenville airport as power disconnected, operations grounded 'The wrong guy took over': Residents frustrated as Carl Dymond's airport promises fall flat 4 days ago Duration 2:40 The day after the power company pulled the plug last week, people on the streets of Stephenville expressed dismay. "You had Carl Dymond coming to Stephenville with plenty of promises," Paul Green told CBC News. "Promised people all kinds of things in Stephenville — making donations to different organizations. And today we are without power. It's terrible." Michael Young also noted there were lots of promises. "But so far nothing's come to fruition with that," he said. Cecil Ryan said he was saddened by the situation. "I was hoping that somewhere down the road the airport would become a viable industry again here in Stephenville, because we could sure use one here," Ryan said. "I guess the wrong guy took it over, because it didn't happen." When he initially announced his intentions to acquire the Stephenville airport nearly four years ago, Dymond made an array of pledges that would have provided an adrenaline boost to the region. Hundreds of millions in private investment. Thousands of jobs. The return of scheduled passenger service. He took over two years ago. None of that has happened. Instead, there have been a cascading series of financial, legal, and operational challenges. The mayor says the town council wasn't responsible for vetting whether Dymond had the resources required. "Basically, it wasn't our job as a council to determine, did he have the proof?" Rose said. "That was the airport authority and the lawyer and the legal team. We trusted that. That was our due diligence." Rose, who served on the airport board as an ex officio member, does regret not requiring Dymond to post a bond for the new runway lighting system or a planned $10-million fire hall. Rose acknowledges there are concerns in the town, but says it's time to look for new opportunities. "We're hearing it and there's Facebook warriors and all that, and there's people that are pro council and negative council. And that's part of the game. I'm not too worried about that," Rose said. "But I do know this: Stephenville are proud citizens. The airport is the most pivotal political football that we have on our plate right now. It is who we are, has defined us as a town. We need to find a solution forward." N.S. company eyeing airport opportunity Celtic Air Services, which operates the airport in Port Hawkesbury, N.S., recently went public with its potential interest, saying it sees "great untapped potential in Stephenville." David Morgan, CEO of Celtic Air Services, says he doesn't want to buy the airport, but if an opportunity arises to run it, he's interested in that. "We're just waiting for certain pieces to take their course and to see if the situation changes and if it does, we'd be more than excited to bring in our team, engage with the folks that already work there, and get the place sort of back up and running," Morgan told CBC News last week. According to Morgan — and other media reports — Dymond is not interested in that arrangement. Celtic Air Services says it wants to collaborate with the town council and provincial government in exploring the airport's future. The province declined interview requests about that call for collaboration, instead issuing a one-line statement from Industry Minister Steve Crocker. "The airport in Stephenville is a privately owned facility, and the provincial government has not been engaged and has no active role in this matter," that written statement noted. Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham — who is MHA for Stephenville-Port au Port — says the province should play a role. "Right now, I think the province needs to work with the town of Stephenville to get this airport straightened out. Mr. Dymond has shown no evidence of his ability to meet any of the commitments that he has made over the last few years, and unfortunately right now, it's to the point where the lights have been turned off," Wakeham said. "So I think there's a situation right now where we need to get the government involved with the town and find out what are the options, and what do those options look like." Wakeham stopped short of providing details on exactly what options could be pursued, and what role the government could play. He stressed that air ambulance flights and the Marine Institute's safety and emergency response training program have been impacted by the current uncertainty. As for the person at the centre of all this, Carl Dymond has declined interview requests from CBC News since the initial reports broke last month about Newfoundland Power issuing a notice of disconnection. In a text message last week, he said he expected the power shutoff to only last a few days.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
CTV National News: Turbulent times for a small, regional Newfoundland airport
Watch The flagging Stephenville Airport in Newfoundland, once given big promises of new jobs and spending, had its power shut off. Garrett Barry reports.
