No. P12/03 For release November 6, 2003 SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT NANAIMO AIRPORTNANAIMO, B.C. - Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal and MP (Vancouver South-Burnaby), on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced federal funding of $377,700 for safety improvements at the Nanaimo Airport, under the federal government's Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP). The airport safety improvements at the Nanaimo Airport include a new emergency response vehicle and an addition to the airport's Combined Service Building to house the vehicle. "Safety and security are Transport Canada's top priorities," said Minister Dhaliwal. "With today's contribution to the Nanaimo Airport, the Government of Canada is helping to improve safety and security, as well as enhancing the economic potential of British Columbia's transportation infrastructure." 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." Nanaimo Airport is owned and operated by the Nanaimo Airport Commission. Air Canada Jazz and Canadian Western Airlines provide regularly scheduled passenger service at the airport. More than 130,000 passengers a year fly in or out of the Nanaimo Airport. The airport was transferred by Transport Canada to the Nanaimo Airport Commission on December 3, 1996. Since its transfer, the airport has been awarded over $2.8 million in federal ACAP funding for airside repaving, wildlife control fencing, electrical improvements, airside signs, security gates and the improvements 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.
