Air traffic control projects could bring jobs to Pearson Airport in Mississauga

New projects to improve Canada’s air traffic control infrastructure could mean more jobs for Mississauga residents.

Federal funding of $105 million will support three new projects with NAV CANADA under the National Trade Corridors Fund, Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra announced on June 29.

NAV Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada’s civil air navigation system.

The three projects will improve Canada’s air traffic management technology while providing middle class jobs at Canadian airports, including Pearson.

“These three NAV CANADA projects will improve the efficiency and flow of air cargo in Canada by reducing bottlenecks at the major hubs which cause delays across the entire aviation network,” said Alghabra. “They’ll increase the flow of goods and people across Canada, which is vital to our economic growth.”

For the first project, the Government of Canada will contribute up to $39.2 million toward new technology to improve the reliability, safety, and performance of Canada’s air transportation system, especially in the event of extreme weather and in remote communities. NAV CANADA will contribute $59.7 million toward the project, for a total investment of $98.9 million.

The government is contributing $34.5 million for technology to improve air traffic management, including using drone traffic management services to monitor and control drone operations in Canada’s airspace. NAV CANADA will contribute $50.7 million toward the project, for a total investment of $85.2 million.

The final project is technology and infrastructure projects at four major airports (Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport) to respond to increased air traffic demand.

The project will reduce flying time, decrease aircraft fuel consumption, increase the movement of cargo, and provide more efficiencies to meet the growing demand at these airports. The feds are proving to $31.2 million and NAV CANADA will contribute $45.8 million.