The Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, celebrated the grand opening of the Rankin Inlet air terminal building and announced federal funding of $85.5 million through the Arctic Infrastructure Fund (AIF) to support the Rankin Inlet Airfield Rehabilitation Project.
This investment builds on a previously announced investment from National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF) which funded the Rankin Inlet air terminal building. It will help the full rehabilitation of the airport’s runaway which will enhance the reliability and safety of air transportation in the Kivalliq region. As a critical gateway for northern communities, the airport plays an essential role in moving passengers, cargo, and vital supplies and services, including food and medical equipment.
The AIF funding complements the Department of National Defence’s investment to rehabilitate the runway, reaffirmed by Prime Minister Carney earlier this year. Together, these improvements will strengthen the airport’s capacity to support growing transportation needs while enhancing the Canadian Armed Force’s operational capabilities in Canada’s North.
The project will reinforce Rankin Inlet Airport’s role as a key regional logistics hub, supporting community connectivity, emergency and medevac services, and supply chains across Nunavut. It will also strengthen the dual use infrastructure that serves both civilian and defence purposes, contributing to the long-term resilience of northern transportation networks and supporting Canada’s security and sovereignty objectives.
Funding announced today will support:
- Enhancement of the safety, reliability, and capacity of the airport’s runway, taxiways, and apron systems, which serve the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut;
- Rehabilitation of approximately 141,000 square metres of airfield pavement, including Runway 13 31, Taxiways A and C, and associated apron surfaces;
- Ensure on-going safe and reliable operations, extend the airfield’s service life by 15 to 20 years, and reduce long term maintenance needs.
Through the AIF, the Government of Canada is making targeted investments in dual-use, civilian/community and defence, and nation-building infrastructure that strengthen northern transportation corridors, improve supply chain reliability, increase economic opportunities, and support Canada’s long-term presence and operational readiness in the Arctic and the North.
(Ranklin Inlet Terminal photo from Government of Nunavut)