Advocates want more firefighters at Yellowknife's airport, meeting international standards

The chair of an airport safety advocacy organization wants to see more firefighters stationed at Yellowknife's airport. 

Currently there are only two or three firefighters on duty at the city's airport at any time. 

"We're putting lives in jeopardy in the case of an emergency," says Chris Bussey, the chair of Advocates for Safer Airports in Canada. 

Bussey said the Yellowknife airport handles big planes such as Boeing 737s, which carry over 150 passengers. International Civil Aviation standards require at least nine firefighters.                          

"The longer intervention is delayed, the more damage is done, right. The more people are injured, the more lives potentially are lost," he said. 

President of the Yellowknife Firefighters Association, Christian Bittrolff, said they have have a mutual aid agreement with the Yellowknife airport, where the city's firefighters provide supportive role to the airport for firefighters in an emergency.

Transport Canada consulting airports across Canada

The Yellowknife Firefighters Association is part of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), which has been advocating for changes to federal aviation regulations for years.

"We support what the IAFF is for pushing nationwide ... and increase the safety for the citizens of Yellowknife," Bittrolff said.

That advocacy led to a private members' motion introduced by B.C. Liberal MP Ken Hardie, which unanimously passed in the House of Commons in December 2023.

The motion asked the house to recognize an assessment of Canada's aviation regulations by the IAFF, which includes failing to specify rescue as a required function of airport firefighters. 

"Regulatory shortfalls concerning emergency responses at Canada's major airports are needlessly putting the safety of the flying public at risk," reads the motion.

A Transport Canada spokesperson told CBC in an email, that a review of aviation regulations is ongoing and they're working with the International Civil Aviation Organization.

"Safety is our top priority ... we're holding consultations, and we look forward to hearing from airports, firefighters, and other safety experts during the consultation process," Transport Canada said, but didn't mention any timeline for implementing the new aviation regulations .

Increased costs could lead to difficulty operating for smaller airports

The proposed changes could quadruple the firefighting staff at Yellowknife's airport, and the government of the Northwest Territories would have to foot the bill.

Randy Straker, the Yellowknife Regional Airport manager, said the territory doesn't have the funding.

"That would triple our staff size. You're talking $1.52 million ... which on a, you know, a smaller budget would be huge for airports our size or smaller," Straker said.

Straker says the airport is governed by Canadian Aviation Regulations, not the International Civil Aviation Organization, and that the airport meets all required safety rules.

"We haven't had a scenario where it's like, 'oh man, we need more staff here.' Now granted, we haven't had any major catastrophe on site. We've had incidents on site, but our team has been able to respond appropriately," Straker said.

Straker said the Yellowknife airport along with several major Canadian airports, are part of the review process.

"We are participating in that and having an independent company also look into it and do some studies for us," he said.