Record Investments In 15 Community Airports To Support Economic Recovery

Released on May 29, 2020

The Government of Saskatchewan is more than doubling its investment in the Community Airport Partnership (CAP) program in 2020-21.

The province will invest $1.5 million in improvements to 15 community airports around the province.  When combined with local matching dollars, this represents a $3 million investment in airport infrastructure.

“Community and regional airports contribute to our economy by supporting vital public services like Saskatchewan’s Air Ambulance, law enforcement and fire suppression,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottenbreit said.  “These projects will be completed this year, providing an immediate boost to communities as we begin to reopen our economy.”

The province boosted the program by 21 per cent when it released its Estimates in March.  In May, an additional $660,000 in stimulus funds were added, resulting in an overall investment of $1.5 million.  That’s a year-over-year increase of 114 per cent.

“The Swift Current Airport is a vital transportation hub that serves the greater Southwest Saskatchewan region,” City of Swift Current Mayor Denis Perrault said.  “The funds granted under the Community Airport Partnership program through the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure will allow us to make significant improvements to our primary runway and to continue to pursue economic development initiatives that require this infrastructure.”

“The grant of $275,000 is what makes it possible to rehabilitate our failing airport apron,” Melfort Mayor Rick Lang said.  “Our airport is of great significance to the City of Melfort and to our surrounding Rural Municipalities as it enables such important services as aerial application and air ambulance.  We are truly grateful for this provincial partnership with our city.”

CAP supports local airports offset the costs of rehabilitation and infrastructure improvements, with cost-shared grants up to a maximum of $275,000.  For the first time in the program’s history, three airports will receive the maximum grant.

This year’s investment will result in improvements to the following airports:

• Esterhazy – $5,883 – runway and apron repairs
• Humboldt – $12,500 – Relocating power lines
• Kindersley – $9,000 – crack filling runway and apron, surface repairs to taxiway
• Leader – $36,172.50 – crack repair and slurry seal
• Maidstone – $5,926.17 – crack seal runway, taxiway and apron
• Maple Creek - $43,965 – runway sealing
• Melfort – $275,000 – full rehabilitation of apron
• Moosomin – $275,000 – Phase 2 of runway construction
• North Battleford – $135,000 – final phase of resurfacing main runway
• Prince Albert – $241,500 – Taxiway F edge lighting, pull-pits, and information sign, Taxiway B installation of storm sewer and catch basins
• Rockglen – $5,000 – bring airport back into service
• Swift Current – $275,000 – paint markings, major rehabilitation of asphalt surfaces
• Unity – $88,450 – runway resurfacing
• Weyburn – $72,500 – full rehabilitation of main runway
• Wynyard – $45,000 – repair cracks, slurry seal and paint markings

Most of this year’s additional funds come from the government’s $2 billion stimulus package that will increase investment in infrastructure to $7.5 billion over the next two years.  The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure will invest $300 million into stimulus projects that include TMS upgrades, passing lanes and improvements to municipal roads and airports.

Since 2007, more than $9 million has been invested in community airports and coupled with 50-50 matching community contributions the program has generated more than $18 million in airport improvements.  A total of 36 different communities have benefited since the program began.

For more information about CAP, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/transportation/airports/community-airport-partnership-cap-program.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Steve Shaheen
Highways and Infrastructure
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-5641
Email: steve.shaheen@gov.sk.ca