No. H047/07
For release April 2, 2007
HALIFAX -- Canada's New Government is investing nearly $200,000 to enhance safety at Sydney Airport,
under the Airports Capital Assistance Program. Today's investment is 90 per cent of the total estimated
for replacing a runway sweeper at Nova Scotia's Sydney Airport. The airport, which serves the second-largest
urban area in Nova Scotia, is important to the local economy, and its growing tourism industry.
"This Government is committed to improving the safety and capacity of air services in communities across
the country," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure
and Communities. "The equipment these funds supply will help the airport contribute to the economic development of Nova Scotia."
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, they must meet Transport Canada airport certification requirements
and they cannot be owned or operated by the Government of Canada.
"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."
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
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
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 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
