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 Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and the Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, announced over $5.3 million in new funding to help the Winnipeg Richardson 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 funding, from Transport Canada's Airport Critical Infrastructure Program, will support:
- the establishment of a new permanent structure for the security screening of non-passenger vehicles;
- the addition of a dedicated vehicle access lane for processing cargo;
- improvements to air terminal security;
- upgrades to airport roadway infrastructure; and
- projects to enable COVID-19 testing and screening at the airport.
This funding is in addition to $7 million announced under the Airport Critical Infrastructure Program in August 2021, for the rehabilitation of the airport's airfield paved surfaces, and $5.7 million from Transport Canada's Airport Relief Fund to help the airport maintain continued operations and essential air services for residents and workers in Winnipeg and surrounding communities.
