Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (B.C.), announced $11,721,721 in RATI funding for 11 regional airports in British Columbia.
The Government of Canada’s Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI), launched in March 2021, supports access to air transportation and regional ecosystems. In particular, it enables the continuation of existing air routes and ensures airports remain operational and able to contribute to regional economic growth, while adapting to new post-COVID-19 realities and requirements. RATI, administered by the regional development agencies (RDAs), has a national budget of $206 million.
This funding, explains the government, will enable these airports to overcome challenges that were brought on by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Projects being funded include:
Prince Rupert Airport Authority, Prince Rupert, $503,427
Comox Valley Airport Commission, Comox, $1,094,406
Victoria Airport Authority, Sidney, $2,998,672
Central Coast Regional District, Bella Coola, $328,322
Prince George Airport Authority Inc., Prince George, $1,297,965
Kamloops Airport Authority Society, Kamloops, $1,256,378
North Peace Airport Society, Fort St. John, $1,212,750
The Corporation of the Town of Golden, Golden, $120,000
Terrace-Kitimat Airport Society, Terrace, $1,183,053
Nanaimo Airport Commission, Cassidy, $1,380,916
Nanaimo Port Authority, Nanaimo, $345,832
