Urging Ontario to implement an Ontario Airport Capital Assistance Program for community and regional airports
General Committee makes recommendations; City Council makes the final decision.
Council approved this on February 2, 2026 as part of its consent agenda, without a separate vote. See the consent vote →
Councillor Votes
Full Resolution Text
WHEREAS small and regional airports in Ontario serve as critical infrastructure— facilitating essential public services including air ambulance operations, forest firefighting, search & rescue, and law enforcement activities, while also driving local and regional economic development; and WHEREAS many of these airports are ineligible for the federal Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) due to eligibility constraints such as lacking year-round scheduled service, yet still require capital funding for safety-related infrastructure; and WHEREAS the Airport Management Council of Ontario (AMCO) has identified a persistent funding gap for non ACAP eligible community airports, estimating that approximately 85 such airports need $5.5 million annually to address critical airside infrastructure needs; and WHEREAS provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan have successfully managed permanent provincial capital-assistance programs—offering clear models for cost-sharing frameworks, eligible project criteria, and annual funding envelopes; and WHEREAS AMCO’s proposed Ontario Airport Capital Assistance Program (OACAP) envisions an annual operational budget of $8.5–10 million, with a 75% provincial / 25% owner cost-share, a $2 million per applicant cap, and bonuses for key community- benefiting projects; and WHEREAS the 2025 Ontario Budget has already acknowledged "airports as cross country infrastructure" and signaled intent to include them in upcoming capital investments; and WHEREAS the City of Peterborough benefits directly from airport-enabled services and ensuring its continued operation is in the public interest of resident safety, economic resilience, and efficient connectivity. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT The Corporation of the City of Peterborough formally urges the Government of Ontario to: i. Implement the Ontario Airport Capital Assistance Program (OACAP) managed by the Ministry of Transportation. ii. Adopt the recommended cost-sharing structure (75% provincial / 25% municipal or operator), and cap funds at $2 million per project per iii. Expand eligibility to include public-use registered aerodromes and certified airports not currently eligible for ACAP. iv. Reinstate the Ontario Air Advisory Panel to advise on airport infrastructure and policy priorities. v. Designate community and regional airports as critical infrastructure under provincial policy. vi. Investigate stable funding mechanisms—such as a dedicated stream from the aviation fuel tax—to support OACAP sustainably. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, Minister of Transportation, local MPPs, AMCO, and all Ontario municipalities operating public airports calling for provincial commitment to OACAP.