(Submitted photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

By paNOW Staff

P.A., La Ronge, Melfort and other communities to receive funding for airport improvements

Apr 29, 2021 | 3:51 PM

The Government of Saskatchewan will be investing $1.5 million into the Community Airport Partnership as part of this year’s budget. Some of the communities who will benefit include La Ronge, Melfort and Prince Albert plus many others.

According to a media release, 19 airports will benefit from the program. With combined matching dollars, it will be a $3 million investment to community airports.

“As a commercial pilot myself, I know of the benefit these investments will have on some of our more rural and remote communities,” Fred Bradshaw, Minister of Highways, said. “These revitalization and rehabilitation projects will bring some much needed upgrades to some of our community airports and runways, leading to better usage and reliability for medical, emergency and transportation services to all regions of the province.”

Prince Albert airport will be receiving $106,650 for runway windsock and end markers, and additions to a buried wildlife fence to the airport perimeter fence. Melfort will receive $26,350 for two new taxiways and the excavation of a taxiway. La Ronge will receive $105,000 for culvert repair, surface condition assessment and a drainage survey.

“The Tri-Communities of La Ronge, Village of Air Ronge and Lac La Ronge Indian Band, as well as the surrounding districts, is thrilled that we are receiving the CAP grant for the much-needed servicing and repairs of the La Ronge Airport,” La Ronge Mayor Colin Ratushniak said in the press release. “As a vital hub and gateway to Northern Saskatchewan we provide an important service to air ambulance and aerial firefighting and ensure the capabilities to connect families and tourists with commercial services. The CAP grant will ensure that we can continue to offer the highest of standards and safety to our clients, which in return ensures the economic growth of Northern Saskatchewan.”

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Some other investments include $275,000 to Moosomin for a new paved, lit runway.

As explained in the release, the Government of Saskatchewan doubled its funding for the CAP program to $1.5 million in 2020, which is an increase of 114 per cent over the year before.

More applications will be accepted this fall to allocate the remaining funds.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow