No. H074/06For release July 4, 2006
OTTAWA — Further to the announcement earlier this month by Prime Minister
Harper, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure
and Communities, today announced the call for applications for the first round
of funding under Transit-Secure, the Government of Canada's $80-million
passenger rail and urban transit security contribution program.
"Transit-Secure will provide passenger rail and urban transit operators with the
funding required to accelerate the implementation of new and enhanced security
measures," said Minister Cannon. "In doing so, the new Government of Canada is
helping to keep Canadian families and communities safe."
Transit-Secure is one of the $115 million in initial measures announced earlier
this month to enhance the security of Canada's passenger rail and urban transit
operations.
It delivers on part of the $1.4 billion in national security funding that was
committed in the recent Budget to protect Canadian families and communities, to
secure our borders and to increase emergency preparedness.
Round one of the contribution program will provide financial assistance to
enhance security to high-volume commuter rail and public transit operators in
six urban areas — Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, the National Capital
Region, and Montreal — based on a targeted, risk-management approach.
The first round of funding will support the development of security and response
plans and the acquisition of security equipment such as communications,
surveillance networks, lighting and access control equipment.
Operators in other communities will be eligible for assistance to carry out
security assessments and to develop security plans in future rounds of funding.
Funding will be provided on a cost-shared basis — 75 per cent from the federal
government and 25 per cent from the recipient.
Details of the contribution program, including application information and
project eligibility criteria, are available at
www.tc.gc.ca/vigilance/sep/rail/Contribution_Program/menu.htm.
The deadline for applications for this first round is August 15, 2006 and
recipients are expected to be announced in September 2006.
A backgrounder on the initial measures for passenger rail and
urban transit security is attached.
- 30 -
Contacts:
Huguette Guilhaumon
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities,
Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Nicole McNeely
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
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.
BACKGROUNDER
INITIAL MEASURES FOR PASSENGER
RAIL AND URBAN TRANSIT
SECURITY
Background
Transportation is the backbone of the Canadian economy — our network of roads,
railways, shipping lines and airlines keeps people and goods moving across the
country and around the world. In some parts of the world, however,
transportation infrastructure has become a primary target — and even a tool —
for terrorist organizations. Recently, Budget 2006 announced $1.4 billion to
enhance national security, including over $250 million to continue to improve
transportation security in Canada.
Since 2001, the Government of Canada has committed more than $10 billion towards
national security, of which nearly $2.4 billion has been allocated to strengthen
aviation security and $930 million to strengthen marine security — each focusing
on areas of highest risk.
More recently, the March 2004 bombings in Madrid, Spain, and the July 2005
bombings in London, England, have led Canada to focus on transportation security
in high volume passenger transportation sectors. The passenger rail and public
transit sector presents unique security challenges because it consists of
extensive, open systems that move high volumes of passengers daily.
Although Transport Canada has the lead responsibility for national
transportation security, other partners play key roles with respect to emergency
management, including preparedness and response. The Government of Canada must
work together with other levels of government, as well as industry, to create an
effective and efficient security system.
On June 16, Prime Minister Harper announced $115 million in initial measures to
enhance the security of Canada's passenger rail and urban transit operations.
The initial measures are designed to address security priorities that have been
identified by the Government of Canada, in collaboration with its partners, to
enhance security for passenger rail, public transit and ferry operations through
five complementary components.
Announced measures
Transit-Secure — A new passenger rail and urban transit security contribution
program
Up to $80 million will be provided over two years to establish a new passenger
rail and urban transit security contribution program, targeted towards the high
volume passenger areas of commuter rail and public transit, with a focus on
major urban transit systems and equipment.
This program will provide financial assistance to commuter rail and public
transit operators in six urban areas — Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto,
the National Capital Region and Montreal — to accelerate the implementation of
new and enhanced security measures.
Operators of other passenger rail and bus systems will also be eligible for
funding to undertake security assessments and develop plans.
Funding will be provided on a cost-shared basis — 75 per cent from the federal
government and 25 per cent from the recipient. Passenger rail and transit
operators will be required to apply for the funding.
For more information on Transit-Secure, please visit
http://www.tc.gc.ca/vigilance/sep/rail/Contribution_Program/menu.htm.
Enhanced Transport Canada leadership, expertise and coordination
Up to $24 million over five years will be provided to strengthen Transport
Canada's capacity to provide passenger rail and urban transit security
leadership and expert assistance in the development of security assessments and
plans, best practices and guidelines; enhance information sharing networks;
strengthen incident tracking and trend analysis; conduct technology research and
development programs targeted to high-volume passenger transportation; and
coordinate international and intergovernmental efforts on passenger rail and
urban transit security.
Eligibility of domestic ferries under Transport Canada's Marine Security
Contribution Program
Canada's domestic ferry operators, including those that are part of public
transit systems, will be eligible to apply for funding under the existing
Transport Canada Marine Security Contribution Program to enhance the security of
their facilities and vessels. The Marine Security Contribution Program will also
be extended for two years, until November 2009. Details of the contribution
program elements for domestic ferries are currently under development and will
be announced when finalized.
For more information about the Marine Security Contribution Program please
visit:
www.tc.gc.ca/MarineSecurity/ContributionSpecialPrograms/contribution/menu.htm.
Urban transit emergency preparedness exercises
The initial measures include up to $8 million over 4 years to improve the
readiness of Canada's urban transit sector to respond to emergencies and to
develop effective contingency plans. This funding will allow Public Safety and
Emergency Preparedness Canada, in cooperation with Transport Canada, to partner
with key jurisdictions and stakeholders to carry out complex
inter-jurisdictional exercises in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, including
table-top, command post and full-scale live exercises. These exercises are
essential in preparing officials at all levels of government, as well as
infrastructure owner-operators, first responders and law enforcement, for their
roles in emergencies.
Public Safety Portfolio Task Force
Up to $3 million will be allocated to Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness Canada to set up a two-year task force, which will work closely
with Transport Canada. The Public Safety Portfolio Task Force will work towards
enhancing regional and national capacity in critical infrastructure intelligence
and enhance ongoing regional risk analysis. Furthermore, it will provide
technology support and advice on law enforcement and emergency management and
develop local security coordination protocols.
Through close consultation with various levels of government and law enforcement
agencies, we will assess intelligence and policing technology needs, identify
necessary infrastructure support, strengthen security awareness activities, and
increase international engagement on urban transit security issues. This will
contribute to strategic, longer-term integrated solutions to rail and urban
transit security issues.
July 2006
