Peterborough Airport
The Government of Canada is committed to improving transportation infrastructure in communities across the country in order to stimulate economic growth and development and create new business opportunities.
To this end, the Government, along with the Government of Ontario and the City of Peterborough, have each contributed over $7 million for the recent expansion of the Peterborough Municipal Airport. Government of Canada support was provided through the Economic Action Plan’s Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, helping Peterborough grow the local aeronautics sector, create jobs, and spur economic growth.
The expansion entailed the construction of a comprehensive aviation industrial park on the site. The improvements include the construction of a new central apron and apron expansion, the development of the general aviation areas, commercial development inside the airport, and the construction of an air terminal building and an air maintenance building.
In addition to these improvements, the length of the runway was increased from 5,000 to 7,000 feet, which greatly improves takeoff and landing thresholds. The airport has the longest paved runway between Ottawa and Toronto and is designed to support narrow body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 series.
The Peterborough Municipal Airport is owned by the City of Peterborough. It is serviced by the Canada Border Service Agency and offers a port of entry for general aviation clearance of up to 15 persons.
The City of Peterborough has estimated that total direct, indirect and induced employment resulting from the airside development initiatives would be equivalent to 135 full-time positions.
Infrastructure Stimulus Fund
The Government of Canada established the $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund through its Economic Action Plan, providing funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects. Funding is supporting projects that must be completed by October 31, 2011. This initiative was structured to flow funding and get shovels in the ground quickly.
Since July 2009, Canada’s Economic Action Plan has contributed to the creation of nearly 650,000 new jobs and helped the country emerge from the global economic crisis faster and stronger than most other major industrial countries around the world.
