The Community Airport Partnership (CAP) is getting more than a doubled investment from the Government of Saskatchewan for 2020-2021. 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 program was boosted by 21% when the estimates were released in March, and an additional $660, 000 was added in May for a year over year increase of 114%.

“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.”

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.

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

*Denotes West Central Region