A handful of airports across the NWT and in Nunavut are getting some financial assistance from the Government of Canada.
It was recently announced by Michael McLeod, the Member of Parliament for the NWT, that four northern airports will be receiving a combined investment of $13.5 million to help support various safety projects. These projects include the refurbishment of runways, special runway equipment like sweepers, plow trucks, and snow blowers. Approximately $700,000 is being used to purchase a snowblower in Yellowknife, and $500,000 is going towards a loader for the Fort Smith airport.
These investments are intended to help keep airport operations safe for all involved by making sure that all factors of air travel are as efficient as possible.
In his statement announcing the funding, MP McLeod said that “In the North, airports are critically important for residents and businesses in their communities. These investments will help ensure continued safe and reliable airport operations for Northerners, many of whom depend on their local airports not only for personal travel and community resupply, but also for access to routine and emergency medical care in larger centres.”
Since its launch in 1995, the Airports Capital Assistance Program has committed over $1.3 billion for 1,258 projects at 201 local, regional and National Airports System airports across the country.
