Grants Announced For Snow Removal Equipment At Peace River, Dawson Creek Regional Airports

Canadians, tourists and businesses benefit from safe and well-maintained airports. From visiting friends and family, to travelling to medical appointments, or getting goods to market, we rely on our local and regional airports to support and sustain vibrant communities. These airports also provide essential air services including community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue and forest fire response.

The Honourable Marc Garneau (pictured), Minister of Transport, has announced the government's $384,500 investment to purchase a grader at the Dawson Creek Regional Airport. This is in addition to $621,875 announced earlier this year for the purchase of a runway condition reporting system, a runway sweeper and a plow truck.

A runway condition reporting system helps record and relay timely, accurate and precise wireless reports of runway conditions to help aircraft land safely. The grader, sweeper and plow truck are essential for clearing ice and snow from runways, taxiways and the apron.

Minister Garneau also announced the government's $360,000 investment to purchase a grader at the Peace River Airport. This is in addition to $338,597 announced earlier this year to replace a material spreader and to install wildlife fencing.

The grader and material spreader are used in combination with other snow removal equipment to apply liquid and/or sand to runways, taxiways and aprons to clear snow, and melt ice.  The wildlife fence is an important tool for keeping mammals, especially bears, off airport runways and surrounding land.  

The funding comes from Transport Canada's Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP). Since the Program's launch in 1995, the Government of Canada has invested more than $785.9 million for 904 projects at 182 airports across the country.  

(Source: Transport Canada news releases. Image from file)

FMI: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/programs/airports-acap-menu-327.htm