WHEREAS small communities with airstrips that are necessary for the use of private, emergency and small unscheduled commercial traffic have no means to access funding through the Air Transportation Assistance Program without being recognized as a commercial airport; AND WHEREAS it is necessary for those airports to be maintained and upgraded in order to keep their listing with Transport Canada and to attract commercial users; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial and federal governments provide funding sources to assist small communities in upgrades that will ensure long term emergency access and increased economic activity at isolated community airstrips in BC.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure The Province does not own or operate airports. Facilities are owned and operated either by local governments or by local not-for-profit authorities. The Province understands the importance of small community airports to provide essential and emergency services to British Columbians. The Province has invested over 65 million into airport infrastructure over the last 10 years with the Transportation Partnerships Program TPP and through various joint Canada-B.C. funding initiatives. While the TPP is currently not funded for new projects, its status will be reviewed as the provinces financial situation improves.