No. H 169/08
For release - July 8, 2008
GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTA - Airports in northern Alberta will receive funding to enhance safety, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada through the 2008-2009 Airports Capital Assistance Program. Chris Warkentin, MP for Peace River, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
Two airports in northern Alberta will receive up to $749,479 in funding for new equipment.
"This government is demonstrating its commitment to aviation safety all across the country," said Mr. Warkentin. "This new equipment will help Grande Prairie and High Level airports to enhance safety for air passengers."
The funds will be distributed to airports in:
- Grande Prairie, where $105,414 will cover the cost to purchase a sand truck and a truck-mounted sander, and $366,570 will cover the cost to replace a snow blower; and
- High Level, where $277,495 will cover the cost of a front-end loader and attachments.
"The safety of the travelling public continues to be a top priority for our government," said Minister Cannon. "This funding will enable airports in northern Alberta to enhance safety."
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 $468 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 is attached.
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Contacts:
Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Communications
Transport Canada, Winnipeg
204-983-6315
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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.
July 2008
