Sarnia council is set to consider a lease extension agreement with Scottsdale Aviation Monday.
Mayor Mike Bradley said the agreement would see the lease extended at Chris Hadfield Airport from October 25 to March 31, 2022.
"I think council should extend it," said Bradley. "There's no cost to the taxpayers. The money's there now and it would give more time to get some of the federal money implemented and to move on to look in other directions."
The airport received $1.9 million from the Regional Air Transportation Initiative in August.
"It's specifically to go back into improvements at the airport. It's most welcome and the timing is excellent. At the same time, we have the airport taskforce, composed of citizens, staff and others who are coming back with some pretty solid recommendations on how to move forward."
The extension will allow staff and the Airport Action Working Group to continue those efforts in developing a report and recommendations for the airport's future.
"There's been all sorts of ideas suggested and the major one is that we want to attract another carrier. The size of that carrier is up for discussion, and the possibilities, given what's gone on with the airport, sector, and airlines because of COVID. So, that's probably a longer term goal. But, I can envision down the road that we would have smaller flights commercially into Sarnia, just like in Kingston where there's a 12-seater that goes to Toronto each day."
Sarnia council's regular meeting starts at 10 a.m. Monday on ZOOM.
