Government of Canada investing in safety at local airports

January 31, 2019        Winnipeg, Manitoba       Transport Canada

Canadians, tourists and businesses benefit from safe and well-maintained airports. From visiting friends and family, to traveling to medical appointments, or getting goods to market, we rely on our local airports to support and sustain vibrant communities. These airports also provide essential air services including community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue and forest fire response.

The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, today announced that the Government of Canada is making important safety investments at local airports across the country.

Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) will provide over $48.6 million for new safety-related improvement projects, including $354,851 to install wildlife fencing at the Brandon Municipal Airport and $168,270 to rehabilitate the electrical systems on Apron IV at the St. Andrews Airport in Manitoba.

Today’s announcement represents the largest investment in ACAP projects since the program started in 1995.

Further projects will be announced in the coming weeks and will include rehabilitating runways, taxiways and aprons; improving airfield lighting and airside electrical systems; purchasing snow-clearing equipment; upgrading airfield guidance signs; and installing wildlife control fencing.

Well-maintained airports help ensure safe usage by aircraft, passengers, and crews, and help protect costly airport safety assets, such as snow clearing equipment and aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles, during airport operations.