Gateway expects liftoff

By JONATHAN SHER, THE LONDON FREE PRESS

London's sluggish economy will get turbo-charged Monday, with federal officials expected to give millions of dollars to make the city's airport an international gateway for cargo, sources say.

Details of that aid remained elusive yesterday as officials at the airport and city declined to comment and steal the drama of an announcement that will be made by Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best wouldn't even confirm whether the money is for the long hoped-for gateway project -- she said she had been sworn to secrecy.

But while the mayor wouldn't divulge what she knew, she couldn't contain her excitement.

"I'm absolutely thrilled," she said yesterday. "It's going to be phenomenal for our region and our community.

Her comments were echoed by London West Conservative MP Ed Holder.

"This will be great news for London and the region," he said.

The city and the airport have proposed spending $11 million to expand space for cargo, hoping to capitalize on new regulations that could help make London a key stop for global cargo and a place where goods can be finished before final export.

The hope is that the gateway would be the first of several for a city with easy access to major highways, the U.S. border and heavily-populated areas in the U.S. northeast and midwest.

"Let's hope it's been what we've been asking for," said Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell, who said he wasn't told what the city will be getting.

"We believe we made a very strong case and the gateway project is very important to the region," he said.

The funding will come from the new Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, which received $206 million in its first year.

The projects it funds are meant to stimulate local economies and enhance southern Ontario's ability to grow and compete.