Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Regional air transportation is crucial to local economic growth, the movement of goods and the connectivity of Canadians across the country. The pandemic has had major impacts on regional air transportation ecosystems, affecting communities and local businesses from coast to coast to coast.
The Government of Canada’s Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI), launched in March 2021, supports access to air transportation and regional ecosystems. In particular, it enables the continuation of existing air routes and ensures airports remain operational and able to contribute to regional economic growth, while adapting to new post-COVID-19 realities and requirements.
Helping the Saint John Airport stay in business
With this in mind, Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John – Rothesay, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA, today announced $3,800,000 in financial support for Saint John Airport Inc. This corporation provides air travel services for the residents of southwestern New Brunswick as well as commercial services and private operators. This non-repayable contribution will enable the airport to mitigate economic hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain operations and essential services.
Regional air transportation is key to the economic development of communities and businesses right across Canada. It is essential to connecting Canadians living in rural and remote communities to urban centres, delivering Canadian goods to the global market and welcoming international visitors to all parts of the country, when it is safe to do so.