The Government of Canada is providing around $13.5m (C$17m) in funding to Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport to help it recover from the pandemic and fuel growth.
Of the total amount, $9.9m (C$12.5m) will be provided under the National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF), to be used for the development of an air cargo centre.
Covering an area of 5,600m², the facility will comprise a dedicated space for regional air carriers.
Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said: “By investing in the Jean Lesage International Airport, we’re helping Québec City grow and ensure its recovery.
“We’re also creating good jobs for the middle class and new economic opportunities for the people of Quebec. This is all part of our objective to build back better after the pandemic.”
The government will also provide a grant of more than $3.3m (C$4.2m) from Transport Canada’s Airport Relief Fund.
This will be used to support the airport in maintaining its operations such as essential air services for residents and workers in Quebec City and nearby communities.
Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport president and CEO Stéphane Poirier said: “The vitality and attractiveness of a region depend in large part on the strength of its airport and we share with the Government of Canada the desire to see the greater Québec City region perform well in the context of economic recovery.
“The funding announced today allows us to take a giant step towards the realization of the cargo platform project. This is excellent news for our airport, of course, but also for our carriers and for companies in the industrial sectors of the Québec City region, the East and the North, which are particularly sensitive to delivery times.”
The $1.8bn (C$2.3bn) NTCF, announced in 2017, is aimed at helping fund infrastructure projects in Canada over 11 years. It has provided $200m (C$252m) for 12 projects in Quebec since 2017.
Launched in May, the Airport Relief Fund intends to offer $51.6m (C$64.8m) in 2021-2022 for airports, whose revenues were below $199.3m (C$250m) in 2019.
