The air strips at Cambridge Bay (CAM), Hall Lake (FOX) and Frobisher, N.W.T., on or in direct support of the DEW Line, have a high potential value for civil aviation in northern Canada and for the general development of the north, and, of the various stations on or in support of the DEW Line, they are the most likely to have extensive civil use.

Approval in principle is sought for the Department of Transport to assume responsibility for the operation of these air strips, the aids to navigation, and the meteorological and communications systems essential to civil air operations.

Frobisher is now under the jurisdiction of the R.C.A.F., but it is the U.S.A.F. which provides the necessary personnel and the airfield equipment. The Department of Transport provides radio and meteorological personnel and plans to erect this summer a building for these services.

At Cambridge Bay the Department provides only radio personnel who are stationed about four miles from the DEW Line air strip.

At Hall Lake, a completely new station, there are at present no Department of Transport personnel although Canadian meteorological personnel will be posted there this year.

The proposal that the Department of Transport assume the responsibilities above mentioned was considered by the Advisory Committee on Northern Development at a meeting on April 16th. The Committee - because of the growing importance of great circle flying between northern Europe and western America and between northern Europe and northern Asia, the extensive activities in the Arctic archipelago, the growing interest in mineral development in the area, and the desirability of constantly asserting Canadian sovereignty - strongly supported the proposal that the air strips be operated by the Department of Transport.

On the assumption that to begin with food and lodging would be provided in the U.S. buildings, the initial capital cost would be about $125,000, and the annual maintenance cost would be about $300,000-$400,000, depending on how much Eskimo help can be obtained. These costs are in addition to present expenditures for meteorological services and telecommunications at these points. To provide separate Canadian buildings at CAM and FOX, and to move certain buildings from Cambridge Bay to CAM, there could be additional construction costs of about $1,000,000, though these expenditures might be postponed for a time, if arrangements are made with the U.S.A.F. for accommodation and board.

If this proposal is approved in principle, it is intended to open negotiations with the appropriate U.S. authorities to work out the terms under which the air strips would be operated and to settle such details as: whether the contractor can provide board and lodging for some or all of the personnel, whether the airport maintenance equipment and maintenance shop can be made available, what communication facilities would be required and where they would be housed; the provision of fuel; the use of the air supply airlift system established by the contractor, and similar matters.

The proposal contemplates that the taking over period would be two or three years, depending in part on the outcome of the negotiations with regard to the matters mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

Accordingly, I recommend:

1. That approval in principle be granted for the Department of Transport to assume responsibility for the operation of the above mentioned air strips, the aids to navigation and the meteorological and communications systems essential to civil air operations;

2. Approval of the opening of the negotiations with the appropriate U.S. authorities to work out the terms under which the air strips would be operated and to settle the relative details.⁸⁸

[G.C. MARLER]