London International Airport: The prime minister will be in London Thursday to open the freight trans-shipment centre while attending a Conservative caucus meeting and a barbecue
By CHIP MARTIN The London Free Press


Prime Minister Stephen Harper will officially open the $11-million Cargo Village Gateway at London International Airport on Thursday.
Harper, who will also attend a caucus meeting of his Conservative MPs from across Southwestern Ontario, and a barbecue, will tout the $8-million federal contribution to the international freight trans-shipment centre.

The gateway is intended to position London as a freight-forwarding centre for U.S. and European goods. It’s expected to ease border crossings and create hundreds of long-term jobs in customs, freight-handling, packaging, fuelling and trucking.

Ottawa’s contribution under its economic stimulus plan was augmented by $2.5 million from London city hall and $500,000 from the airport.
Details of Harper’s visit are being withheld for now, but The Free Press has learned he’s among the dignitaries expected to be on hand for the gateway opening ceremonies at 1 p.m.

Afterward, he will attend a 3 p.m. meeting of the Southwestern Ontario Conservative caucus at the Four Points Sheraton chaired by Joe Preston, MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London. The barbecue will be held at a private property on Dingman Dr. in south London at 5 p.m.
Conservative MPs, including cabinet ministers from as far afield as Niagara Falls and Windsor, will attend the regional caucus session and the barbecue at Cedarmere Woods on Dingman Dr. is expected to attract 1,000.

Preston said he’s not privy to all details of Harper’s visit, but the barbecue is billed as “the prime minister’s barbecue.”
The gateway project will receive goods from the U.S. and Europe and begin processing them for border crossings. Freight would then be forwarded by air or truck. London’s proximity to the U.S. border and to superhighways 401 and 402 are among the reasons for the gateway designation.

Airport upgrades, road and industrial land improvements are among the changes made to facilitate the gateway.

A recently signed agreement with the European Union leading to a form of free trade of the skies is also expected to produce a boost in cargo business from Europe.