Winnipeg airport receiving nearly $13M from federal government
The Winnipeg Richardson International Airport is receiving millions in federal funding to help it recover from the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced $12.7 million in funding for the airport Tuesday morning.
Of the funds, $7 million is being set aside for infrastructure improvements, including rehabilitation of the taxiway.
The remaining $5.7 million will come from Transport Canada’s Airport Relief Fund to help maintain airport operations.
"Canada's airports are major contributors to our economy, and play a crucial role in sustaining the social and economic well-being of our communities,” Alghabra said in a statement. “This financial support will ensure that, as Canada works towards recovery and travel restart post-pandemic, the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport will be able to provide regional accessibility, and safe, reliable and efficient air services for residents and workers in Winnipeg and its surrounding communities."
The funding comes as the Winnipeg Airport Authority reported it has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting a net loss of $40.3 million due to a decline in air travellers.
Barry Rempel, president and CEO of WAA, said Tuesday’s announcement is an important step for the airport’s recovery.
“There is incredible optimism today in our industry for the first time in a very long while,” he said. “We are seeing domestic traffic slowly increasing, especially now that we’re allowed to get international flights back. We’re expecting that to steadily climb in the years to come.”
Rempel said before the pandemic, the airport averaged 12.500 passengers per day.
In the worst days of the pandemic, the number dropped to an average of 100 per day.
-With files from CTV's Jeff Keele and Simon Stones
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Saskatchewan isn't remitting the carbon tax on home heating. Why isn't my province following suit?
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
RCMP officers had no legal authority to enter man's home, make arrest: B.C. court
A B.C. man has been found not guilty of assaulting two RCMP officers – with the court finding he was resisting an "unlawful entry and arrest" in his home before he was tasered, taken down and hauled away in handcuffs.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.