Sudbury's helicopter base not closed yet: OPP

The OPP's emergency rescue helicopter base located at the Greater Sudbury Airport is still operating, a spokesperson for the force said Monday.

In a message to Northernlife.ca, Sgt. Peter Leon of the OPP said rumours the base had already closed were not true.

“No, the move has not taken place as of yet,” Leon said.

The OPP has said it will be centralizing both of its emergency rescue helicopters at its base in Orillia, a move expected to save $254,000 a year, and allow the force to expand the operating hours of the two helicopters.


But the decision has been criticized over fears it will affect service to people in Northern Ontario. The helicopter is often used to locate people with dementia or stranded in remote locations – both common occurrences in Northern Ontario, where the population is older and the land mass much bigger.

Centralizing in Orillia has also been questioned, because the community is located in a snowbelt and the aircraft are frequently grounded in winter due to storms. When that happened in the past, the Sudbury helicopter could still respond to calls in southern Ontario.

There are three people in Sudbury affected by the move, although the OPP said no one is losing their jobs due to the relocation.
Last week, Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault said he was going to get an update from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, which oversees the OPP.

"This isn't an issue I'm letting go,” Thibeault said last week. “This is one that is important."