PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO – Major improvements to the Peterborough Airport will spur economic growth, job creation and new business opportunities in the region.
 
On hand to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Peterborough Airport expansion project were:  James Jones - Warden of the County of Peterborough, Barry Devolin - MP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, Paul Ayotte - Mayor of the City of Peterborough, Dean Del Mastro - MP for Peterborough and Jeff Leal - MPP for Peterborough.
 
This project entails the construction of a comprehensive aviation industrial park which will include an apron expansion (area designated for loading, unloading, refuelling and maintaining aircraft), construction of a new central apron and air terminal building, groundside commercial development, and increasing the length of the runway from 5,000 to 7,000 ft.
 
“Airports are one of our nation’s most valuable transportation commodities and provide a major contribution to local economies that reaches far beyond the airport fence,” said MP Del Mastro, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “This dynamic project will create jobs and greatly increase economic activity in the Peterborough region, providing a boost to the economy when it is needed most.”
 
“Our government’s Open Ontario plan is creating jobs for our families through important infrastructure investments like this,” said MPP Leal. “Expanding and improving the Peterborough Airport will grow our region’s economy and provide lasting benefits for local residents and businesses.”
 
“The Peterborough Airport expansion will be a catalyst to further position Peterborough as a premier aviation and aerospace centre supporting new business development and job creation in this important and growing industry sector,” commented Mayor Paul Ayotte, “I am excited to have shovels in the ground and to be working closely with our provincial, federal and local partners to see this investment result in meaningful opportunities for Peterborough’s economic growth”.
 
The governments of Canada and Ontario, along with the City of Peterborough, are each investing up to $7 million each through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund program. The total eligible cost of the project is $21 million.
 
As part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is providing funding to  close to 4,000 infrastructure projects across the country.
 
 
The contribution from the Province of Ontario comes from its 2009 provincial budget that is supporting more than 300,000 jobs and strengthening Ontario's economy.
 
Since 2007, the governments of Canada and Ontario have committed more than $13 billion in funding to over 6,400 infrastructure projects across the province.