No. H 097/07
For release May 23, 2007
OTTAWA - The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the call for applications for
the third round of funding under Transit-Secure.
Transit-Secure is an $80-million passenger rail and urban transit security
contribution program. Round three is open to transit operators from the six
largest urban centres in Canada – Montreal, the National Capital Region,
Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver – that have completed risk assessments
and developed comprehensive security plans. Operators from municipalities and
communities outside the six major urban centres, along with VIA Rail and
intercity passenger rail and bus service operators, are also eligible to apply
in this round for funding for the development of risk assessments and
comprehensive security plans.
"Canada's New Government is committed to helping protect Canadian families and
communities by providing direct assistance to passenger rail and urban transit
operators so they can further enhance their security measures," said Minister Cannon.
Minister Cannon also announced the extension of the Transit-Secure program by
one year, until
March 31, 2009. The program was originally scheduled to run from June 2006 until
March 31, 2008. The extension will provide operators with more time to complete
all the security enhancement projects funded through all rounds of the program
and to assess their operations for ongoing security requirements.
"The security of our transit systems is a top priority for Canada's New
Government," added Minister Cannon. "By extending the program for one year,
operators will now have enough time to effectively implement all of their funded
security projects and continue to keep Canadians secure and safe."
The 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 to better address potential threats from terrorism.
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.
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
centres in Canada and supported the development of risk assessments and security
plans, employee training, enhancements to physical security and public
awareness.
The second round of funding provided 16 operators in other communities, as well
as operators of inter-city passenger rail and bus systems, with up to $1.9 million in funding for the development of risk assessments and comprehensive
security plans.
Details of the contribution program are available at
www.tc.gc.ca/vigilance/sep/rail/Contribution_Program/menu.htm.
A backgrounder with further information about the Transit-Secure program is
attached.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities,
613-991-0700
Nicole McNeely
Communications,
Transport Canada, Ottawa
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
TRANSIT-SECURE - THE APPLICATION-BASED
PASSENGER RAIL AND URBAN
TRANSIT SECURITY CONTRIBUTION PROGRAM
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 in emergency management,
preparedness and response. The Government of Canada works with other levels of
government, as well as industry, to create an effective, efficient and secure
transportation system.
Transit-Secure is an $80-million, application-based contribution program that
provides direct assistance to passenger rail and urban transit operators to
further enhance their security measures to better address potential threats from
terrorism. It is targeted towards the high-volume passenger areas of commuter
rail and public transit, with a focus on major urban transit systems and
equipment.
Round one of the contribution program provided financial assistance to
high-volume commuter rail and public transit operators in the six largest urban
centres in Canada - Montreal, the National Capital Region, Toronto, Edmonton,
Calgary and Vancouver - to accelerate the implementation of new and enhanced
security measures based on a targeted, risk-management approach. It supported
the development of risk assessments and security plans; as well as employee
training, enhancements to physical security and public awareness.
The second round of funding provided 16 operators in other communities, as well
as operators of inter-city passenger rail and bus systems, with up to $1.9 million in funding for the development of risk assessments and comprehensive
security plans.
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.
Transit-Secure is a component of the Initial Measures for Passenger Rail and
Urban Transit Security. 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 are designed to address security priorities that have been
identified by the Government of Canada, in collaboration with its partners, to
enhance security for passenger rail, public transit and ferry operations through
five complementary components.
For more information on the initial measures, please visit www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/backgrounders/b06-R074e.htm
For more information on Transit-Secure, including funding applications, please
visit www.tc.gc.ca/vigilance/sep/rail/Contribution_Program/menu.htm
May 2007
