KENORA – Greg Rickford, MP-Kenora, on behalf of Canada’s Transport Minister John Baird, has announced funding which will allow two remote airports in Northwestern Ontario to make important safety and infrastructure upgrades. The funding will enable the airports to maintain the certification standards of the runway surface with a supply of crushed gravel.
Lansdowne House Airport – $1,298,000
Webequie Airport – $1,914,000
“I’m pleased to announce funding for the Lansdowne House and Webequie Airports that will allow them to make important safety and infrastructure upgrades, and sustain service to passengers throughout the community,” said Rickford. “Having spent time nursing in several remote First Nations within the Kenora riding, I personally understand the importance of this. Smaller airports are vital to many communities across the country, but especially to those in remote northern areas. I am proud that the Government of Canada is taking action by investing in these much-needed safety upgrades.”
“It is a great honour that an MP is finally working with Neskantaga First Nation to address the serious airport safety issue,” said Chief Roy Moonias, “We appreciate what has been done for our community and look forward to working with Greg in the future”.
This year, the Government of Canada will invest more than $42 million in safety-related improvements at airports across Canada. These improvements will be funded in 2010-2011 under the Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP).
ACAP finances capital projects related to safety, such as rehabilitating runways and taxiways, and purchasing visual aids and heavy airside mobile equipment like fire trucks and snowplows. Since ACAP was first introduced, the Government of Canada has invested a total of $533 million for 650 projects at 170 airports, including today’s announcement. Over 99 per cent of these projects were airside projects.