Funding from the province for Powell River and Texada Island airports will help both stay open so people can travel for essential purposes and access the services they need.
Powell River Airport is receiving $360,000 and Texada Island Airport is receiving $90,000.
City of Powell River chief administrative officer Russell Brewer said the money is intended to make up for lost revenue for 2020 and 2021, because of the reduction in landing and departure fees and other revenue.
“It will pretty much balance out what the foregone revenue and extra costs were for last year and this year,” said Brewer. “That was the intent on the part of the province to help fund the shortfalls that regional airports had because of COVID-19.
“We’ve kept the airport open because of medevac and the need to fly out samples such as COVID-19 tests during the pandemic.”
Brewer said the monetary infusion from the province is welcome because it will make up the funding shortfall that would have had to have been made up from other city sources.
“People in Powell River and on Texada know how important local airports are for transportation and emergency services,” stated Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons in a media release. “Community airports have faced all kinds of challenges over the past year. With this funding, we’re helping them be ready for whatever comes next once we’re all safely through the pandemic.”
The provincial government issued a one-time investment of $6.2 million to various inter-city bus operators and $16.5 million for regional airports to support operations between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Inter-city bus operators and regional airports will use the funds to pay for operating costs, such as maintenance expenses for buses, air terminals and runways, as well as for payroll, rent and other overhead costs that keep these services operating.
This announcement is part of BC’s $10 billion COVID response, which includes the StrongerBC for Everyone recovery plan.
