Several members of Dryden city council and staff members are attending the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association convention this week in Thunder Bay.

CAO Roger Nesbitt says they have been able to set up a meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Graydon Smith while there.

“Talk to him about the potential for the province to declare additional lands they own within the city surplus, and potentially open those up for redevelopment,” Nesbitt told city council earlier this week at their open meeting.

Nesbitt says they also want to bring him up to date on the loss of their daily flight service to the Dryden Airport.

“The impacts that will have on the MNRF operations at the airport.   They are a key stakeholder and a very valued partner at the airport.  These losses  will definitely affect their operations.”

Mayor Jack Harrison says with the loss of daily air service, they will no longer be eligible for funding from the federal government for runway maintenance, so all that will impact all users of the airport, including the MNRF.

(File photo)