The Government of Canada is investing up to C$100 million (US$77.85 million) in funding to increase air cargo and logistics handling operations at the Edmonton International Airport (EIA).

Under the National Trade Corridors Fund, Canada is looking to strengthen the country's trade corridors and keep supply chains moving amid persisting supply chain issues both on air and sea transport.

"The Minister of Transport, the Honorable Omar Alghabra, announced up to $100 million in funding under the National Trade Corridors Fund to increase cargo and logistics handling operations at the Edmonton International Airport," the announcement said.

The project will convert approximately 2,000 acres of land into a new global cargo handling operation. With this investment, the Edmonton International Airport will expand its multi-modal distribution throughout Canada, the US, and Mexico. 

The airport's increased cargo capacity will improve the movement of import and export trade routes and strengthen Canada's supply chain.

Development of int'l cargo hub

 Photo: Edmonton International Airport

"Cargo and logistics play a major role in our region's economic growth and development. Increasing air capacity and global market access for exports and trade opportunities is a global game changer," said Tom Ruth, president, and chief executive, of Edmonton International Airport.

“It drives the growth of small and medium enterprises in Alberta and the rest of Canada, which creates jobs and spurs investment. Working towards these goals, we are excited to announce the development of the International Cargo Hub," Ruth added.

The EIA chief noted that the Government of Canada's investment in EIA will also help "accelerate" the gateway's plans to position the Edmonton Metropolitan Region as a key multi-modal global logistics hub and vital trade corridor for Canada.

This hub will be transformational for the Edmonton Metro Region, Ruth added.

The National Trade Corridors Fund is designed to help infrastructure owners and users invest in the critical transportation assets that support economic activity in Canada. Under this programme, a total of C$4.6 billion over 11 years (2017-2028) has been announced.

Budget 2022 provided C$450 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, to support supply chain projects through the National Trade Corridors Fund, which will help ease the movement of goods across Canada's transportation networks.

Transport Canada, for its part, delivers the National Trade Corridors Fund, which supports improvements to Canada's roads, rail, air, and marine shipping routes to foster domestic and international trade.

"It represents a long-term commitment by the Government of Canada to work with stakeholders on strategic infrastructure projects to address transportation bottlenecks, vulnerabilities, and congestion along Canada's trade corridors," the Canadian government said of this investment.