It's an important investment for Yorkton and it's another step towards a fully functional airport that can better serve the community.
Last week Yorkon/Melville MP Garry Breitkreuz, on behalf of the federal government, presented a cheque for $250,000 to the city to put towards needed airport upgrades. The funding comes from the federal Government's Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF).
Runway drainage as well as signage and lighting will all be upgraded. Changes will improve the movement of aircraft on the runways and make the airport safer. The Yorkton airport is the second-busiest after Regina in southern Saskatchewan.
"Our Government is committed to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity in our communities," says Breitkreuz. "And by improving facilities such as the Yorkton Municipal Airport, we are helping to boost economic activity and maintain a high quality of life for Canadians.
"Facilities like this are very, very important. They serve the entire business community which provides a foundation for continued economic growth."
With work slated for the summer, this will in turn create more jobs says Breitkreuz and greater prosperity for this area.
This is good news for Yorkton, agrees Mayor Bob Maloney. "This significant funding helps us to move forward with much needed improvements to our airport infrastructure and will enhance our stature as the regional transportation hub of East-Central Saskatchewan.
"$250,000 is a large sum of money for the city. In the past number of years through the Yorkton Airport Authority - and I want to congratulate the board - a lot of work has been done at the airport... and I think to councils credit, we've bought in. We've been spending money at the airport and help like this is just huge."
Much credit was given to the Airport Authorities current Board Chair, Ron Evinou who has been working hard to see that needed improvements happen. Unfortunately for the board, Evinou has announced he is stepping down and moving to Ontario but will continue to support local efforts the best he can.
CIIF supports, on a cost-shared basis, repairs and improvements to existing community infrastructure accessible to the public. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the Fund in Western Canada with an allocation of $46.2 million over two years.
Since 2006, the Harper Government, through WD, has invested in job-creating small and medium-sized businesses, aerospace, marine and defence industries, and supported innovative entrepreneurs in pursuing emerging markets.
By continuing to promote new economic opportunities, Breit-kreuz says WD is helping to create jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity.
