No. H 045/07
For release April 2, 2007
MONTREAL -- The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities,
announced today that more than $1.2 million in Airports Capital Assistance Program funds have been
made available for projects to improve safety at Baie Comeau, Inukjuak, Rimouski,
Mont-Joli and Gaspé airports.
"Today's announced funds contribute to the safety of air transport and clearly illustrate the
commitment of Canada's New Government to communities," said Minister Cannon. "The
safety enhancements will help the five airports better meet the tourism and travel needs of these Quebec
regions."
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:
Baie-Comeau, where $482,380 will purchase a snowblower.
Gaspé, where $129,000 will finance the construction of a sand shed.
Inukjuak, where $125,750 will purchase a compactor.
Mont-Joli, where $183,500 will purchase a runway sweeper.
Rimouski, where $361,725 will purchase a loader with snowblower and reversible snowplow.
"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."
Backgrounders on the Airports Capital Assistance Program and the selected
Quebec projects are attached.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
François-Nicolas Asselin
Communications
Transport Canada, Dorval
514-633-2741
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 FIVE NEW PROJECTS IN QUEBEC
The Baie-Comeau Airport, which offers year-round regularly scheduled
passenger service to Manicouagan Regional County, is receiving funding under
ACAP for the first time. Today's
announced $482,380 will pay for the purchase of a snowblower.
To date, the Gaspé Airport has received
ACAP funding for seven projects pertaining
to safety, asset protection and reduced operating costs. Today's announced $129,000 funding will
finance the construction of a sand shed.
Inukjuak Airport has received its second Airports Capital Assistance
ACAP award, for a total of
$2.1 million. Today's announced $125,750
ACAP funding will allow the purchase of a
compactor. Transports Quebec, owner of Inukjuak Airport, has entrusted the Kativik Regional Government
with its management and maintenance. The airport is used for medical evacuations, and Air Inuit provides
year-round regularly scheduled passenger service to the region.
Today's announced ACAP funding of
$183,500 will equip the Mont-Joli Airport with a new runway sweeper. This
equipment for eastern Quebec's busiest airport will help its new owner, La régie intermunicipale de
l'aéroport régional de Mont-Joli, improve air services that strengthen the region's
tourism and trade activities.
To date, Rimouski Airport has received some $4.9 million under
ACAP to finance four projects pertaining to
safety, asset protection and reduced operating costs for its airport. Today's $361,725 will finance
the purchase of a loader with snowblower and reversible snowplow.
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.
