No. Q04/02For release - March 11, 2002
SAINT-AUGUSTIN, Quebec — Minister of Justice Martin Cauchon, MP for Outremont, today announced, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, a federal funding up to a maximum of $277,000 for safety improvements at St-Augustin Airport under the Government of Canada's Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP).
"This airport improvement project will allow the Saint-Augustin Airport to remain a safe and efficient facility. This airport is a vital transportation facility that allows year-round air travel services in and out of this isolated community of the Lower North Shore," said Mr. Cauchon.
This financial contribution provided by Transport Canada will enable the ministère des Transports du Québec to replace primary wiring and transformers used for lighting of the runway, taxiway, apron and wind sock.
The Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) is part of the National Airports Policy, which was announced in July 1994. Under ACAP, which officially began on April 1, 1995 and was renewed in June 2000, airports may apply for funding towards capital projects related to safety, asset protection and operating cost reduction. To be eligible, they must receive scheduled passenger service, meet airport certification requirements and not be owned by the federal government.
Since 1995, the Government of Canada has announced a total of approximately $30,000,000 for 22 safety improvements projects, under ACAP, at 10 airports in Quebec.
"ACAP is an example of the Government of Canada directing infrastructure resources to where they are most needed and can best enhance safety," said Mr. Collenette. "This program is just one way the government -- through the National Airports Policy - seeks to ensure a safe, efficient and affordable airports system to serve Canadians well into the future."
This safety improvement project at Saint-Augustin is complementary to Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan called "Gathering Strength", a Government of Canada initiative favoring partnership with Aboriginals.
Saint-Augustin Airport has been owned by Transports Québec since 1985. There are scheduled passenger services at this airport, which handles approximately 6,500 passengers annually.
The village of Saint-Augustin is located on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence at 550 kilometers east from Sept-Iles. It has a population of some 1,300 inhabitants who are mainly from the Pakua Shipi Montagnais community.
Funding for this project was provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.
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Contact:
Donald BeaulieuCommunications, Montreal(514) 633-2741
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