Regina Conservative MP Michael Kram continues to lobby the federal government on the future of the air traffic control tower at the Regina International Airport.

Kram is criticizing the decision by NAV Canada to tear down infrastructure at a time where the sector has already been hit hard because of COVID-19.

Kram says this decision could lead to Regina losing the ability to host major trade shows, conferences and sporting events if the tower is shut down as airlines have indicated they will just fly to Saskatoon instead of Regina.

The move also has the provincial government involved as Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw has sent a letter to the federal Transport Minister saying this is something that must be reconsidered and to not act hastily on because of the economic downturn.

Premier Scott Moe adds that while the number of flights coming in and out of the Regina Airport have been greatly reduced, that will change once the pandemic is over and that the airport will be a storng part of both the city and province’s economic recovery.

The federal gov't needs to reverse its decision to lay off air traffic controllers at Regina International Airport & hit pause on any consideration of closing the control tower at YQR

Minister Bradshaw has written to the federal minister to tell him to reverse this decision. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/P2QQcNvkJi

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) February 1, 2021

The matter became extremely worrisome last week when the union representing air traffic control towers stated layoff notices had been handed out suggesting closures at the Regina airport and six others around the country were a done deal