The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $1.5 million in the Community Airport Partnership (CAP) program as part of its 2021-22 provincial budget.
This funding will provide improvements to 19 community airports around the province. When combined with local matching dollars, CAP represents a $3 million investment in provincial airport infrastructure.
Carlyle will receive $33,911 for runway slurry seal, to repaint runway lines and numbers, and add ceilometer to the automated weather observing system (AWOS).
"As a commercial pilot myself, I know of the benefit these investments will have on some of our more rural and remote communities," Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said. "These revitalization and rehabilitation projects will bring some much needed upgrades to some of our community airports and runways, leading to better usage and reliability for medical, emergency and transportation services to all regions of the province."
Last year, the Government of Saskatchewan more than doubled its funding for the CAP program to $1.5 million, an increase of 114 per cent over the previous year. A portion of the 2021-22 investment, $650,000, comes from the $2 billion stimulus package announced in mid-2020.
The Ministry of Highways will be investing $300 million from that stimulus fund over several years into projects like resurfacing of runways, improvements for pilot assists at airports and several other highways specific projects.
The CAP helps municipal airports offset the costs of rehabilitation, construction and infrastructure improvements by providing cost-shared grants, up to a maximum of $275,000. So far, 20 applications from 19 communities have been approved, totalling $1.26 million in funding from each partner:
Another intake of applications will take place this fall to allocate the remaining funds.
