Suggested Responses
- The Government of Canada recognizes that safe and efficient airports are vital to the economic and social well-being of smaller and remote communities.
- The Airports Capital Assistance Program provides yearly funding to Canada’s smaller regional and remote passenger airports to support safety-related capital investments.
- Since it began in 1995, the Airports Capital Assistance Program has provided over $1.3 billion in funding for 1,288 projects at 201 airports in all provinces and territories.
- Budget 2025 announced an additional $15.7 million per year that increased the annual funding level of the program to $52.4 million.
If Pressed
- Through various Grants and Contribution programs, Transport Canada has invested about $2.8 billion in aviation-related projects since 1995.
Background Information
Historically, the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) provided
$36.7 million per year to support safety-related capital investments at Canada’s smaller passenger airports. Budget 2025 announced an additional $15.7 million per year for the program, which increased the annual funding level to
$52.4 million.
Examples of eligible safety-related ACAP projects include the rehabilitation of airside surfaces/lighting, wildlife fencing, and various heavy airside equipment. Expansions or upgrades are not eligible for funding.
To receive funding, applicants must show that their project is required to meet safety standards and the airport must:
- receive year-round regularly scheduled passenger service with a minimum of 1,000 passengers a year for the last three consecutive years; and
- not be federally owned.
Funding is currently provided on a cost-sharing basis. Airports with less than 50,000 passengers per year are funded 100% by the Government. There is a 5% reduction in the funding level per 25,000 passengers up to 524,999 passengers.
Eligible projects fall into three categories in descending order of priority:
- Priority 1: Safety-related airside projects;
- Priority 2: Heavy airside mobile equipment (safety related); and
- Priority 3: Air terminal building/groundside (safety related).