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Stephenville airport shuttered as power company pulls the plug
It's lights out at the Stephenville Dymond International Airport. Newfoundland Power confirmed Tuesday afternoon that work was underway to disconnect electrical service there. An aviation notice, called a NOTAM, was released at 4:07 p.m. NT saying the airport was closed. It will be in effect until June 9, at least. Last week, Newfoundland Power told CBC News it issued a seven-day notice to pull the plug due to what it called "outstanding account issues." The airport has struggled financially for decades. Ottawa businessman Carl Dymond purchased the operation in 2023 with big promises to turn things around. They included pledges to spend hundreds of millions of dollars, create thousands of jobs, return passenger service and build gigantic, futuristic drones. None of those plans came to fruition. Instead, the airport experienced operational setbacks and found itself in legal and financial trouble. Those woes include a $2.4-million lawsuit over the installation of a new runway lighting system. A trial is set for 2026. An investor who helped facilitate Dymond's acquisition of the airport won a default $2-million judgment against Dymond personally. Stephenville town council is also looking to collect on a half-million-dollar property tax bill. Earlier this year, the airport was downgraded to a "registered aerodrome," which means it's not subject to ongoing inspection by Transport Canada, but is inspected periodically to verify compliance with regulations. When contacted Tuesday, Dymond declined to do an interview. In a text message, he said he expected the power shutoff to only last a few days.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Stephenville in holding pattern as airport faces possible power cutoff
Social Sharing The lights remained on at Stephenville Dymond International Airport on Thursday. The question is how long that will remain the case — and what happens next, if Newfoundland Power pulls the plug. Earlier this week, the utility confirmed it issued the airport a seven-day "notice of disconnection" due to "outstanding account issues." The Stephenville town council met behind closed doors on Wednesday to discuss the situation. One current councillor — who is also a former mayor — says there is a feeling of "dismay" in the community about the status of the airport. "Right now, at this point in time, it seems like they are facing yet another crisis, which we know very little about," Coun. Tom O'Brien told CBC News. "It's an issue that the airport has to deal with, but it has big consequences for the community as a whole." O'Brien said those consequences include the potential loss of jobs at the airport, and the impact on air ambulance service to the region. On Tuesday, Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell told CBC News that officials have been working on a contingency plan in the event Stephenville's airport can't be used for air ambulance. The minister said a helicopter could be tasked, when appropriate. Other possible options include the use of existing runways in the Codroy Valley and Deer Lake. O'Brien is concerned about that, noting that "time is critical when the patient requires an air ambulance." He said the town could be part of the conversation about possible solutions, but financial aid "can't be on the table." O'Brien noted that the airport is a private enterprise. "We've got to see what the next few days is going to bring," he said. "I guess Mr. Dymond is working on something, although we don't know what. We're just on a wait-and-see pattern right here, right now, which is not a good place to be." The airport has been beset by a cascading series of financial and operational issues since it was taken over by Ottawa entrepreneur Carl Dymond nearly two years ago. The airport is facing a $2.4-million lawsuit over the installation of a new runway lighting system. A trial is set for 2026. Nearly three months ago, the airport had its status downgraded to a "registered aerodrome." A registered aerodrome is not subject to ongoing inspection by Transport Canada, but is inspected periodically to verify compliance with regulations. An investor who helped facilitate Dymond's acquisition of the airport won a default $2-million judgment against Dymond personally. As of earlier this year, the mayor said the airport owed a half-million-dollar property tax bill to the town. CBC News has not been able to reach Dymond for comment this week. Meanwhile, Newfoundland Power said that it is in continued discussions with the airport, and power will not be disconnected on Thursday.
CBC
28-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Stephenville airport could soon lose power, as N.L. fires up air ambulance contingency plans
Social Sharing It could be lights out at the Stephenville Dymond International Airport later this week, if the beleaguered operation doesn't pay its utility bill. Newfoundland Power has confirmed it issued the airport a seven-day "notice of disconnection" due to "outstanding account issues." In an emailed statement, the utility wrote that it "remains available to work with the airport to resolve outstanding account issues required for continuation of service." It marks the latest financial hardship the airport has seen since it was purchased by Ottawa entrepreneur Carl Dymond in August 2023. Dymond bought the facility for $6.90 and a payment of more than $1 million in existing liabilities. Since the sale, Dymond has been hit with a $2.4-million lawsuit by Tristar Electric, which alleges it hasn't been paid for its work to install a new runway lighting system. Earlier this year, lawyers for the airport got permission to withdraw from the case because they say they haven't been paid either. That news came on the heels of the airport being downgraded to a "registered aerodrome," meaning it is not subject to ongoing inspection by Transport Canada, but is inspected periodically to verify compliance with regulations. There are eight registered aerodromes on the island portion of the province, including those in Bell Island, Clarenville and Port aux Choix. Health minister says air ambulance plan in place In March, the province said it would continue to use Stephenville for its air ambulance service. According to statistics collected for the Health Accord and published in 2023, there were 290 air ambulance flights to Stephenville over a previous 3 1/2-year period. That amounts to about seven flights a month. Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell told CBC News the province has been working on a contingency plan in the event Stephenville's airport can't be used. "The medical professionals do this type of work, day in, day out, and there could be reasons why an airport isn't available," Howell said, citing issues like runway maintenance. "This is just another one of those examples where we had to build a contingency plan," Howell said. "And we're confident that NLHS has taken all the appropriate steps to mitigate, as much as possible, the risk factors that we can control." In a broad sense, the contingency plan could include a mix of resources and assets. That includes two runways "in close proximity" to Stephenville — Deer Lake and St. Andrews in the Codroy Valley — "that may be able to be utilized," according to Howell. "There may be a combination of road transport, air transport, or even using a helicopter in instances where that's appropriate," she said. "The folks who are making these decisions, the medical professionals, will determine what is the most appropriate asset to deploy." Council has stressed importance of air ambulance service In January 2023, before the final sale to Dymond was approved, the Town of Stephenville gave the airport $50,000 to keep the operation running. Councillors who voted to approve the grant framed their support around the importance of the airport in providing an air ambulance service. "I have to say yes, because it's the taxpayer's life that comes into play," said Coun. Myra White at the time. "And I know it's $50,000, but I look at a life, and what is a life worth?" When the deal to sell the airport was initially announced in September 2021, Carl Dymond said he planned to spend hundreds of millions and create thousands of jobs. His vision included the construction of massive high-tech drones. Those plans have yet to materialize.
