Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Chiefs of Ontario have released a new documentary highlighting conditions at remote First Nations airports in northern Ontario, calling on the federal and provincial governments to address infrastructure deficiencies that can prevent emergency medical flights from landing. Titled ‘Holding Pattern,’ the documentary features First Nations leaders, community members, aviation experts and medical professionals describing how airport conditions affect access to health care, emergency evacuations and essential supplies. Leaders said they have been calling for improvements for decades, but many remote airports continue to lack basic infrastructure and equipment. According to figures cited by First Nations leaders, Ornge received more than 33,000 emergency calls from airports serving remote First Nations communities between January 2020 and September 2026. More than 2,300 flights were unable to land. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said delays in emergency medical care can have life-threatening consequences. “When we talk about impacts, it impacts people’s lives, their health,” Fiddler said. “For example, if you’re experiencing cardiac arrest in one of these communities, there is a certain time that you need to be at a hospital to receive the proper care.” The documentary also addresses cases in which patients have died after emergency aircraft were unable to respond. An Ornge representative acknowledged the consequences of those delays in the film. “There are times when we have not been able to respond due to weather or airport services or other conditions that, unfortunately, the patient did not survive.” Remote airports are a critical link to medical services for First Nations communities without all-season road access. They also support food and medicine deliveries, fuel shipments, building materials and emergency evacuations. Leaders said short runways and inadequate lighting, navigational aids and weather monitoring systems can limit safe operations and prevent air carriers from using newer aircraft. Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s 2025 aviation needs assessment estimates that addressing infrastructure deficiencies at Ontario’s 29 remote northern airports would cost between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion. The organizations said improvements are needed to runways, lighting, navigational aids, weather monitoring systems and terminal facilities, alongside adequate staffing and training. “They tell us we’re too remote, you’re too isolated or you’re inaccessible. But whenever there’s minerals discovered in an area, all of a sudden it’s accessible,” said Fiddler. Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Chiefs of Ontario are calling on the federal and provincial governments to commit immediate and long-term funding, develop a phased infrastructure improvement plan with First Nations, and conduct an immediate safety audit of the 27 Ontario-owned remote airports serving First Nations. Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Chiefs of Ontario are urging Ottawa and Queen’s Park to work directly with First Nations on a plan with clear timelines, measurable milestones, public reporting, and accountability.
