No. H 010/08
For release - January 21, 2008
TORONTO — Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that transit operators and other eligible recipients in Ontario will receive up to $5,256,075 in funding for the development of training programs; the upgrade of access control measures, security technology and communication equipment; and the development of risk assessments and security plans. The funding is being provided through the fourth round of Transit-Secure, the Government of Canada's passenger rail and urban transit security contribution program.
"The Government of Canada has made a commitment to improve the security of our transportation system," said Minister Cannon. "Through this fourth round of funding, we are meeting that commitment here in Ontario and right across the country. We are reinforcing measures already underway, addressing potential threats and ensuring that transit systems are safe and secure, to help protect Canadians and their families."
The $80-million 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 further enhance their security measures and to be better equipped to address potential threats of terrorism.
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.
"With the funding announced today, we are helping transit operators to make Canada's urban transit systems among the safest in the world," said Mr. Carrie.
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, including $254 million for transportation security, that will help protect Canadians and their communities.
Details of the contribution program are available at www.tc.gc.ca/vigilance/sep/rail/Contribution_Program/menu.htm.
A backgrounder listing round four funding recipients is 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
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.
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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
January 2008
