As Canada works towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, investments in our airport infrastructure continue to be crucial to maintain safety, security, and connectivity for travellers, workers and communities. Government of Canada investments also help ensure Canada's aviation industry is well-positioned to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
Today, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Annie Koutrakis, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced more than $4 million in new funding to help Victoria International Airport recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support continued air services and important transportation infrastructure projects at the airport.
The airport will receive more than $1.3 million from Transport Canada's Airport Critical Infrastructure Program for upgrades to the lighting for the approach to Runway 09. The work will include:
- installation of new land-based and water-based lighting systems, with the water-based fixtures being structurally reinforced to withstand impacts from barges that work in the area; and
- reconfiguration and extension of the existing floatplane dock to accommodate the new lighting system.
In addition to funding for the infrastructure projects, the Government of Canada also provided the airport with over $3 million from Transport Canada's Airport Relief Fund to help it maintain continued airport operations and essential air services for residents and workers in Victoria and surrounding communities.
