Funding goes to 4 airports in the North, 1 on Central Coast, 1 in Interior...
Six airports in British Columbia are receiving an influx of federal funding through Transport Canada's Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) to upgrade aging infrastructure.
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon emphasized that these regional airports serve as critical lifelines, keeping local communities safely connected to essential services, jobs, and the rest of the country.
Funding Breakdown by Airport
- Masset Airport (Haida Gwaii): Over $10.85 million for airfield pavement and drainage upgrades.
- Prince Rupert Airport: Nearly $3.76 million to rehabilitate airfield lighting systems.
- Smithers Airport: Roughly $3.62 million to overhaul airfield electrical equipment.
- Bella Coola Airport: Nearly $3.4 million to restore the runway, taxiway, and apron.
- Kamloops Airport: Roughly $1.35 million to replace and upgrade electrical infrastructure.
- Northern Rockies Regional Airport (Fort Nelson): $552,600 to replace runway approach lighting.
James Lindsey, chair of the Regional Community Airports of Canada, highlighted that smaller airports lack the independent financial resources needed to keep up with the "astronomically high" costs of maintaining modern equipment. He noted that these hubs are vital to the national economy and daily survival, acting as transport links for medical patients, essential workers, tourism, and resource sectors like fishing and exploration.
-News97.ca with files from CBC
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