Government of Canada invests in 15 Manitoba airports

The last two years have underscored the crucial role airports play in supporting essential air services. By ensuring community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue, and forest fire response, airports contribute to keeping Canadians safe and connected from coast-coast-coast. Canadians rely on safe and well-maintained local and regional airports to support vibrant communities.

The Canadian Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced that the Government of Canada is making important safety investments at local and regional airports in Manitoba.

Through Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Programme, 15 airports in Manitoba will receive over $5.1 million from the Government of Canada for projects and equipment that will help maintain safe airport operations for passengers, crews, and airport workers. The airports receiving funding are:

Berens River (YBV)

• To purchase a compactor (tow behind) – $50,000

Bloodvein River (YDV)

• To purchase a compactor (tow behind) – $50,000
• To install wildlife control fencing – $940,655

Flin Flon Airport (YFO)

• To purchase runway friction tester – $6,420
• To purchase a grader – $438,000
• To replace runway approach lighting – $90,329

Gods Lake Narrows Airport (YGO)

• To purchase a compactor (tow behind) – $50,000
• To purchase a loader mounted snow blower – $210,000

Norway House Airport (YNE)

• To purchase a compactor (tow behind) – $50,000

Oxford House Airport (YOH)

• To purchase a compactor (tow behind) – $50,000

Pukatawagan Airport (XPK)

• To purchase a compactor (tow behind) – $50,000

Red Sucker Lake Airport (YRS)

• To purchase a compactor (tow behind) – $50,000

South Indian Lake Airport (XSI)

• To purchase a compactor (tow behind) – $50,000

St. Andrews Airport (YAV)

• To purchase a sweeper – $395,200

St. Theresa Point Airport (YST)

• To purchase a compactor (tow behind) – $50,000

Tadoule Lake Airport (XTL)

• To purchase a compactor (tow behind) – $50,000
• To install wildlife control fencing – $1,029,573

The Pas/Grace Lake

• To purchase a loader mounted snow blower – $234,000

Thompson Municipal Airport (YTH)

• To purchase a snowplow – $358,960

York Factory Keeyask Implementation (ZAC)

• To install wildlife control fencing – $926,610.

The equipment will be used in maintaining aircraft movement surfaces and the removal and control of ice and snow from airside surfaces such as runways, taxiways and the apron. For airports with a gravel runway, a compactor is used to compress the gravel on the runway, creating a stable surface for safe landing and takeoff operations. The wildlife fencing will keep large mammals away from secure airfield areas.

This funding is in addition to the more than $20.8 million provided under the Programme in 2021 to support safety-related projects at the Flin Flon, Gods Lake Narrows, Lac Brochet, Red Sucker Lake, Shamattawa, and Thompson airports.

Alghabra commented: “Airports play a crucial role in keeping Canadians connected across our vast country, and the last two years have only underscored this. The investment of over $5.1 million for 15 airports across Manitoba is great news for the region’s air sector and for the communities these airports serve. Investments like these will ensure that our air sector comes out strong as we enter post-pandemic recovery, and help us keep our commitment to building safer, stronger communities.”