No. P11/03 For release October 30, 2003 SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT FORT ST. JOHN AIRPORT FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. - Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal and MP (Vancouver South-Burnaby), on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced federal funding of $355,825 for a runway repair project at the Fort St. John Airport, under the federal government's Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP). "Safety and security are Transport Canada's top priorities," said Minister Dhaliwal. "With today's contribution to the Fort St. John Airport for a runway repair project, the Government of Canada is helping to improve safety and security, as well as enhancing the economic potential of British Columbia's transportation infrastructure." The airport improvement project at the Fort St. John Airport will alleviate pavement heaving problems and eliminate the presence of seeping water on Runway 02-20. The work includes installing new drains and repaving portions of runway. ACAP is part of the National Airports Policy, which was announced in July 1994. Under ACAP, which officially began 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 regularly scheduled passenger service, meet airport certification requirements and not be owned by the Government of Canada. "The Airports Capital Assistance Program is 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," said Minister Collenette. "ACAP is an example of the Government of Canada directing infrastructure resources to where they are most needed and can best enhance safety and security. " Fort St. John Airport is owned by the North Peace Airport Society and is operated under lease by North Peace Airport Services Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Vancouver International Airport Authority. Peace Air, Central Mountain Air and Air Canada Jazz provide regularly scheduled passenger service to the airport. More than 80,000 passengers a year fly in or out of the Fort St. John Airport. The ownership of the airport was transferred from Transport Canada to the Airport Society on March 18, 1997. Since its transfer, the airport has been awarded over $2.4 million in federal ACAP funding for runway repaving, precision approach landing systems, runway sweepers and the project announced today. Funding for the initiative was provided for in the February 2003 federal budget. -30- Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
