From travelling to medical appointments, getting goods to market, distributing PPE and medical supplies, or delivering vaccines, Canadians rely on safe and well-maintained local airports to support vibrant communities. These airports also provide essential air services, more so during this COVID-19 pandemic, including community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue, and forest fire response.
The Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, the Honourable Bardish Chagger, and the Member of Parliament for Waterloo, along with the Member of Parliament for Kitchener - Conestoga, Tim Louis, today announced that the Government of Canada is making important safety investments at the Region of Waterloo International Airport.
Through Transport Canada's Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), the Government of Canada will provide $3,931,274 to the Region of Waterloo International Airport for rehabilitation of taxiways and four aircraft stands.
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.
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.
Well-maintained airports help ensure safe airport operations for aircraft, passengers and crews and help protect costly airport safety assets, such as snow clearing equipment and aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles.
Quotes
"Our Government recognizes that airports are major contributors to the economic growth and social well-being of smaller communities. In addition to supporting personal travel, local airports are key connectors for business, health care, social services, and emerging resource development sectors. These investments will improve access to safe, reliable, and efficient air transportation options, and will help us deliver our promise to build safer, healthier, and stronger communities across Canada. This is more important than ever as we reopen our economies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic."
The Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport
"Our government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is committed to seeing Canadians through to the other side of this pandemic. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and though we must continue to follow public health guidelines, investments like this one through the National Airports Capital Assistance Program help communities such as the Waterloo Region to position ourselves to rebuild and prepare for the post-pandemic world."
The Honourable Bardish Chagger
Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and Member of Parliament for the Riding of Waterloo
"The Region of Waterloo International Airport is an important hub for residents in Waterloo Region, connecting us to other airports across the country and the world. This investment will help ensure continued safe and reliable airport operations so our airport can keep serving our community."
Tim Louis
Member of Parliament for the Riding of Kitchener - Conestoga
"We are grateful for the Government of Canada's funding for our airport rehabilitation project through the Airports Capital Assistance Program. These investments will help our airport to drive the local economy and tourism as we come out of the pandemic."
Regional Chair Karen Redman
Region of Waterloo
Quick facts
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As announced in the Fall Economic Statement (FES) 2020, the Airports Capital Assistance Program received a one-time funding top-up of $186 million over two years.
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As well, the FES announced the temporary expansion of eligibility for the Airports Capital Assistance Program to allow National Airport System (NAS) airports with less than one million annual passengers in 2019 to apply for funding under the Program in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
