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
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.