No. P005/06
For release - March 27, 2006
VANCOUVER — The Government of Canada is improving safety at six airports in British Columbia through the Airports Capital Assistance Program, with close to $4 million in federal funding.
Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, announced the funding on behalf of Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. These projects will help to ensure that the airports remain safe and efficient facilities.
"Today's announcement of airport safety improvement projects at six B.C. airports reflects the Government of Canada's commitment to rural communities and the safety of their air services," said Mr. Strahl. "These safety enhancements will also help these airports meet the growing cargo, tourism and travel needs in British Columbia."
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 on April 1, 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 or operated by the Government of Canada.
The safety improvement projects include:
a runway rehabilitation project at Castlegar Airport. The federal government is providing $2.74 million in funding or 95 percent of the total estimated cost of $2.89 million;
a sand storage building addition at Dawson Creek Airport. The federal government is contributing $280,670 or 100 per cent of the funding necessary for this project;
a new self-propelled snowblower for the Fort St. John Airport. The federal government is providing $473,500 or 90 per cent of the total estimated cost of $526,100;
a loader and loader-mounted snowblower for snow removal at Nanaimo Airport. The federal government is contributing $237,200 and the airport is funding the remaining 15 per cent of the equipment's total estimated cost of $279,052;
a new 19-foot reversible snowplow for the Smithers Airport. The federal government will provide $33,220 or 95 per cent of the total estimated cost of $34,967; and
a new snowplow truck at Terrace-Kitimat Airport. The federal government is contributing $232,628 and the airport is funding the remaining five per cent of the truck's total estimated cost of $244,872.
"Safety and security are Transport Canada's top priorities," added Mr. Cannon. "The funds being provided to make the safety improvements at six B.C. airports will help these important regional airports enhance both their safety and economic potential."
Federal funding for these projects is provided for in the existing financial framework.
Backgrounders on the Airports Capital Assistance Program and the safety improvements at the selected airports are attached.
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Contact:
Rod NelsonTransport CanadaCommunicationsVancouver(604) 666-1675
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BACKGROUNDERSAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT SIX B.C. AIRPORTS
The Castlegar Airport serves as the only commercial service airport in the West Kootenay area of British Columbia, as well as the primary air medical evacuation facility for the area and the home of the Southwest B.C. Fire Centre for the provincial Forest Service. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded nearly $3.7 million in Airports Capital Assistance Program funding for taxiway and apron paving and the purchase of heavy airside mobile equipment used for snow removal. The airport receives regularly scheduled passenger service by Air Canada Jazz with weekly scheduled departures to Vancouver and Calgary. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Castlegar and was transferred to the city from Transport Canada in 1997.
The Dawson Creek Airport receives regularly scheduled service from Hawkair as well as private and commercial operators of helicopter and fixed wing aircraft. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded over $5.8 million in federal Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) funding. In addition to the funding announced today, the funds have been used to repave the airport's runway, taxiway and apron, restore the airport's concrete apron and runway buttons, purchase heavy airside mobile equipment and runway decelerometer, install wildlife control fencing, and improve the airfield electrical system. The Dawson Creek Airport was transferred from Transport Canada to the City of Dawson Creek in 1995.
The Fort St. John Airport is served by Peace Air, Central Mountain Air, Hawkair and Air Canada Jazz regularly scheduled service. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded over $8.8 million in federal ACAP funding for runway repaving, precision approach landing systems, runway repair and heavy airside mobile equipment. Fort St. John Airport is owned by the North Peace Airport Society and is operated under lease by North Peace Airport Services Ltd., a subsidiary of Vancouver International Airport Authority. The airport was transferred from Transport Canada to the Airport Society in 1997.
Regularly scheduled passenger service to the Nanaimo Airport is provided by Air Canada Jazz. The airport facilities are also used for charter, flight training, aircraft maintenance and cargo operations. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded just over $3 million in ACAP funding for runway and apron repaving, wildlife control fencing, electrical upgrades, signage and security gates, and snow removal equipment. The airport was transferred to the Nanaimo Airport Commission from Transport Canada in 1996.
Smithers Airport receives regularly scheduled passenger service from Air Canada Jazz, Northern Thunderbird Air and Central Mountain Air. The airport has been awarded a total of over $3.8 million in ACAP funding for projects which have included an apron and taxiway pavement rehabilitation, an airside lighting upgrade, the purchase of heavy airside mobile equipment, an electrical distribution upgrade, and today's announced project. The Smithers Airport was operated by Transport Canada until March 31, 1999 when it was transferred to the Town of Smithers.
Regularly scheduled passenger service at the Terrace-Kitimat Airport is provided by Air Canada Jazz, Central Mountain Air, and Hawkair. The airport facilities are also used for charter and aerial firefighting operations. Including today's announcement, the airport has been awarded over $7 million in ACAP funding for runway and apron repaving, electrical upgrades and heavy airside mobile equipment. The airport was transferred to the Terrace-Kitimat Airport Society from Transport Canada in 1999.
March 2006
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 airside mobile equipment, such as runway snowblowers, 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 Airports Capital Assistance Program is part of the National Airports Policy, which was introduced 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.
March 2006
