Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members and the public on some of the activities occurring at the Yellowknife Airport, or YZF. The airport has had an eventful year that included lucrative cold weather testing partnerships, responding to challenges from COVID-19-related events and work to advance important infrastructure improvements.

Mr. Speaker, cold weather testing at YZF continues to generate economic growth in the NWT. After successfully hosting Bell Helicopters in 2019, we followed up by welcoming Korean Aerospace Industries from December 2021 to February 2022. This partnership supported cold weather testing for their weaponless Light Armed Helicopter. With a total of 40 pilots, engineers and support staff travelling to Yellowknife, over $2 million dollars was injected into the northern economy through spending on local hotels, car rentals, office spaces and other local businesses. All travellers were required to comply with NWT health orders.

Det’on Cho Logistics, the economic development arm of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation secured a contract with Korean Aerospace and provided logistic support and gained valuable experience that will translate into future Cold Weather Testing support opportunities.

As we recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yellowknife is in the unique position to provide both the ideal climate and the necessary amenities to support cold weather testing. Our government continues to seek partnerships with international aviation leaders who are in need of suitable testing locations.

Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that COVID-19 had a significant impact on airport traffic. At its lowest, we saw a 91% decrease from pre-pandemic numbers in passenger movements through YZF. There are signs of recovery in the travel sector, which when compared to 2020, saw nine straight months of increase in passenger traffic from this past April to December.

As passenger movement increased, Airport staff and management worked to support the monitoring of passengers and the implementation of federal travel requirements related to COVID 19.  As COVID protocols evolve the Airport will update and change procedures as required for staff and passengers. I am optimistic that with the opening of the border to leisure travel on March 1st we will see a marked increase in the number of travelers coming North.

Mr. Speaker, YZF continues to improve and modernize its infrastructure. Upgrades to the runway airfield lighting were completed in October 2021. This included the replacement of all cabling, lighting, airport signage and improved approach lighting. These improvements provide increased reliability and safety for its users. Work scheduled for 2022 also includes rehabilitating the airfield drainage and replacing the public parking access control and management system.

Finally, the Airport’s Consolidated Master Plan is in the final stages of development and scheduled for completion by the end of this month. The Re-establishment of the Economic Advisory Committee is also underway. The committee members will be confirmed within the next month. This work is vital to support the continued improvement of YZF infrastructure in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT and YZF will continue to work with private and public stakeholders to secure new investments and federal funding to expand our local economy while also improving our infrastructure.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.