YELLOWKNIFE (November 14, 2014) – Trout Lake residents and visitors now have access to a wider variety of travel and shipping options with the opening of the community’s new airport.

The original airport was constructed in 1987 and had a 2,632-foot runway. The new runway, stretching 3500 feet, will increase the capacity to handle a wider variety of aircraft, including larger airplanes and pressurized air services.

Trout Lake is serviced by a winter road, generally from mid-December to early April. For the rest of the year, residents, industry and tourists depend on aviation services for reliable, safe and secure travel and goods transportation. The new airport will also improve mobility, training, and employment opportunities.

This new airport will make Trout Lake and other remote and small communities in the area less isolated and better able to sustain themselves by reducing the cost of living and increasing connectivity. 

Quick Facts

• The governments of Canada and Northwest Territories provided a joint contribution of $9.3 million toward the eligible costs of this initiative through the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund.

Quotes

“The North is critical to Canada’s current and future prosperity and investing in modern, safe and efficient public infrastructure will help create a sustainable and vibrant Northern economy. We are pleased to work with our territorial partners to expand air services in the North, such as through the new Trout Lake Airport, to improve Northerners’ quality of life, enhance their access to goods and services, and stimulate investments and economic development in the region.”

The Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Infrastructure, Communities, and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

“Since 2006, our Government has been committed to supporting projects that play an important role in creating jobs and strengthening our economy. Our investment in this important project will help improve the region’s access to safe and efficient transportation options, and deliver on our commitment to building safer, healthier and stronger Northern communities.”

 The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council

 “This new airport makes the Dehcho region more accessible, encouraging sustainable development and economic growth. Our small community airports are a lifeline for everything from critical supplies to medevacs, and are especially important when there is no winter road access. Strategic investments in transportation infrastructure support our economy and improve GNWT services in communities.”

Tom Beaulieu
Minister of Transportation, GNWT

 “I wish to congratulate the residents and community of Trout Lake, who truly played a big role in building this new airport. They should be very proud.”

 Kevin Menicoche
Member of Legislative Assembly for Nahendeh

Associated Links

 Canada’s Economic Action Plan Gets Shovels in the Ground in the Northwest Territories:http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/media/news-nouvelles/2009/20090910yellowknife-eng.html

 To learn more about the federal Provincial—Territorial Base Fund, visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/ptbase-finbasept-eng.html

For more information about the Northwest Territories Department of Transportation, visit:http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/home.aspx

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit:http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/plan-eng.html.

To learn more about the Government of Canada’s focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada’s Economic Action Plan at http://www.eap.gc.ca.

 Contacts

 Vincent Rabault
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838

Megan Holsapple
Communications
Department of Transportation
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-873-7712

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media@infc.gc.ca
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