No. H 044/07
For release April 2, 2007
WINDSOR -- Airports in Ontario will receive more than $8 million to fund eight
new projects to enhance their safety. Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament for
Essex, today announced this funding under the Government of Canada's 2007-08
Airports Capital Assistance Program on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon,
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
"Today's funding announcement is another important step in ensuring the safety
of our airports and the economic health of their surrounding communities," said
Mr. Watson. "This is tangible proof that Canada's New Government is prepared to
invest in the safety and economic success of Ontario's air freight and passenger
services."
"The safety and security of the traveling public is a top priority for Canada's
New Government," 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."
The Airports Capital Assistance Program finances capital projects related to
safety, asset protection and operating cost reduction. 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 money will be distributed to airports in:
Attawapiskat, where $279,720 will cover the purchase of a loader with
snowblower and attachments.
Hamilton, where $1,053,000 will purchase an airport fire-fighting vehicle.
North Bay, where $329,656 will cover 95 per cent of the total estimated cost
of $347,006 for airfield electrical rehabilitation.
North Spirit Lake, where $100,440 will purchase a snowblower.
Sioux Lookout, where $4,445,000 will cover 95 per cent of the total estimated
cost of $4,678,138 for apron and taxi A rehabilitation and an airfield lighting
control panel; and $382,185 will cover 75 per cent of the total estimated cost
of $402,300 for replacing a snowblower.
Webequie, where $99,360 will purchase a snowblower.
Windsor, where $1,927,005 will cover 75 per cent of the total estimated cost
of $2,569,340 for the rehabilitation of taxiways F and G and replacement of the
airfield lighting control panel.
Backgrounders on the Airports Capital Assistance Program and the selected
Ontario projects are attached.
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Contact(s):
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Nancy Jahn
Director, Communications
Office of Jeff Watson, MP
613-818-2221
Paula Fairfax
Acting Regional Director
Communications
Transport Canada, Toronto
416-952-0154
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 (ACAP)
FUNDS EIGHT NEW PROJECTS IN ONTARIO
The Attawapiskat Airport is located 500 miles north of Timmins,
along the western coast of James Bay. The community can be accessed year-round
only by air. Today's $279,720 announcement will purchase a loader with
snowblower and attachments essential equipment to northern airfields.
Hamilton's airport, the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, is owned
by the City of Hamilton and managed by the TradePort International Corporation.
It is Canada's largest inter-modal freighter airport and services all major
Canadian and international destinations. It is considered by many to be a key
economic driver for the City of Hamilton. Today's announcement of ACAP funding
will provide the $1,053,000 needed to purchase an airport fire-fighting vehicle.
The North Bay Jack Garland Airport is an important aviation hub in northern
Ontario, serving over 100,000 people in the City of North Bay and the
surrounding districts of Nipissing, Parry Sound and Temiskaming. The airport
contributes much to the local economy, with initiatives such as aviation
training, aircraft maintenance and aircraft assembly. Today's announced ACAP
funding of $329,656 will cover 95 per cent of the total estimated cost of
$347,006 needed for airfield electrical rehabilitation.
North Spirit Lake Airport is essential to the economic life of this northwestern
Ontario wilderness industry destination. Tourism and sport fishing depend on the
airport to bring clients and supplies to this isolated community. Today's ACAP
contribution of $100,440 will purchase a snowblower.
The Sioux Lookout Airport is one of the busiest airports in Northwestern
Ontario, handling approximately 100,000 passengers on 30,000 flights, every
year. It is a "Mini-Hub" for passengers, sportsmen and cargo to the communities
and fishing and hunting areas further north. The Sioux Lookout Airport services
scheduled and charter flights; and serves as a base for the Ontario Air
Ambulance Service (MOH) and the Nishnawbe - Aski Police Service (NAPS). Nearly
$5 million in ACAP funding was announced today: $4,445,000 will cover 95 per cent of
the total estimated cost of $4,678,138 for apron and taxi A rehabilitation and an
airfield lighting control panel; and $382,185 will cover 75 per cent of the total
estimated cost of $402,300 for replacing a snowblower.
The Webequie Airport provides the only year-round access to the community and
surrounding area. A growing wilderness tourism industry depends on the airfield
to carry clients and supplies in and out. Today's announced $99,360 in ACAP
funds will purchase a snowblower to support the economic contribution this
airport is making to the Webequie community.
The Windsor Airport is owned by the City of Windsor and privately operated by
Serco Aviation Services. Recent improvements have increased opportunities for
this airport, located in Canada's largest catchment market of over 5 million
people within 65 km. Today's announced $1,927,005 will cover 75 per cent of the
total estimated cost of $2,569,340 for the rehabilitation of taxiways F and G
and replacement of the airfield lighting control panel. These are important
projects that ensure safety and support the economic benefits of developing new
routes and services in the domestic, transborder and charter markets in the
greater Windsor-Detroit area.
April 2007
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 or operated 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 heavy 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 Canada's 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
