No. H 049/07
For release April 03, 2007
OTTAWA -- The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities today announced new projects to enhance rail and
transit security under Transit-Secure, the Government of Canada's $80-million
passenger rail and urban transit security contribution program. Under the
program's second round of funding, up to $2 million will be provided to rail and
urban transit operators outside Canada's six major urban areas, as well as
inter-city rail and bus companies.
The following funding is being provided through this round: one operator in Nova
Scotia will receive up to $180,000; one operator in Quebec will receive up to
$187,500; eight operators in Ontario will receive up to $967,500; one operator
in Manitoba will receive up to $99,750; two operators in Saskatchewan will
receive up to $105,000; two operators in Alberta will receive up to $86,250; and
one operator in British Columbia will receive up to $300,000.
The two-year, $80-million application-based contribution program, launched in
July 2006, is one of the programs included in the $115 million in funding
announced by Prime Minister Harper for Initial Measures to Enhance the Security
of Canada's Passenger Rail and Urban Transit Operations. The program provides
direct assistance to passenger rail and urban transit operators to further
enhance their security measures and to be better equipped to address potential
threats of terrorism.
"Canada's New Government continues to make investments in the security of our
transportation systems," said Minister Cannon. "The funding announced today will
help smaller operators, along with inter-city rail and bus companies, develop
the building blocks that will help them further enhance their systems."
Up to $37 million in funding for round one of this program was announced in
November 2006. The first round was open to operators in the six largest urban
areas in Canada - Montreal, the National Capital Region, Toronto, Edmonton,
Calgary and Vancouver. These operators, along with rail and transit operators
outside the six major urban areas who have not yet received funding, will be
eligible under future rounds of funding.
Under the program, funding is provided on a cost-shared basis, with 75 per cent
from the federal government and 25 per cent from the recipient. This funding is
part of $1.4 billion in national security funding committed in Budget 2006 for a
variety of security initiatives that will help protect Canadians and their
communities, including $254 million for transportation security.
Details of the contribution program are available at
www.tc.gc.ca/vigilance/sep/rail/Contribution_Program/menu.htm.
Backgrounders listing round two funding
recipients and describing the Initial Measures to Enhance the Security of
Canada's Passenger Rail and Urban Transit Operations are attached.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Nicole McNeely
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.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
BACKGROUNDER
FUNDING RECIPIENTS - ROUND TWO OF TRANSIT-SECURE
Province
Province City/Operator
Funding
Types of projects
Nova Scotia
Halifax $180,000
Risk assessments and security plans
Quebec
Laval
$187,500
Risk assessments and security plans
Ontario
Brampton
$150,000
Risk assessments and security plans
Greyhound Canada
$285,000
Risk assessments and security plans
Hamilton
$75,000
Risk assessments and security plans
Mississauga
$75,000
Risk assessments and security plans
Sarnia
$120,000
Risk assessments and security plans
Waterloo
$75,000
Risk assessments and security plans
Windsor
$75,000
Risk assessments and security plans
York
$112,500
Risk assessments and security plans
Manitoba
Winnipeg
$99,750
Risk assessments and security plans
Saskatchewan
Regina
$30,000
Risk assessments and security plans
Saskatoon
$75,000
Risk assessments and security plans
Alberta
Lethbridge
$30,000
Risk assessments and security plans
Red Deer
$56,250
Risk assessments and security plans
British Columbia
B.C. Transit
$300,000
Risk assessments and security plans
TOTAL
$1,926,000
INITIAL MEASURES TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY OF CANADA'S PASSENGER RAIL
AND URBAN TRANSIT OPERATIONS
Budget 2006 announced $1.4 billion in national security funding to protect
Canadian families and communities, to secure our borders and to increase
emergency preparedness, including over
$250 million to continue to improve transportation security in Canada.
In the past six years, the Government of Canada has committed more than $ 10 billion
towards national security, of which nearly $2.4 billion has been
allocated to strengthen aviation security and $930 million to strengthen marine
security - each focusing on areas of highest risk.
