No. H061/05
For release - April 7, 2005
CALGARY — The Government of Canada is working to improve safety at the Peace River, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat and Fort Chipewyan airports through the Airports Capital Assistance Program, Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Regional Minister for Alberta, announced today on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre.
The Government of Canada is contributing $7,706,569 towards safety improvement projects at six Alberta airports - $3,574,174 in Lethbridge for runway rehabilitation; $1,885,493 in Peace River for the purchase of a snowblower and front-end loader, as well as the rehabilitation of the airfield lighting and all associated work; $520,591 in Medicine Hat for upgrades to the emergency power unit; and $236,358 in Fort Chipewyan for the purchase of a plow truck. These airports are eligible for funding of 100 per cent of the total cost of their projects.
In Grande Prairie, the Government of Canada is contributing $758,933 and the Grande Prairie Airport Commission will contribute the remaining $252,977 for upgrades to approach lighting. In Fort McMurray, the government is contributing $731,020, while the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo will contribute the remaining $313,290 for the installation of wildlife fencing and the replacement of the snowblower.
"Today's announcement reflects the Government of Canada's commitment to regional and rural communities and the safety of their air services," said Ms. McLellan. "The safety enhancements will also help these airports meet the growing cargo, tourism and travel needs in Alberta."
The Airports Capital Assistance Program is an integral part of the National Airports Policy, which provides Canadians with a comprehensive framework that clearly defines the Government of Canada's role regarding airports.
Under the program, which was established in 1995 and renewed for five years in January 2005, airports may apply for funding towards capital projects related to safety, asset protection and operating cost reduction. To be eligible, airports must have year-round regularly scheduled passenger service, meet Transport Canada airport certification requirements and not be owned by the Government of Canada.
"Safety and security are Transport Canada's top priorities," said Mr. Lapierre. "The funds being provided to make the safety improvements at these airports will help them enhance both their safety and economic potential."
Funding for these projects was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.
Backgrounders on the Airports Capital Assistance Program and the selected airports are attached.
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Contacts:
Irène MarcheterreDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Transport, Ottawa(613) 991-0700
Alex SwannDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ottawa(613) 991-2924
Susan McLennanCommunicationsTransport Canada, Prairie and Northern Region(204) 983-6315
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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BACKGROUNDERAIRPORTS CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Airports Capital Assistance Program provides funding to eligible airports to finance capital projects related to safety, asset protection and operating cost reduction. To be eligible, an airport must receive year-round, regularly scheduled passenger service, meet Transport Canada airport certification requirements and not be owned by the Government of Canada.
Funding available under the program is set at $190 million, to be allocated from April 2005 to March 2010 at an average of $38 million per year. Contributions are considered for the following types of projects:
First priority projects include safety-related airside projects, such as rehabilitation of runways, taxiways, aprons, lighting and other utilities, visual aids and sand storage sheds. This category also includes related site preparation and environmental costs, aircraft firefighting vehicles and ancillary equipment and equipment shelters that are necessary to maintain the required level of protection.
Second priority projects include safety-related heavy airside mobile equipment, such as runway snow blowers, runway snowplows, runway sweepers, spreaders and decelerometers (winter friction testing devices), and heavy airside mobile equipment shelters.
Third priority projects include safety-related air terminal building and groundside projects, such as sprinkler systems, asbestos removal and barrier-free access.
Fourth priority projects include asset protection and refurbishing, operating cost reduction related to air terminal building or groundside access.
Priority for funding will also be established by Transport Canada on the basis of a detailed technical analysis of a facility's condition and maintenance history, airport traffic and certification requirements.
To be eligible, projects must maintain or improve safety levels, protect airport assets or significantly reduce operating costs. Projects must also meet accepted engineering practices and be justified on the basis of current demand. Airport facility expansion projects will only be considered if the current facilities have a potentially negative impact on safety at the airport.
Transport Canada's first priority is safety. Through the Airports Capital Assistance Program, the Government of Canada is helping to enhance not only airport safety, but also the economic viability of this important aspect of Canada's transportation infrastructure.
The program is part of the National Airports Policy, which was introduced in July 1994 and calls for the commercialization of designated Canadian airports, through divestiture to community interests. The policy enables communities to take greater advantage of their airports, reduce costs, tailor levels of service to local demand and attract new and different types of business.
April 2005
BACKGROUNDERSAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT SIX ALBERTA AIRPORTS
Peace River Airport is owned and operated by the Town of Peace River. Regularly scheduled passenger service is provided year-round by Peace Air. The airport was transferred to the Town of Peace River from Transport Canada on September 1, 1996, under the National Airports Policy. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded approximately $3.2 million in Airports Capital Assistance Program funding since its transfer. Funded projects include the rehabilitation and replacement of the existing airfield lighting systems; the purchase of a new snowblower, front-end loader, runway sweeper, decelerometer and plow truck; and the rehabilitation of the runway and taxiways.
Lethbridge Airport is owned and operated by the County of Lethbridge. Regularly scheduled passenger service is provided year-round by Air Canada Jazz and Integra Air International. The airport was transferred to the County of Lethbridge from Transport Canada on January 1, 1997, under the National Airports Policy. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded approximately $7 million in Airports Capital Assistance Program funding since its transfer. Funded projects include the rehabilitation of two runways, one taxiway and the airport's apron; the rehabilitation of the edge lighting for three taxiways; and the upgrade of the approach lighting system.
Grande Prairie Airport is owned by the City of Grand Prairie and operated by the Grande Prairie Airport Commission. Regularly scheduled passenger service is provided year-round by Air Canada Jazz, WestJet, Peace Air, Swanberg Air and Hawkair. The airport was transferred to the City of Grande Prairie from Transport Canada on February 1, 1997, under the National Airports Policy. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded approximately $7.7 million in Airports Capital Assistance Program funding since its transfer. Funded projects include an upgrade to the approach lighting system; the rehabilitation of the air terminal building's roof, the runway and taxiway surfaces, including the associated drainage systems; the replacement of the runway sweeper; upgrades to the approach path indicator system; and the reconfiguration and expansion of the apron.
Fort McMurray Airport is owned and operated by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Regularly scheduled passenger service is provided year-round by WestJet, Air Canada Jazz, Air Mikisew and Corporate Express. The airport was transferred to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo from Transport Canada in March 31,1999, under the National Airports Policy. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded approximately $6.4 million in Airports Capital Assistance Program funding since its transfer. Funded projects include the installation of wildlife incursion control fencing, the replacement of a snowblower, the rehabilitation of the airfield lighting system and airside surfaces, as well as the replacement of a runway sweeper.
Medicine Hat Airport is owned and operated by the City of Medicine Hat. Regularly scheduled passenger service is provided year-round by Peace Air and Air Canada Jazz. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded approximately $2.8 million in Airports Capital Assistance Program funding since its transfer. Funded projects include upgrades to the emergency power unit, the runway overlay, helipad, taxiway and fence; the restoration of taxiways, visual aids and a snowblower; the rehabilitation of the ground-side access road and the air terminal building's roof; the replacement of the aerodrome beacon; and the purchase of a decelerometer.
Fort Chipewyan Airport is owned and operated by the Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Regularly scheduled passenger service is provided year-round by Air Mikisew. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded approximately $3.6 million in Airports Capital Assistance Program funding since its transfer. Funded projects include the purchase of a new plow truck and front-end loader; the rehabilitation of the airfield lighting system, as well as the runway, taxiway, apron surfaces and the associated drainage systems.
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