No. H 009/08
For release - January 21, 2008
MONTREAL — 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 round four of Transit-Secure, up to $19,882,745 will be provided to rail and urban transit operators in some of Canada's largest urban centres.
"This latest round of funding demonstrates that the Government of Canada remains committed to building upon the progress we have made toward making Canada's transit systems among the safest and most secure in the world, to help protect Canadians and their families," said Minister Cannon. "Through ongoing strategic partnerships with operators across the country, we are well on our way to meeting that goal."
The following funding is being provided through this round: four operators in Quebec will receive up to $6,537,920; six operators and other eligible funding recipients in Ontario will receive up to $5,256,075; two operators in Alberta will receive up to $946,500; and one operator in British Columbia will receive up to $7,142,250.
This funding will make various projects possible, such as:
the development of training and awareness programs;
the upgrade of access control measures, security technology and communication equipment; and
the development of risk assessments and security plans.
The application-based contribution program, launched in June 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 four 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:
Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
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BACKGROUNDER
FUNDING RECIPIENTS — ROUND FOUR OF TRANSIT-SECURE
City/Province
Operator
Funding
Types of projects
Montreal, Quebec
Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT)
$11,550
Communication Equipment
$28,050
Infrastructure
$120,000
Internal Assessments
$120,000
Access Control Measures
$1,680,116
Surveillance Technologies
Société de transports de Montréal (STM)
$423,041
Internal Assessments
$3,797,282
Surveillance Technologies
Gatineau, Quebec
Société de transports de l’Outaouais (STO)
$137,595
Communication Equipment
$145,286
Internal Assessments
Sherbrooke, Quebec
Société de transports de Sherbrooke (STS)
$75,000
Internal Assessments
Ottawa, Ontario
OC Transpo
$369,000
Communication Equipment
$896,625
Infrastructure
Toronto, Ontario
GO Transit
$195,000
Security Centre
$300,000
Training
Toronto Transit Commission
$75,000
Internal Assessments
$795,000
Access Control Measures
Union Station
$75,000
Training
$637,500
Communication Equipment
$1,125,450
Access Control Measures
North Bay, Ontario
Ontario Northland Transportation Commission
$187,500
Internal Assessments
Toronto, Ontario
Canadian Urban Transit Association
$600,000
Internal Assessments
Vancouver, British Columbia
TransLink
$842,250
Access Control Measures
$5,244,000
Communication Equipment
$330,750
Security Centre
$126,000
Training
$393,000
Infrastructure
$206,250
Internal Assessments
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary Transit
$60,000
Public Awareness
$239,250
Infrastructure
$385,500
Access Control Measures
$224,250
Surveillance Technologies
Sherwood Park, Alberta
Strathcona County Transit
$37,500
Internal Assessments
INITIAL MEASURES TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY OF CANADA'S PASSENGER RAIL AND URBAN TRANSIT OPERATIONS
World events, including terrorist attacks over the last several years, 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.
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 $254 million to continue to improve transportation security in Canada.
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.
Rounds one, two and three 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. Rounds one, three and four supported the acquisition of security equipment to enhance emergency communications, access control and lighting, as well as employee training and public awareness. For those operators, the first round of funding also supported the development of risk assessments and security plans.
For areas other than those in the six urban areas above, the second, third and fourth rounds of funding supported the development of risk assessments and security plans for other operators, including inter-city passenger rail and bus systems.
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 take action in response 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.
January 2008
