Ottawa is investing CAD$85.5 million to rehabilitate Rankin Inlet Airport (YRT) in Nunavut, including major work on the runway, taxiways and apron surfaces.
The funding, announced through the Arctic Infrastructure Fund (AIF), was unveiled as officials marked the grand opening of Rankin Inlet’s new air terminal building.
Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, announced the funding on behalf of Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon.
The $85.5-million investment will support the Rankin Inlet Airfield Rehabilitation Project, including approximately 141,000 square metres of pavement covering Runway 13-31, Taxiways A and C and associated apron surfaces.
According to the federal government, the work is expected to extend the airfield’s service life by 15 to 20 years while reducing long-term maintenance requirements.
The latest investment follows previous funding through the National Trade Corridors Fund for the airport’s new terminal building. The Department of National Defence is also investing in the rehabilitation of the runway.
Rankin Inlet Airport serves as a transportation and logistics hub for Nunavut’s Kivalliq region, moving passengers, cargo, food, medical equipment and other supplies. It also supports emergency and medevac services.
The airport has both civilian and military uses, with the federal government positioning the improvements as part of its broader effort to strengthen transportation infrastructure and Canadian Armed Forces capabilities in the North.
"Investing in the Rankin Inlet Airport is an investment in Canada's North, our Arctic sovereignty, and the communities that depend on reliable transportation every day. Through the Arctic Infrastructure Fund, we are strengthening critical infrastructure that serves both civilian and defence purposes, helping ensure northern transportation networks remain safe, resilient, and dependable well into the future," said MacKinnon.
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