Province provides $1.13M to regional airports
Funding to be used for business plans and feasibility studies, Dreeshen says
Ten regional airports across Alberta will share $1.13 million in provincial grants to support “business cases and feasibility studies” for development, Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen said on Thursday.
The Whitecourt Airport (also known as the CYZU Airport) is among the recipients, with $78,684 earmarked for a “commercial development feasibility study.”
“With Whitecourt and commercial development, ( how) a lot of airports can afford to operate is on the commercial side,” Dreeshen told Postmedia.
Businesses and commercial tenants that operate on airport sites “help pay the bills,” Dreeshen said.
“Regional airports aren't big money-makers, so they have to work with businesses to attract them, to operate and hopefully to expand,” he said.
“They don't get the passenger flow that the Edmonton and Calgary airports have.”
The Whitecourt Airport does bring in oil-and-gas workers, STARS and medevac and has been used for wildfire fighting.
During the announcement at Red Deer Regional Airport in Springbrook, Dreeshen said that the studies are meant to find opportunities to enhance the airports' economic competitiveness.
This may involve hangar development or creating business cases to attract new airlines, he said.
In 2023, Woodlands County applied for $5.3 million under the provincial community airport program to rehabilitate Runway 11-29 at the Whitecourt Airport.
Dreeshen confirmed he met with Woodlands County officials in March, and he said he recognizes Woodlands and its Whitecourt facility perform “an amazing service” for the region.
SERVICE FOR WILDFIRES
“That is such an important regional airport, especially when it comes to wildfires,” Dreeshen said.
“With these studies, we will be able to see infrastructure capacity and the need for new infrastructure across the province, and how future provincial funding can go out, including in Whitecourt.”
The funding also includes $140,000 to the Grande Prairie Airport for a Canadian Border Services Agency facilities study and $57,552 to Peace River Regional Airport for a master plan.
The Fort McMurray International Airport will receive $119,200 to develop a business case “to recapture lost passenger traffic,” while Cold Lake Regional Airport will receive $144,000 to study certification.
The High Level Airport will receive $56,000 for a master plan and Red Deer will get $120,000 to craft a land development strategy.
Other recipients are the Lloydminster Municipal Airport ($113,988), Lethbridge Airport ($150,000) and Medicine Hat Regional Airport ($150,000).
Dreeshen said the studies for northern airports like High Level will have a “heavy impact” on wildfire responses. However, Dreeshen said the studies probably won't be completed for this year's wildfire season. Forestry Minister Todd Loewen already declared the start of the 2024 wildfire season while in Whitecourt on Feb. 20.
“If there is additional aircraft needed, planning and logistics can make sure they can better connect for future wildfire seasons,” Dreeshen said on Thursday.
As for airports left out of Thursday's funding announcement, Dreeshen said airports were prioritized as the province worked with regional airports.
Some airports not receiving grants had capacity issues, he said.
“The funding provided ... will benefit many rural communities,” Kara Westerlund, Rural Municipalities of Alberta vice-president, said in a statement.
“(It) represents a strong step in maintaining Alberta's rural transportation network.”