No. H 039/07
For release April 2, 2007
OTTAWA -- Airports across Canada will receive close to $33 million for 28 new
projects to enhance their safety. The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced funding under the
Government of Canada's 2007-08 Airports Capital Assistance Program.
"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, they must meet Transport
Canada airport certification requirements and they cannot be owned or operated
by the Government of Canada.
Since its creation, the program has distributed over $400 million for 509
projects at 159 airports. Over 99 per cent of these were airside safety-related
projects such as the rehabilitation of runways, taxiways, visual aids and heavy
airside mobile equipment.
The program is an integral part of the National Airports Policy, which clearly
defines the Government of Canada's role regarding airports. Federal funding for
these projects is provided for in the existing financial framework.
Backgrounders on the Airports Capital Assistance Program and the selected
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
Robin Browne
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.
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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, and 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
2007-2008 ALLOCATIONS FOR
AIRPORTS CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROJECTS
Province
Airport
Project
Total Allocation(2007-2008)
British ColumbiaAbbotsford Procurement of airport fire-fighting vehicles $2,082,925
British ColumbiaFort St. JohnReplacement of regulators and automatic gates$338,319
British Columbia Nanaimo Snowplow truck$112,036
British Columbia Prince RupertAirfield electrical systems restoration $1,903,892
British Columbia SmithersDry/liquid spreader$91,343
British Columbia Williams Lake Airfield lighting control system and cable replacement $204,731
Alberta Fort Chipewyan Purchase of runway sweeper $201,859
Manitoba Flin Flon Airside pavement / electrical rehabilitation $3,696,211
Manitoba Gillam Airfield electrical system rehabilitation $1,263,627
Manitoba ShamattawaPrecision Approach Path Indicator system installation$331,768
Nunavut Rankin Inlet Rehabilitation of airside surfaces $7,672,170**$600,000 to be spent in 2007-2008 and $7,072,170 to be spent in future years
Nunavut Taloyoak Crushing and rehabilitation of airside surfaces and replacement of field electrical systems$3,524,111**$500,000 to be spent in 2007-2008 and $3,024,111 to be spent in future years
Yukon Old CrowPurchase of loader with snowblower and attachments$500,825
Ontario Attawapiskat Purchase of loader with attachments and snowblower $279,720
Ontario HamiltonProcurement of an airport fire-fighting vehicle $1,053,000
Ontario North BayAirfield electrical rehabilitation$329,656
Ontario North Spirit Lake Purchase of snowblower $100,440
OntarioSioux LookoutApron and taxi A rehabilitation; airfield lighting control panel$4,445,000
Ontario Sioux LookoutReplacement of snowblower$382,185
Ontario Webequie Purchase of snowblower $99,360
Ontario Windsor Rehabilitation of taxiways F and G, replace airfield lighting control panel $1,927,005
Quebec Baie-ComeauPurchase of snowblower$482,380
Quebec GaspéConstruction of sand storage facility$129,000
QuebecInukjuakPurchase of compactor$125,750
QuebecMont-JoliPurchase of runway sweeper$183,500
QuebecRimouskiPurchase of loader with snowblower and reversible snowplow$361,725
Nova ScotiaSydneyReplacement of runway sweeper$180,900
Newfoundland and LabradorDeer Lake Upgrade taxiway Bravo and reconfigure ATB apron$940,267
Total 2007-2008 $22,847,424
Total inc. future years $32,943,705
April 2007
