Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 39 seconds.
Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of Bays – Central – Notre Dame, on behalf of Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, has announced a major investment of $5 million for an infrastructure project that will help local businesses compete by moving local goods to market and by making improvements to airport infrastructure.
The project consists of rehabilitating the Gander International Airport’s critical infrastructure by resurfacing Runway 13/31 and the adjoining taxiways and aprons.
Runways with uneven surfaces or poor grading impact the quality and thoroughness of snow and ice control efforts. In addition, these conditions have an adverse effect on ground equipment.
The project is expected to have significant economic and employment benefits by creating an estimated 100 jobs during construction.
The Government of Canada is supporting infrastructure projects that contribute most to Canada’s continued success in international trade. For example, projects being funded will:
- support economic activity and the physical movement of goods or people in Canada;
help the transportation system withstand the effects of climate change and make sure it is able to support new technologies and innovation; - address transportation bottlenecks and congestion along Canada’s trade corridors; and
- increase the fluidity of Canadian trade around the world through our ports, airports, roads, railways, intermodal facilities, bridges and border crossings.
Provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous groups, not-for-profit and for-profit private-sector organizations, federal Crown Corporations, Canadian Port Authorities, and National Airport System Airport Authorities are all eligible for funding under the National Trade Corridors Fund.
“The Gander International Airport is an important economic generator for our province,” said Sims. “Upgrading its critical infrastructure will ensure it keeps serving not only our local community, but as we have all witnessed, the international community, for generations to come.”
“Our government is investing in Canada’s economy by making improvements to our trade and transportation corridors,” said Garneau. “We are supporting projects that will efficiently move commercial goods to market and people to their destinations, stimulate economic growth, create quality middle-class jobs, and ensure that Canada’s transportation networks remain competitive and efficient.”
Quick Facts
- This project will strengthen the safety and sustainability of the Gander International Airport, which is part of the National Airports System.
- The 26 airports in the National Airports System serve about 95 per cent of all scheduled passenger and cargo traffic in Canada, and handle almost all of Canada’s international trade flows by air.
- Transportation is an important element of Canada’s trade with other countries. In 2017, total international merchandise trade amounted to $1.1 trillion. The United States continued to be Canada’s top trade partner, with $703 billion in trade ($415 billion exported, $288 billion imported), accounting for 63.5 per cent of total Canadian trade in 2017.
- The Government of Canada places a strong emphasis on exports because of the connection between trade and good, well-paying jobs, as industries that are export-intensive pay wages that are, on average, more than 50 per cent higher than industries that are not
It is great to see this investment in Gander International Airport by the federal government. In the existing and original International Departures Lounge there are two important Canadian works of art, one is the large mural and the other a sculpture by Art Price of Ottawa called “Birds of Welcome”. Are any of the funds made available to save these two works of art. They must not be forgotten. They are both considered excellent works of Canadian art. The whole lounge is a work of art in itself.