No. PNR 008/06
For release December 18, 2006
CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS AT LETHBRIDGE COUNTY AIRPORT
LETHBRIDGE, Alberta − Rick Casson, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, on
behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure
and Communities, today announced the completion of a project at the Lethbridge
County Airport. Canada's New Government contributed $960,000 under the Airports
Capital Assistance Program for the rehabilitation of the Airport's
Taxiway B.
"This investment is an example of Canada's New Government directing
infrastructure resources to where they are most needed," said Mr. Casson. "This
contribution, together with previous funding, enhances not only safety, but also
helps the airport to continue to meet the growing travel needs in southern
Alberta."
Under the Airports Capital Assistance Program, 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.
The Lethbridge County Airport is owned and operated by the County of
Lethbridge. Air Canada Jazz, operated by Central Mountain Air, and Integra Air
International both provide year-round, regularly scheduled passenger service.
Since 1995, the Lethbridge Airport has received more than $7.8 million in
Airports Capital Assistance Program funding. Funded projects include the
rehabilitation of runways, a taxiway and an airport apron; the rehabilitation of
the edge lighting for three taxiways; and an upgrade of the approach lighting
system.
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Contact:
Gabriela Klimes
Communications, Winnipeg
204-983-3671
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.
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BACKGROUNDER
AIRPORTS 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 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 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 National Airports 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.
December 2006
