Government of Canada announces new funding to upgrade airports across the country

From: Transport Canada

News release

May 17, 2024                        Ottawa                       Transport Canada

Safe and reliable airports are crucial links to local and regional communities across Canada. Investments in these airports support economic and business development, improve aviation services and safety, and enhance access to Canada’s remote and Indigenous communities.

The Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez, announced that the Government of Canada is strengthening air safety and connectivity at 16 local and regional airports across Canada.

Through its Airports Capital Assistance Program, Transport Canada is providing more than $27.1 million to support safety-related projects including:

  • the rehabilitation of runways, taxiways and aprons;
  • improvements to airfield lighting;
  • airside electrical systems and visual aids; and
  • equipment such as runway sweepers, plow trucks, snow blowers, loaders, graders and material spreaders.  

These projects will help maintain safe airport operations for passengers, crews and airport workers by ensuring continued airfield visibility, safe runways and taxiways, and keep connecting Canadians.

Quotes

“Local, remote, and Indigenous communities must have access to the goods and services they need. This investment of more than $27 million will ensure that people living and working across Canada will continue to access reliable, safe, and affordable air connectivity.”

The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez
Minister of Transport

“Our Government understands how critical air transportation services are to all Canadians. Local, remote and Indigenous communities must have access to safe and reliable air services for delivery of essential goods and services, business, and trade. Today’s announcement is great news for travel between communities.”
 
Irek Kusmierczyk
Member of Parliament for Windsor—Tecumseh

“Canadians and tourists need to be connected from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Today’s announcement is good news for our communities these airports serve and will ensure that travel is safe and efficient.”

Yvonne Jones
Member of Parliament for Labrador

“In the North, airports are critically important for residents and businesses in their communities. These investments will help ensure continued safe and reliable airport operations for Northerners, many of whom depend on their local airports not only for personal travel and community resupply, but also for access to routine and emergency medical care in larger centres.”

Michael McLeod
Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories

Quick facts

  • Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program provides federal funding to help eligible airports finance capital projects and equipment that will help them maintain safety.

  • Eligible projects include the purchase/replacement of heavy airside mobile equipment (snow blowers, snowplows, runway sweepers, loaders and material spreaders) and aircraft rescue firefighting vehicles, associated equipment and shelters, the rehabilitation of runway, taxiway and apron pavements, airfield lighting and electrical systems, and the installation of wildlife fencing.  

  • Since its launch in 1995, the Airports Capital Assistance Program has committed over $1.3 billion for 1,258 projects at 201 local, regional and National Airports System airports across the country.

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Contacts

Laurent De Casanove
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
laurent.decasanove@tc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
media@tc.gc.ca

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