The Honorable Jim Carr, Minister and Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, the Honorable Omar Alghabra, has announced that the Government of Canada is making important safety investments at airports in Alberta and Manitoba.
Through Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), the Government of Canada will provide over $20 million to airports in Alberta and 21.9 million to Manitoba aiports.
Projects at Alberta airports include:
- Fort Chipewyan – Rehabilitation of airside pavement – $11,021,416
- Grande Prairie – Replacement of generator and airport signage – $612,871, Replacement of sand storage shed – $134,680
- Lethbridge – Rehabilitation of airfield pavement – $7,379,719
- Lloydminster – Purchase of a de-icing trailer – $105,000
- Medicine Hat – Rehabilitation of airfield electrical system – $957,241
For 2021-2022, Transport Canada has allocated ACAP funding to 63 airports for 86 safety-related projects, including runway and taxiway repairs/rehabilitation, lighting enhancements, purchasing snow clearing equipment and firefighting vehicles and installing wildlife fencing.
“We know how vital airports are to urban centres and remote communities,” said Carr. “The investment our government is making will help ensure continued safe and reliable airport operations for residents, many of whom depend on their local airports not only for personal travel and business, but also for community resupply of essential goods and access to routine and emergency medical care in larger centres. This is part of how we build stronger more resilient and inclusive communities across Canada.”
Safety-related projects for airports in Manitoba are:
Flin Flon
- Replacement of sand storage shed – $287,071
- Replacement of airport beacon to better identify the airport’s location to pilots at night – $16,088
Gods Lake Narrows
- Rehabilitation of airside surfaces and electrical systems – $12,872,635
Lac Brochet
- Installation of wildlife control fencing – $1,156,265
Red Sucker Lake
- Installation of wildlife control fencing – $1,000,203
Shamattawa
- Rehabilitation of airside surfaces – $6,282,716
Thompson
- Purchase of a sweeper to assist with the essential clearing of ice and snow from airside surfaces – $355,680
Since the Airports Capital Assistance Program started in 1995, the Government of Canada has invested over $1.1 billion for 1,088 projects at 199 airports across the country.
