No. H 056/08
For release - February 22, 2008
SARNIA, ONTARIO — Airports in Ontario will enhance safety, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada through the 2008-2009 Airports Capital Assistance Program. Pat Davidson, MP, Sarnia-Lambton, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
Ontario airports will share close to $11,475,000 for projects.
"This funding is great news for communities across Ontario, and for all travellers who will benefit from the resulting improvements at our airports." said Ms. Davidson. "This government is committed to the highest standards of safety and to maximizing economic growth in the communities that these airports serve."
"The safety of the travelling public continues to be a top priority for our government," said Minister Cannon. "These new projects will enhance safety and improve the economic potential of a number of airports in Ontario."
The Airports Capital Assistance Program finances capital projects related to safety, asset protection and operating cost reduction. Eligible airports must have year-round regularly scheduled passenger service, they must meet Transport Canada airport certification requirements, and they cannot be owned or operated by the Government of Canada.
Since its creation, the program has distributed over $466 million for 562 projects at 164 airports. Over 99 per cent of these were airside safety-related projects such as the rehabilitation of runways, taxiways, visual aids and heavy airside mobile equipment.
A backgrounder on the Airports Capital Assistance Program and the selected projects are attached.
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Contacts:
Karine WhitePress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Transport,Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa613-991-0700
Media RelationsTransport Canada, Toronto416-952-0154
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BACKGROUNDER
AIRPORTS CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Airports Capital Assistance Program provides funding for capital projects related to safety, asset protection and operating cost reduction. To be eligible, an airport must receive year-round regularly scheduled passenger service, meet Transport Canada airport certification requirements and not be owned or operated by the Government of Canada.
The current five-year program will allocate $190 million by March 2010 - at an average of $38 million per year. Contributions are considered for the following types of projects:
First priority projects include safety-related airside projects, such as rehabilitation of runways, taxiways, aprons, lighting and other utilities, visual aids and sand storage sheds. This category also includes related site preparation and environmental costs, aircraft firefighting vehicles, and ancillary equipment and equipment shelters that are necessary to maintain the level of protection required by regulation.
Second priority projects include safety-related heavy airside mobile equipment, such as runway snowblowers, runway snowplows, runway sweepers, spreaders and decelerometers (winter friction testing devices), and heavy airside mobile equipment shelters.
Third priority projects include safety-related air terminal building and groundside projects, such as sprinkler systems, asbestos removal and barrier-free access.
Fourth priority projects include asset protection and refurbishing, and operating cost reduction related to air terminal building or groundside access.
Transport Canada also sets priorities based on detailed technical analyses of facility conditions and maintenance histories, airport traffic and certification requirements.
To be eligible, projects must maintain or improve safety levels, protect airport assets or significantly reduce operating costs. Projects must also meet accepted engineering practices and be justified on the basis of current demand. Airport facility expansion projects will only be considered if the current facilities have a potentially negative impact on safety at the airport.
Through the Airports Capital Assistance Program, the Government of Canada is improving airport safety, as well as helping the economic viability of this important aspect of Canada's transportation infrastructure.
The Airports Capital Assistance Program is part of the National Airports Policy, which calls for the commercialization of designated Canadian airports, through divestiture to community interests. The policy enables communities to take greater advantage of their airports, reduce costs, tailor levels of service to local demand, and attract new and different types of business.
February 2008
2008-2009 ALLOCATIONS FOR AIRPORTS CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROJECTS(in thousands of dollars)
Attawapiskat
Replace front-end loader
$171.5
Dryden
Guidance signs and runway number update
$28.3
Fort Frances
Purchase of decelerometer
$4.7
Kapuskasing
Plow truck
$167.4
Kenora
Replace snow blower
$375.0
Kingston
Rehabilitate runway 01-19 and drainage relocation
$1,613.8 (over two years)
Moosonee
Replacement and installation of airside signs
$252.0
Nakina
Construct new sand shed/equipment storage building
$324.0
Sarnia
Airside electrical rehabilitation projects
$565.0
Sault Ste. Marie
Replacement of plow truck
$159.5
Sault Ste. Marie
Replacement of sweeper
$175.9
Sioux Lookout
Runway rehabilitation
$3,108.1
Sudbury
Replacement of runway sweeper
$153.8
Toronto City Centre
Airfield lighting controller and runway end lights
$96.0
Toronto City Centre
Procurement of truck with front mounted sweeper
$335.2
Toronto City Centre
Snow plow truck with dump box and plow
$163.0
Waterloo
Replace front-end loader
$214.9
Waterloo
Rehabilitate Taxiway A, edge lights, apron reconfiguration
$3,398.0 (over two years)
Webequie
Replace front-end loader
$170.0
February 2008
