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Preamble:
WHEREAS Alberta has a rich aviation history dating back to the first recorded flights in 1910, which continues to play a critical role in Canada’s aviation, aerospace, and defence sectors; and
WHEREAS the Government of Alberta (GOA) has not invested in the development of a comprehensive, province-wide strategic plan for the aviation industry that explores opportunities across aviation, aerospace, and defence, including emergency services, intercommunity connectivity, and support for existing businesses and economic development; and
WHEREAS the Strategic Aviation Advisory Council Act (SAAC Act) was passed in June 2020; and
WHEREAS the SAAC Act established the Strategic Aviation Advisory Council (SAAC) to provide advice on improving the aviation and aerospace sector, fostering economic development, securing air services, optimizing infrastructure (including for remote communities), and enhancing pilot training; and
WHEREAS in June 2024, the GOA extended the SAAC Act for an additional five years, to December 31, 2030; and
WHEREAS historically, significant provincial investment has been allocated toward Alberta’s larger airports, including Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer, while municipal and community airports/aerodromes have received limited provincial capital funding despite their contribution to regional economic development and growth; and
WHEREAS multiple ministers have been tasked through the Premier’s 2025 mandate letters with addressing opportunities within the aviation, aerospace, and defence sectors; and
WHEREAS this resolution has been developed in consultation with the Chair of the Strategic Aviation Advisory Council, and with the engagement of the Alberta Airports Management Association (AAMA), which has also been advocating for increased infrastructure funding for community airports;
Operative Clause:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate to the Government of Alberta (GOA) to invest in the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based provincial aviation, aerospace, and defence strategy that:
a) Explicitly includes municipal and community airports/aerodromes and their representation; and
b) Aligns aviation, aerospace, and defence priorities and supports economic development, agriculture, emergency services, workforce training, innovation, and regional connectivity; and
c) Includes a commitment by the GOA to implement the recommendations arising from the strategy
Member Background:
In late 2001, provincial transportation departments across Canada commissioned a national study on the viability of smaller airports. That study identified ongoing challenges, including insufficient operating revenues, limited access to capital funding, increasing regulatory costs, and reduced traffic due to airline consolidation. Many of these issues remain relevant today.
In 2004, a study was commissioned by the governments of Alberta and British Columbia “to help airport communities develop a viable plan to enhance the economic contribution of these essential elements of the transportation infrastructure of northern British Columbia and Alberta.” The study determined that “Northern airports in Alberta and British Columbia link their communities to the rest of Canada and the world. Those same airports are also significant contributors to the economic wellbeing of their communities and enablers of further economic activity and growth. In essence, northern airports:
Numerous additional studies have examined Alberta’s aviation, aerospace, and defence sectors, including the long-term viability of community airports. Most recently, the Alberta Airports Management Association commissioned a study completed in May 2024 focused on Alberta’s community airports. While these studies identify important sector-specific issues and opportunities, they have not been integrated into a single, comprehensive provincial aviation strategy.
Municipal airports and aerodromes are costly to operate and maintain, yet they represent underutilized assets with significant potential to drive rural economic development. They support pilot training, emergency services such as air ambulance and wildfire response, tourism, agriculture, weather modification, security and defence activities, and emerging technologies such as drones and remotely piloted aircraft systems. Even municipalities without an airport directly within their boundaries benefit from these services.
Municipalities face limited financial capacity to invest in airport infrastructure. Local Government Fiscal Framework funding is likely to be prioritized toward core infrastructure such as roads and bridges. The Community Airport Program (CAP), one of the four funding streams under the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP), is severely oversubscribed annually with only approximately 30% of municipal requests being successful under CAP. Also, project eligibility under CAP is limited and does not meet the investment needs. As a result, investment in municipal airports is often deferred, despite the broader regional and provincial benefits they provide.
In 2024, 19 municipalities jointly raised concerns with the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors regarding the underfunding and restrictive nature of the CAP under the STIP At the 2025 ABMunis conference, resolutionB5: Improving Infrastructure at Alberta’s Community Airports was passed requesting that “Alberta Municipalities advocate for the Government of Alberta to raise the annual Community Airport Program funding under the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program to $15 million, make more projects eligible for funding, extend funding to all community airport operators, and increase provincial cost-sharing based on need.”
While funding advocacy is important, the absence of a provincial aviation strategy that clearly defines the role of municipal airports limits the effectiveness of those requests.
The development of a comprehensive provincial aviation, aerospace, and defence strategy, that also includes support for economic development, emergency services, workforce training, innovation, and regional connectivity through municipal airport / aerodromes would enable data-driven investment decisions, clarify priorities, and ensure municipal airports are meaningfully included in provincial planning. This resolution aligns with the Premier’s 2025 mandate letters and complements existing advocacy.
Supporting documentation
RMA Background:
RMA has no active resolutions directly related to this issue.
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