No. H 048/07
For release April 02, 2007
ST. JOHN'S -- The Government of Canada is investing nearly $1 million to
enhance safety at the Deer Lake Airport, under the Airports Capital Assistance
Program.
"This Government is committed to improving the safety of air services in
communities across the country," said the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of
Fisheries and Oceans and Member of Parliament for St. John's South Mount-Pearl,
on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities. "These safety enhancements will make sure that
this airport can continue to fulfill its role in providing essential
transportation links to Western Newfoundland."
The Airports Capital Assistance Program finances 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.
Deer Lake Airport is an important player in the economic growth of Western
Newfoundland communities. Adventure tourism is one factor in the 77 per cent
increase in passenger traffic since 2000. Today's $940,267 will support the
continued success and safety of this growing airport by financing 70 per cent of
the total estimated cost of $1,343,239 for taxiway upgrades and apron
reconfiguration. The airport will fund the remaining 30 per cent of project
costs.
"The safety and security of the traveling public is a top priority for the
Government of Canada," said Minister Cannon. "These projects will improve
airport safety and protect Canadians. They will also boost the economic
potential of the airports and surrounding communities."
A backgrounder on the Airports Capital Assistance Program is attached.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Steve Outhouse
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
Maurice Landry
Communications
Transport Canada, Moncton
506-851-7562
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
AIRPORTS CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Airports Capital Assistance Program provides funding for 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.
The current five-year program will allocate $190 million by 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
level of protection required by regulation.
Second priority projects include heavy 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.
Transport Canada also sets priorities based on detailed technical analyses of
facility conditions and maintenance histories, 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.
Through the Airports Capital Assistance Program, the Government of Canada is
improving airport safety, as well as helping the economic viability of this
important aspect of Canadas transportation infrastructure.
The Airports Capital Assistance Program is part of the National Airports Policy,
which 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 2007
