Puvirnituq, Quebec, April 22, 2013 – Sylvain Gaudreault, Quebec Minister of Transport, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy and Member of the National Assembly for Jonquière, accompanied by Maggie Emudluk, President of the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), and Andy Moorhouse, Corporate Secretary of the Makivik Corporation, today inaugurated the new airport infrastructure in Puvirnituq, Nunavik. The governments of Canada and Quebec invested a total of more than $45 million in major improvements to this airport between 2009 and 2012.
The airport improvements consisted of the following five projects: construction of a 1,300 foot extension to the runway, increasing its total length to 6,300 feet; enlargement of the aircraft apron; construction of a new garage that is twice the size of the former one; construction of a new air terminal building covering four times the area of the former building; and relocation of the airport access road and navigation aid equipment.
"Our government is proud to have invested in this major initiative, which will help the regional economy remain competitive and be well positioned for the future,"
said the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. "Our investments in infrastructure are key drivers of economic growth and job creation in Quebec and across Canada."
"An airport is a window on the world that must reflect a community's capacity to accommodate incoming traffic. The Puvirnituq Airport is the transportation hub of the West Nunavik region and continues to contribute to the well being of the region's residents and to play a part in the development of the municipality and the Nunavik territory,"
declared Mr. Gaudreault.
The governments of Canada and Quebec jointly invested more than $30 million from the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund. In addition, the Government of Canada allocated an additional $1 million in funding from the Airports Capital Assistance Program for ramp upgrades. The Quebec government also allocated $14 million to cover the more than $45 million total cost of these improvement projects.
As a result of this investment and the construction of the runway extension, the Puvirnituq Airport can now accommodate large capacity jet aircraft, particularly Air Inuit's Boeing 737-200C aircraft, thus reducing Montreal–Puvirnituq flight times. This airplane, which can carry both passengers and cargo, makes it possible to supply West Nunavik residents with better quality perishable goods. In addition, the landing strip extension provides better access in poor weather conditions for the Challenger medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) aircraft of the Quebec Government Air Service (SAG) when patients need to be flown out of the region for care in hospitals in urban centres.
"The recent upgrades to the Puvirnituq Airport and the development of regional air transportation services in the past 30 years are the result of a positive relationship between Nunavik, Quebec and Canada,"
said Ms Emudluk. "These airports play an essential role in our communities, and it is now up to us to preserve them and to keep them in good condition."
Since 1996, the Kativik Regional Government has been responsible for the management and the maintenance of the airports in Nunavik's 14 communities.
"Since 1978, the Makivik Corporation has invested substantial amounts through its subsidiaries Air Inuit and First Air to ensure daily air connections, for both passengers and cargo, between Nunavik communities, making Nunavik one of the best served remote regions in terms of air transportation,"
said Andy Moorhouse. "Infrastructure upgrades like these in Puvirnituq answer essential needs for the community and the whole region and will serve greatly in terms of future development."
This initiative is one of 64 initiatives receiving funding from the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund, which the Government of Canada is using to invest $175 million in infrastructure improvements in Quebec. The Quebec government contribution amounts to more than $400.5 million, while that of the municipalities towards these initiatives is nearly $93 million.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a New Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 898,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. The New Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, supports Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
The investments in the Puvirnituq Airport supplement other investments in transportation made in Nunavik under the Sanarrutik Agreement signed in 2002 by the Quebec government, the Kativik Regional Government and the Makivik Corporation. Under this agreement, $88 million, allocated by both levels of government, has been invested in the construction of marine infrastructure in northern villages. Of this amount, Quebec invested $45.7 million. In addition, more than $35 million has been invested in the laying of asphalt paving on the local roads of 14 northern villages.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit Infrastructure Canada.
For additional information on Quebec's infrastructure plan, visit the Government of Quebec site. (available only in French)
For additional information on Canada<s Economic Action Plan, visit Canada's Economic Action Plan.
Sources:
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
613-991-0700
Yann Langlais-Plante
Press Officer
Office of the Quebec Minister of Transport and Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy
Telephone: 418 643-6980
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 or toll-free: 1-877-250-7154
For information:
Media Relations
Communications Directorate
Quebec Department of Transport
Telephone: Quebec City: 418-644-4444
Montreal: 514-873-5600
Toll free: 1-866-341-5724
