No. H 163/07
For release September 5, 2007
GATINEAU, QUEBEC — 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. The Minister also announced the call for applications for the fourth round of funding under the program.
Under round three of Transit-Secure, up to $19,067,586 will be provided to rail and urban transit operators in some of Canada's largest urban centres. Up to $712,500 will be provided to smaller operators to help them develop risk assessments and comprehensive security plans.
"Canada began to increase its focus on passenger rail and urban transit security after the bombings in Madrid and London in 2004 and 2005. This transportation sector continues to present unique security challenges because of high traffic volumes and extensive, open networks," said Minister Cannon. "We depend on partners to help us face these challenges by playing key roles in emergency management, preparedness and response to create an effective, efficient and secure transportation system."
The following funding is being provided through this round: eight operators in Quebec will receive up to $5,717,603; four operators in Ontario will receive up to $11,850,677; one operator in Saskatchewan will receive up to $37,500; and one operator in Alberta will receive up to $2,174,306.
This funding will make various projects possible, such as:
the development of training programs;
the development of risk assessments and security plans; and
the installation and upgrade of surveillance systems.
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 implement immediate enhancements to the security of their operations and to be better equipped to address potential threats of terrorism. In May 2007, Minister Cannon announced the extension of the Transit-Secure program until March 31, 2009.
Under the program, funding is provided on a cost-shared basis, with up to 75 per cent from the federal government and 25 per cent from the recipient.
Details of the contribution program are available at www.tc.gc.ca/vigilance/sep/rail/Contribution_Program/menu.htm.
Backgrounders listing round three 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
Linda Licari
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.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 THREE OF
TRANSIT-SECURE
City/ProvinceOperatorFundingTypes of projects
Montreal, QuebecAgence
métropolitaine de transport (AMT)$36,000Training Video
$60,000Computerized and physical access and identity control of all
employees
$158,295Radio system
$180,000Directional signage in the Mount Royal Tunnel
$228,750Development of a comprehensive training program
$300,000Enhancement of Operations and Surveillance Centre
Gare Centrale CN$75,000Upgrade of back-up power supply to
support and optimize the reliability of cameras and recorders
Société de transport de Montréal (STM)$3,605,719Subway
video surveillance system upgrade – Phase 1
Gatineau, QuebecSociété de transport de l'Outaouais (STO)
$455,089Installation of fencing, cameras and access control
enhancements
Quebec City, QuebecRéseau de transport de la Capitale
$225,000Risk assessments and security plans
Longueuil, QuebecRéseau de transport de Longueuil
$225,000 Risk assessments and security plans
Trois-Rivières, QuebecSociété de transport de
Trois-Rivières$75,000Risk assessments and security plans
Saguenay, QuebecSociété de transport du Saguenay
$93,750Risk assessments and security plans
Ottawa, OntarioOC Transpo$451,125
Interoperability enhancements to radio communication systems
Toronto, OntarioToronto Transit Commission$6,429,750
Expansion of subway station CCTV System
Union Station$2,820,975Emergency Voice Communication
System
$2,092,577Physical security protection enhancements
Durham Region, OntarioDurham Transit Commission
$56,250Risk assessments and security plans
Prince Albert, SaskatchewanPrince Albert Transit
$37,500Risk assessments and security plans
Edmonton, AlbertaEdmonton Transit
$470,400Command and Control Phase I
$712,766Command and Control Phase II
$991,140Command and Control Phase III
BACKGROUNDER
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 nearly $2.4 billion to strengthen aviation security, $930 million to marine security initiatives, and $115 million to enhance passenger rail and urban transit security, including $80 million for Transit-Secure, a contribution program for operators of passenger rail and transit services in Canada to improve the security of their systems.
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 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 three 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 other operators including inter-city passenger rail and bus systems. Round three provided funding for large and small operators to develop risk assessments and comprehensive security plans.
Funding is provided on a cost-shared basis, with up to 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, are 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 $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 allows 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. These exercises will prepare officials at all levels of government, as well as infrastructure owner-operators, law enforcement and other first responders, to respond to a terrorist incident in the rail and urban transit sector.
Public Safety Portfolio Task Force
A total of $3 million was allocated to Public Safety Canada to set up a two-year task force to work closely with Transport Canada on four priorities. Through close consultation with various levels of government and law enforcement agencies, the Public Safety Portfolio Task Force has:
assessed intelligence and policing technology needs;
identified necessary infrastructure support;
strengthened security awareness activities; and
increased international engagement on urban transit security issues.
The task force has developed an information and intelligence-sharing framework to enhance regional and national capacity in critical infrastructure intelligence and enhance ongoing regional risk analysis. A needs assessment has identified the technology gaps to facilitate communication between law enforcement and other first responders and transit operators. The task force has also developed a draft training and awareness framework and visual awareness prototypes, which will form the basis of strategic, longer-term integrated solutions for the rail and urban transit sector.
September 2007
