Update: regarding white elephants

In December 2009 I wrote letters to both our local papers. There was a proposal to a upgrade the Campbell River Airport, purportedly so it would attract larger aircraft. Federal money was involved; local taxpayers would have to pony up 'only' several hundred thousand dollars.
I pointed out that the Comox Airport, second in BC only to Vancouver International, is only 45 minutes away. I compared the airport project to our infamous cruise-ship terminal, which hasn't seen a cruise (or any other kind of) ship for several years.
No letters on this subject were published, fewer than 100 ratepayers complained, and the upgrade was completed last year. (One can find the letters archived on this blog.)
Yesterday Dan MacLennan, the Courier-Islander's principal reporter, had a story about Council's budget deliberations.
Oh look! We're paying $26,000 a year to maintain a cruise ship terminal that cannot attract cruise ships. Otherwise our $2 Million (of $20 Million!) investment will deteriorate.
Councillors were "surprised", and claimed that "George is working on it".
MacLennan also revealed, for the first time apparently, that the Campbell River Airport has lost money every year of at least the last five. In other words, since well before Councillors decided to expand it:

Meanwhile the Campbell River Airport, downloaded by Ottawa onto the city in 1996, has been losing money for several years. At the time, city officials pledged the airport would not be a burden to the taxpayers. It would have to stand on it's own.

Budget documents, however, show taxpayers are on the hook. 

- Passenger movements have been dropping from a spike in 2000 close to 80,000, down to about 50,000 in 2009
- Aircraft movements peaked in 2008 then dropped sharply in 2009. Fuel sales dropped with them.
- Airport expenses have exceeded revenues for the last five years.
- Airport operations lost $183,374 in 2010. The 2011 operational deficit is projected at $168,169.

Please! This "build it and they will come" mythology needs to be laid to rest.
Now, before it bankrupts us.

(published in Courier-Islander of April 8, 2011)