No. H159/06
For release November 17, 2006
CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT
ANNOUNCES CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
FOR ROUND TWO OF TRANSIT-SECURE
OTTAWA − The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, today announced a call for applications for the
second round of funding under Transit-Secure, the Government of Canada's
$80-million passenger rail and urban transit security contribution program.
"Canada's New Government is taking concrete action to address the priority
security needs of our passenger rail and urban transit systems," said Minister
Cannon. "This program is an important step in enhancing the security of this
country's transportation system."
In this second round of funding, smaller operators in municipalities or
communities outside of the six urban centres included in round one funding,
along with inter-city train and bus companies, will be eligible for assistance
to carry out risk assessments and to develop comprehensive security plans.
All proposals received will be subject to a standard evaluation process and
funding will be allocated based on successful proposals.
Funding is provided on a cost-shared basis, with 75 per cent from the federal
government and 25 per cent from the recipient.
Up to $37 million in funding for round one of this program was announced on
November 14, 2006. Round one was open to operators in the six highest-volume
urban transit areas in Canada − Montreal, the National Capital Region, Toronto,
Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. These operators will be eligible for financial
assistance under a future round of funding.
This funding is part of the $1.4 billion in national security funding committed
in Budget 2006 for a variety of security initiatives that will help protect
Canadians and their communities, including $254 million for transportation
security.
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. It is
expected that funding recipients will be announced in early 2007.
A backgrounder describing the Initial Measures for
Passenger Rail and Urban Transit Security is attached.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
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. Budget 2006 announced $1.4 billion in national
security funding to protect Canadian families and communities, to secure our
borders and to increase emergency preparedness, including $254 million to
continue to improve transportation security in Canada.
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 urban 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.
Up to $115 million has been set aside in the fiscal framework for initial
measures to enhance the security of Canada's passenger rail and urban transit
operators, of which $95 million was announced in Budget 2006. 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.
The measures are as follows:
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.
Round one of the contribution program will provide financial assistance to
high-volume 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 based
on a targeted, risk-management approach.
The first round of funding supports the development of risk assessments;
security plans; employee training programs; public awareness; and the upgrade of
security equipment such as access control technology and lighting.
Operators in other communities will be eligible for assistance to carry out risk
assessments and to develop security plans in future rounds of funding.
Funding will be provided on a cost-shared basis, with 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
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.
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, the task force 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.
November 2006