The March 2004 bombings in Madrid, Spain, and the July 2005 bombings in London,
England, led Canada to focus on transportation security in high-volume passenger
transportation sectors. The passenger rail and urban transit sector presents
unique security challenges because it consists of extensive, open systems that
move high volumes of passengers daily.
Although Transport Canada has the lead responsibility for national
transportation security, other partners play key roles with respect to emergency
management, including preparedness and response. Therefore, the Government of
Canada works together with other levels of government, as well as industry, to
create an effective and efficient security system.
Up to $115 million was set aside in the fiscal framework for Initial Measures to
Enhance the Security of Canada's Passenger Rail and Urban Transit Operations, of
which $95 million was announced in Budget 2006. The initial measures were
designed to address security priorities that have been identified by the
Government of Canada, in collaboration with its partners, to enhance security
for this sector through five complementary components:
Transit-Secure - An application-based passenger rail and urban transit security
contribution program
Up to $80 million will be provided over two years for an application-based
passenger rail and urban transit security contribution program, targeted towards
the high volume passenger areas of commuter rail and public transit, with a
primary focus on major urban transit systems.
Round one of the contribution program provided financial assistance to
high-volume commuter rail and public transit operators in six urban areas -
Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, the National Capital Region, and Montreal
- to accelerate the implementation of new and enhanced security measures based
on a targeted, risk-management approach.
The first round of funding supported the development of risk assessments and
security plans; the acquisition of security equipment to enhance emergency
communications, access control, and lighting; as well as employee training and
public awareness.
The second round of funding supported the development of risk assessments and
security plans for operators in other communities, as well as operators of
inter-city passenger rail and bus systems.
Funding is provided on a cost-shared basis, with 75 per cent from the federal
government and 25 per cent from the recipient. Passenger rail and transit
operators are required to apply for the funding.
For more information on Transit-Secure, please visit
www.tc.gc.ca/vigilance/sep/rail/Contribution_Program/menu.htm
Enhanced Transport Canada leadership, expertise and coordination
Up to $24 million over five years will be provided to strengthen Transport
Canada's capacity to provide passenger rail and urban transit security
leadership and expert assistance in the development of security assessments and
plans, best practices and guidelines; enhance information sharing networks;
strengthen incident tracking and trend analysis; conduct technology research and
development programs; and coordinate international and intergovernmental efforts
on passenger rail and urban transit security.
Eligibility of domestic ferries under Transport Canada's Marine Security
Contribution Program
Canada's domestic ferry operators, including those that are part of public
transit systems, will be eligible to apply for funding to enhance the security
of their facilities and vessels under the existing Marine Security Contribution
Program.
For more information about the program please visit:
www.tc.gc.ca/MarineSecurity/ContributionSpecialPrograms/contribution/menu.htm
Urban transit emergency preparedness exercises
These measures include up to $8 million over four years to improve the readiness
of Canada's urban transit sector to respond to emergencies and to develop
effective contingency plans. This funding will allow Public Safety Canada, in
cooperation with Transport Canada, to partner with key jurisdictions and
stakeholders to carry out complex inter-jurisdictional exercises in Vancouver,
Toronto and Montreal. They will help prepare officials at all levels of
government, as well as infrastructure owner-operators, first responders and law
enforcement, for their roles in emergencies.
Public Safety Portfolio Task Force
Up to $3 million will be allocated to Public Safety Canada to set up a two-year
task force, which will work closely with Transport Canada. The Public Safety
Portfolio Task Force will work towards enhancing regional and national capacity
in critical infrastructure intelligence and enhance ongoing regional risk
analysis. Furthermore, it will provide technology support and advice on law
enforcement and emergency management and develop local security coordination
protocols.
Through close consultation with various levels of government and law enforcement
agencies, the task force will assess intelligence and policing technology needs,
identify necessary infrastructure support, strengthen security awareness
activities, and increase international engagement on urban transit security
issues. This will contribute to strategic, longer-term integrated solutions to
rail and urban transit security issues.
April 2007
