SOUND OFF: Keeping people and businesses moving at Kamloops Airport

ALL ACROSS B.C., regional airports play a vital role in getting people where they need to be. Whether it’s transporting workers and visitors or supporting life-saving firefighting and medical evacuation services, small and regional airports are lifelines that our communities need.

During these challenging times, our New Democrat government is working to keep these vital services operating. Tuesday (Mar. 30), we announced that we’re supporting 55 regional airports around B.C. with an investment of $16.5 million and inter-city bus operators with $6.2 million. These funds will help cover operating costs, payroll, rent and other overhead costs for the next year as our economy recovers.

The Kamloops Airport is receiving $720,000 toward operating costs, which will be welcome news for the workers whose jobs are supported by the airport. And the economic impact will be even greater, as the airport generates around $73 million in local economic activity each year.

In addition to its impact on the local economy, the Kamloops Airport supports medevac services so that people can get life-saving medical care when every second counts. The airport also serves a crucial function in supporting firefighting and other emergency operations that help protect not only the Kamloops region, but also surrounding communities and other more remote areas of our province.