No. Q001/04 For release February 9, 2004 SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT ROUYN-NORANDA AIRPORT ROUYN-NORANDA, QC - The Government of Canada is improving emergency response capabilities at the Rouyn-Noranda Airport through the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) by purchasing an aircraft emergency intervention vehicle, Gilbert Barrette, MP for Témiscamingue announced today on behalf of Transport Minister Tony Valeri. "Safety and security are Transport Canada's top priorities," said Mr. Valeri. "The purchase of this vehicle for Rouyn-Noranda Airport is a concrete example of how the Government of Canada is helping to improve safety and security." The Airports Capital Assistance Program is part of the National Airports Policy announced in July 1994. Under the ACAP, which was officially launched on April 1, 1995 and renewed in June 2000, airports may apply for funding towards capital projects related to safety, asset protection and operating cost reduction. To be eligible, airports must provide regularly scheduled passenger service, meet airport certification requirements and not be owned by the Government of Canada. Rouyn-Noranda Airport today qualified for a maximum federal contribution of $362,736 for the purchase of an emergency intervention vehicle. "The ACAP exemplifies how the Government of Canada directs infrastructure resources to where they are most needed and can best enhance safety and security," said Mr. Valeri. The Rouyn-Noranda Airport is owned and operated by the City of Rouyn-Noranda. Regularly scheduled passenger service is provided by Air Canada Jazz, Propair, Pascan Aviation and Val Air. Transport Canada transferred the Rouyn-Noranda Airport to local interests on March 17, 1997. Since the transfer, the Airport has received over $5 million from the federal government through the ACAP for runway and taxiway repaving work, electrical upgrades, the purchase of a runway sweeper and a decelerometer, in addition to the purchase of an Aircraft Emergency Intervention Vehicle announced today. 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.
