No. H 164/07
For release - September 5, 2007
EDMONTON — Mr. Laurie Hawn, MP for Edmonton Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that the City of Edmonton, Alberta will receive up to $2,174,306 in funding to enhance transit security, and the City of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan will receive up to $37,500 to develop a risk assessment and security plan. The Minister also announced the call for applications for the fourth round of funding under Transit-Secure, the Government of Canada's passenger rail and urban transit security contribution program.
"Canada's New Government continues to make investments in transportation security in Alberta and Saskatchewan," said Minister Cannon. "These provinces will now have further means to prepare their transit systems for potential threats. This reinforces the measures already underway."
The $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.
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 centers. Up to $712,500 will be provided to smaller operators to help them develop risk assessments and comprehensive security plans.
"The funding announced today will help transit operators in Edmonton, along with those in smaller communities like Prince Albert, enhance their security systems," said Mr. Hawn.
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. 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.
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Contacts:
Natalie SarafianPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Transport,Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa613-991-0700
Linda LicariCommunicationsTransport Canada, Ottawa613-993-0055
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