The Government of Saskatchewan has opened applications for the 2022-2023 Community Airport Partnerships (CAP) program. Up to $275,000 per community is available.
In the 2021-22 budget, the province contributed a record $1.5 million toward improvements at 17 community airports. The funds are coming from the province’s two-year $7.5 billion stimulus program.
Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said that “Our community airports are important to our provincial economy. The program provides grants to municipal governments to improve community airports by helping offset costs associated with rehabilitation and upgrades.”
The Moose Jaw municipal airport was the recipient of the full $275,000 grant last year. The funds were used for part of the cost of resurfacing and extending the airport’s runway, adding taxiways, and expanding the apron to allow for more hangars.
The full project cost was over $3 million, including $1.2 million from the federal government, $999,900 from the provincial government, $500,000 from the City of Moose Jaw, $250,000 from the airport authority, and $275,000 through CAP.
The Moose Jaw Flying Club hopes to see the municipal airport become the third-biggest flying destination in Saskatchewan. While it obviously cannot match the scale of the regional hubs in Regina and Saskatoon, local businesses are making ever-more-extensive use of the airport.
The Moose Jaw Municipal Airport Authority, which administers the airport on behalf of the city, believes it can become an important economic driver. They see possibilities for expanded business use, tourist opportunities, charter flights, and increased partnership with the nearby airforce base.
One of the uses the Airport Authority is most proud of is the increased access the runway extension offers for air ambulance flights.
CAP is administered through the Ministry of Highways. The ministry reports that since 2007-08, more than $10.5 million has been invested through CAP with a total of 42 different communities and RMs benefitting.
CAP projects are approved based on criteria including safety improvements; the extended life cycle of the rehabilitated asset; increasing the use of the airport; economic benefits resulting from the project; and economic benefits from increased partnership opportunities.
