NICKEL BELT – GREATER SUDBURY – Canadians rely on safe and well-maintained local and regional airports to support vibrant communities. These airports also support essential air services including community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue, and forest fire response.

MP Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, today announced that the Government of Canada is making important safety investments at the Greater Sudbury airport. Through Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), the Government of Canada will provide over $2.6 million to the Greater Sudbury Airport for the rehabilitation of Taxiways A, B, and Runway 04-22

This funding is in addition to the investments announced under the program in May 2021, for 86 projects at 63 local and regional airports, including runway and taxiway repairs/rehabilitation, lighting enhancements, purchasing snow clearing equipment and firefighting vehicles and installing wildlife fencing.

Additionally, in July 2021, the Greater Sudbury airport already received support through FedNor’s Canada’s Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI), which supports access to air transportation and regional ecosystems. In total, $3.5 million in financial support was provided for the Sudbury Airport Community Development Corporation (SACDC). This non-repayable contribution helped mitigate the financial pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting the operations of the Greater Sudbury airport for a one-year period. The project is expected to help maintain 27 local jobs.

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 airports across the country.

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

Quotes

“Regional air transportation is a major key to economic development of communities and businesses right across Canada including here in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury. It is essential to connecting residents living in rural and remote communities to urban centres, for delivering goods to global markets and to welcoming visitors for leisure and business. I applaud the continued efforts from the team at the Greater Sudbury airport for their focus on development and growth!” – Marc G. Serré, MP Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages

“The pandemic highlighted the important role Canada’s local and regional airports play in our country’s economy, and in sustaining the social and economic well-being of our communities. In addition to supporting personal travel, local and regional airports are key connectors for business, health care, social services, and emerging resource development sectors. These investments will improve access to safe, reliable and efficient air transportation options, and will help us deliver on our commitment to build safer, healthier and stronger communities as Canada recovers from the pandemic.” – The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport

“Our airport is a key economic driver for Sudbury and plays a crucial role in the provision of essential services. The sustainability of air transportation in our community is critical, and that is why today’s announcement of $2.6 million dollars is so important. With the government’s Airports Capital Assistance Program, the Greater Sudbury Airport can help ensure the continued safety of passengers, air crews, and employees.” – Viviane Lapointe, MP for Sudbury

“The Greater Sudbury Airport is a major contributor to the City of Greater Sudbury and regional economy. Today’s Federal Government Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) funding announcement will help sustain our airport’s readiness for the Greater Sudbury Airports recovery and travel restart. Our airport, like most, have endured significant financial impact due to the pandemic. These ACAP funds will support our main runway and taxiway rehabilitation program, while creating and maintaining jobs for businesses in Northern Ontario. The Greater Sudbury Airport continues to navigate an industry and global climate that has been severely impacted by the pandemic, in turn generating a significant challenge financially – however the most impacted remain the people. We are grateful to Marc and Viviane for their ongoing support for the Greater Sudbury Airport.” – Todd Tripp, CEO for the Greater Sudbury Airport