The Honorable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, announced a Government of Canada investment for the purchase of aggregate and granular base material for the Gillam Airport. The investment of $3,686,200 includes supplying 15,000 cubic meters of aggregate material sufficient to place a 150-mm compact lift on Runway 05-23, Taxiway A and the main apron, and a 17,000 cubic meter stockpile of granular base material to be used for yearly resurfacing over a 10-year period. The aggregate material will be hauled and stockpiled at the Airport’s designated site.
“Our Government recognizes that local airports are major contributors to the economic growth and social well-being of smaller communities,” stated Minister Garneau. “In addition to supporting travel and tourism, local airports are key connectors for business, health care, social services, and emerging resource development sectors. These investments will improve access to safe, efficient and accessible air transportation options, and will help us deliver on our promise to build safer, healthier and stronger communities across Canada.”
Well maintained runways, taxiways and aprons are key to ensuring safe usage by aircraft, passengers, and crews, and help protect costly airport safety assets, such as snow clearing equipment, during airport operations.
This funding comes from Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP). Since the Program started in 1995, the Government of Canada has invested more than $882.7 million for 948 projects at 186 airports across the country.
To date, the Gillam Airport, located in Northeast Manitoba, has received more than $7.6 million in ACAP funding for six safety projects, including the aggregate supply, new snow-clearing equipment and the rehabilitation of the runway, taxiway and apron.
