NGC Nunatsiavut Inc. is pleased to announce that it has reached agreement to become a 51% shareholder in Air Labrador Limited, an Aviation Company with its Corporate Head Office located at Happy Valley – Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. A formal announcement was made by Clint Davis, Chairperson of the LICST and of the NGC Board, James Thorbourne, President and CEO of NGC Nunatsiavut Inc and Philip Earle, President and CEO of Air Labrador at the Northern Lights Conference in Ottawa on February 3rd.
Air Labrador Limited provides passenger and cargo transportation services to 25 Communities in Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Newfoundland, Quebec and Nunavut. Air Labrador Limited is a fully accredited Canadian Airline licensed by Transport Canada and the Canadian Transportation Agency to conduct business in Canada. Air Labrador Limited, born out of the former Labrador Airways Limited, was established in Newfoundland in 1948 making it one of the oldest established airlines in Canada, and since that time has operated successfully under a solid Labrador Brand.
Clint Davis, Chairperson of the LICST and of the NGC Board said “LICST and NGC have taken a major step forward in gaining a majority ownership position in another critical component of the supply chain to the Nunatsiavut communities. It brings air transport home to the people of Nunatsiavut, where it belongs.”
James Thorbourne, President and CEO of NGC Nunatsiavut Inc. said, “the addition of Air Labrador to our family allows the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies to offer integrated transportation and logistics solutions to those wanting to carry out projects in the Region. Air Labrador is the perfect compliment to our existing business lines – Tugs/Barges, Construction, Remote Camp Operations and Logistics.”
Philip Earle, President and CEO of Air Labrador said, “This is a great day for the airline marking a new beginning for a new partnership which will allow the company to embrace existing and future economic activities within the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area and the Region served by our airline.” Earle further explained “this new partnership will allow the company to contribute back in a meaningful way to the communities and customers who have ensured the airline’s success for the past 60 years.”
NGC Nunatsiavut Inc., operating as the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies (NGC), is the business arm of the Nunatsiavut Government. Reporting to the Labrador Inuit Capital Strategy Trust, NGC’s Mission is to create wealth for Nunatsiavut Beneficiaries by owning profitable, sustainable businesses. NGC’s business lines include marine transportation, commercial real estate, construction, remote camp operations, logistics, heavy civil, and now air transportation. NGC brings capacity and expertise to projects in Labrador and beyond.
The Labrador Inuit Capital Strategy Trust (LICST) provides independent oversight of NGC. LICST is comprised of five Trustees: Clint Davis (Chair), Isabella Pain, Natan Obed, Kristy Sheppard, and James Igloliorte, all of whom are beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement and appointed by the Nunatsiavut Government.
Nunatsiavut, which means ‘Our Beautiful Land’ in Inuttitut, is region of 72,500 square kilometers in northern Labrador over which the Labrador Inuit gained certain resource and self-government rights through the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement which came into effect in 2005.