NAV Canada is no longer providing redundancy notices to air traffic controllers in Gander.

Earlier this year, 28 air traffic controllers working in Gander were issued notices of redundancies due to the pandemic. Yesterday, however, NAV Canada announced that was no longer the plan moving forward, and those controllers would keep their jobs.

Gander Mayor Percy Farwell was delighted to hear the news, not only for the town but for the air traffic controllers themselves.

He says the 28 families affected are all friends and neighbors.

Meanwhile, there has been no reversal in the decision to lay off 21 trainees, although Farwell is confident they will be given an opportunity down the line.

With the aging workforce, there will be an acknowledgment that training needs to begin once again, says Farwell, and it would be wise to re-hire those who have already received training.