Government of Canada Invests in Thunder Bay International Airport for Safe and Reliable Air Services

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the recovery of the aviation sector from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this effort, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, announced investments in the Thunder Bay International Airport to maintain safety, security, and connectivity for travellers, workers, and communities. The airport received over $1.7 million from Transport Canada's Airport Relief Fund and $395,000 from the Airports Capital Assistance Program for the purchase of essential equipment to ensure safe airport operations.

Key Takeaways:

• The Thunder Bay International Airport received over $1.7 million from Transport Canada's Airport Relief Fund to maintain continued airport operations and essential air services for residents and workers in Thunder Bay and surrounding communities.
• The airport is also receiving $395,000 from Transport Canada's Airports Capital Assistance Program for the purchase of a snowplow truck and a runway ice sweeper to ensure safe airport operations.
• In addition to the support from Transport Canada, the Thunder Bay International Airports Authority is receiving more than $1.5 million in financial assistance from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) for upgrading lighting and HVAC equipment and replacing aging escalators in the terminal building.
• The projects at the Thunder Bay International Airport are designed to enhance safety and maintain air service, which is crucial for the local and regional economy.
• The funding supports jobs and the regional economy, and is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to build safer, healthier, and stronger communities as Canada recovers from the pandemic.
• The Airport Relief Fund is part of the federal stimulus recovery plan designed to build a stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient economy post-COVID-19.
• 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.

Statistics:

• $1.7 million: the amount of funding provided to the Thunder Bay International Airport from Transport Canada's Airport Relief Fund.
• $395,000: the amount of funding received by the airport from Transport Canada's Airports Capital Assistance Program for the purchase of a snowplow truck and a runway ice sweeper.
• $1.5 million: the amount of financial assistance received by the Thunder Bay International Airports Authority from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor).
• $64.8 million: the amount of funding provided by the Airport Relief Fund in 2021-2022 for targeted airports whose 2019 revenues were less than $250 million.
• $186 million: the one-time funding top-up for the Airports Capital Assistance Program over two years.
• $1.2 billion: the total amount invested by the Government of Canada in the Airports Capital Assistance Program since its inception in 1995.
• 1,215 projects: the number of projects funded by the Airports Capital Assistance Program.
• 199 airports: the number of airports that have received funding through the Airports Capital Assistance Program.
• $206 million: the national budget of the Regional Airport Transportation Initiative (RATI), administered by the regional development agencies.
• $250 million: the national budget of the Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI) over three years.

Sources:

• Transport Canada
• The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport
• The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services
• Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Rainy River
• The Thunder Bay International Airports Authority
• FedNor
• The Regional Airport Transportation Initiative (RATI)
• The Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI)