Greg Rickford, MP-Kenora, on behalf of Canada’s Transport Minister Chuck Strahl, announced funding that will allow the Kenora Airport to make important safety and infrastructure upgrades. By providing $775,744 of funding, the airport can now install wildlife control fencing to remediate an existing problem.

“Today I’m pleased to announce funding for the Kenora Airport that will allow this airport to make important safety and infrastructure upgrades,” said Rickford. Smaller airports are vital to many communities across the country, but especially those in northern communities. The Government of Canada is taking action to invest in these much-needed safety upgrades.”

“Our government is committed to aviation safety in Kenora and across Canada,” said Greg Rickford, “The Government of Canada is investing in Kenora Airport to ensure that efficient, safe, and affordable systems are in place to serve the Ontarians well into the future.”
 
“The Kenora Airport is very excited to receive funding for wildlife control fencing through Transport Canada's Airport Capital Assistance Program.  Without the help from the ACAP program the Kenora Airport would not be able to install this very essential safety upgrade.” said, Mike Zroback, Kenora Airport Manager. “The Kenora Airport is very dedicated to safety and with the installation of wildlife fencing we can now ensure the safety of its users now and in the future.”

This year, the Government of Canada will invest more than $42 million in safety-related improvements at airports across Canada. These improvements will be funded in 2010-2011 under the Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP). 

ACAP finances capital projects related to safety, such as rehabilitating runways and taxiways, and purchasing visual aids and heavy airside mobile equipment like fire trucks and snowplows. Since ACAP was first introduced, the Government of Canada has invested a total of $533 million for 650 projects at 170 airports, including today’s announcement. Over 99 per cent of these projects were airside projects.