INUVIK – The first investment through Canada’s Arctic Infrastructure Fund (AIF) has been announced and will be going towards Inuvik (Mike Zubko) AirportMike Zubko Airport Civil Infrastructure ImprovementsStatusFinal PlanningValue$17MLocationAirport Road, Inuvik NTSectorPublic – State/ProvincialTypeTransportation TerminalsData as of August 19, 2026View Project Page →, which serves as “a lifeline for the local economy, ensures access to essential goods and services, and strengthens Canada’s presence in the North.”
The Government of Canada will provide up to $49.5 million through the AIF to upgrade the existing runway and access road at the airport, in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories.
According to a release, this funding builds on the $230 million investment from the Department of National Defence to extend and modernize the airport’s runway.
The upgrades will improve safety, reliability and operational capacity by creating a consistent paved runway surface and replacing the airport access road with asphalt to support heavier traffic and growing cargo volumes.
The Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport is a key regional hub in Canada’s Western Arctic, the release adds, supporting passenger travel, cargo movement, emergency response and community resupply for communities across the Northwest Territories, Yukon and beyond.
It also serves as a designated Forward Operating Location for the Royal Canadian Air Force and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
