The Fund Will Enable Small Airports To Improve Safety

Canada's airports look forward to working with the Government of Canada on its National Trade Corridors Fund, enabling all National Airport System (NAS) airports to apply for funding to support more efficient transportation corridors. A separate, more tailored call for proposals will be made available for small NAS airports.

"While most of the 26 NAS airports transferred from the federal government to local entities have been funding all of their infrastructure on their own, some smaller airports that have fewer passengers have struggled to raise enough revenue to improve safety infrastructure at their airports," said Doug Newson, chair of the Canadian Airports Council's Small Airports Caucus, and chief executive officer of the Charlottetown Airport Authority. "We are glad they will be able to apply for funding for important safety-related improvements."

The government's announcement today will enable airports with less than 600,000 passengers annually to apply for federal funding for safety-related projects. Six of them were ineligible for funding from most major federal infrastructure programs in the past because they are located on federal land.

"As gateways to the communities they serve, Atlantic Canada's airports have an integral role in furthering the economic prosperity of this country," said Monette Pasher, executive director of the Atlantic Canada Airports Association, which represents four of the airports that have been ineligible for federal funding. "They provide local businesses efficient access to regional, national, and international destinations. As a result, our airports have grown, and we are pleased our members will be able to access much needed federal funding."

(Source: Canadian Airports Council news release)

FMI: www.cacairports.ca