Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, says the regional air transportation system in the prairies supports economic growth and that the funding announced Wednesday will allow them to adapt to a post-pandemic reality.

La Ronge and Prince Albert are among seven prairie communities receiving more than 4 million dollars to help support regional air transportation. Mayor of La Ronge, Colin Ratushniak, says the community’s airport provides Medevac services, as well as judicial and tourism outreach into the north. He describes the community as a vital hub to northern Saskatchewan including being a flight base for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency which is right now coordinating the fighting of wildfires in the province.

The mayors who took part in the announcement say in the last 18 months regional air service has experienced significant cuts. The federal government says the goal is to reconnect communities and people.