Northern communities across Canada depend on well-maintained airports to keep them connected. These airports also support essential air services including community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue, and forest fire response.

“With Canada being such a large country, our airports are critical to keeping communities connected, especially in our Northern communities and Territories. This investment in local and regional airports in Nunavut will ensure that residents across Nunavut continue to be able to see their loved ones and have access to essential air services. Our Government made a commitment to Canadians to build safer, healthier, and stronger communities as we rebuild from the pandemic, and through investments like these, that’s exactly what we’re doing.” 

The Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport

• As announced in the Fall Economic Statement 2020, the Airports Capital Assistance Program received a one-time funding top-up of $186 million over two years.

• The Fall Economic Statement 2020 also announced the temporary expansion of eligibility for the Airports Capital Assistance Program to allow National Airports System airports with less than one million annual passengers in 2019 to apply for funding under the Program in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.

• Since the Airports Capital Assistance Program started in 1995, the Government of Canada has invested over $1.2 billion for 1,215 projects at 199 local, regional and National Airports System airports across the country. Funded projects include runway and taxiway repairs/rehabilitation, lighting enhancements, purchasing snow clearing equipment and firefighting vehicles as well as installing wildlife control fencing. 

Associated links

• Airports Capital Assistance Program

Nadine Ramadan
Press Secretary and Communication Advisor
Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
nadine.ramadan@tc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
media@tc.gc.ca