Canadian North opens new cargo facility in Ottawa

Canadian North has opened a new cargo facility at Ottawa International Airport aimed at improving freight service to Northern and remote communities.

The facility received up to $11 million in funding through the federal government’s National Trade Corridors Fund. According to the announcement, the project increases Canadian North’s general cargo storage capacity by more than 40 per cent and cold storage capacity by nearly 85 per cent.

According to the announcement, truck wait times are expected to be reduced from 30 to 60 minutes to between five and 10 minutes, while cargo loading processes will become more efficient, helping improve service reliability.

“Reliable transportation is essential to life in the North, delivering food, medicine, construction materials, and other goods while connecting communities to each other and the rest of Canada,” said Rebecca Alty, minister of Crown-Indigenous relations.

Canadian North serves more than 20 destinations across Nunavut, Nunavik and the Northwest Territories, providing passenger and cargo services for communities, businesses and local economies.