No. PNR 002/08
F or release - August 25, 2008
YELLOWKNIFE - Today, the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Secretary of State Small Business and Tourism and Member of Parliament for Calgary-Nose Hill, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport , Infrastructure and Communities, with the Honourable Robert McLeod, Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment on behalf of the Honourable Michael McLeod, Minister of Transportation for the Government of the Northwest Territories, commemorated the com pletion of several airport safety improvements at the Yellowknife and Norman Wells Airports through funding from the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP).
"Our Government is committed to ensuring that opportunities for economic developm ent exist for communities throughout the Arctic," said Secretary of State Ablonczy. "The safety improvements at Yellowknife and Norman Wells Airports will ensure safe air travel and will help maintain a vital link to other communities contributi ng to the region's economic health in support of northern tourism and businesses."
"The safety of the travelling public
to be a top priority for Prime Minister Stephen Harper and our government," said Minister Cannon. "This funding has strengthened the Yellowknife and Norman Wells Airports, contributing to a strong transportation infrastructure for northerners."
"The Government of Canada has provided ongoing support for necessary infrastructure i mprovements at Northwest Territories airports, and that has been very much appreciated. We look forward to our continued co-operation in providing the means for a safe, reliable air transportation industry in the NWT," said Minister McLeod.
I n the last four years, the Government of Canada has contributed $12.6 million under the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) for safety improvements at the Yellowknife and Norman Wells airports. Through ACAP, the Yellowknife Airport has benefited from over $5 million in federal funding for runway rehabilitation and for construction of new drainage channels. The Government of the Northwest Territories, which owns and operates both airpor ts, contributed over $1 million towards the Yellowknife Airport projects. In Norman Wells, the Government of Canada contributed $7 million for the airport's airside pavement rehabilitation.
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. By March 2010, the current five-year program wi ll have allocated $190 million.
A backgrounder on the Airports Capital Assistance Program is attached.
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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 cer tification 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 re quirements.
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. A irport 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 designate d 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.
August 2008
