Hon. Rose-May Poirier: Good morning, minister. Welcome to the Senate, and thank you for being with us this afternoon.

My question is about the situation at the Bathurst Regional Airport.

As you know, the Bathurst airport is in danger of closing if it doesn’t receive approximately $1 million in funding. Before the pandemic, the Bathurst airport was doing well and had ambitious plans for the future, but since then it has been fighting for survival.

This airport is an economic engine for the region. It is critical that the Bathurst airport remain open for northern New Brunswick.

As Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, and given that you are from New Brunswick, can you tell us whether the federal government intends to help the Bathurst airport before it is too late?