The mayor of Stephenville is confident that the Marine Institute’s Emergency Response Training Centre will return to the town—but the college says it has removed all assets from airport property and is looking for another location for its 2026 academic year starting in January.

Power to the airport was cut over two months ago and there does not appear to be any reasonable prospect of timely restoration.

The school is concerned about the lack of utilities and what it sees as the declining condition of the airport infrastructure, including lack of a secure and climate-controlled environment.

Mayor Tom Rose is looking for an urgent meeting with Premier John Hogan.

“This has to happen ASAP. I know it’s a busy time and the premier has a lot of files but this is important—provincial in scope,” says Mayor Rose.