No. H 203/08
For release - September 4, 2008
OTTAWA - The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Okanagan–Coquihalla, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the transfer of three marine training simulators from the Government of Canada to the Province of British Columbia, along with federal funding of $2,302,000 for the province to modernize these simulators.
"The transfer of these simulators, along with federal funding, contributes to the British Columbia Institute of Technology's status as a world class simulation and research centre, and encourages foreign and domestic students to take advantage of the international marine training opportunities right here in our community," said Minister Day.
The British Columbia Institute of Technology's Marine Campus is the recipient of the simulators, which will contribute to continued regulatory training and certification of Canadian seafarers.
"Given the forecasted increase in global marine traffic and shortage of mariners, the transfer funding announced today will ensure that Canada's marine training facilities, such as the British Columbia Institute of Technology, are equipped to respond to the increased demand in Canada and worldwide," said Minister Cannon.
"British Columbia has a rich marine and seafaring heritage and is well positioned as Canada's Pacific Gateway to continue to act as a leader in this field," said the Honourable Murray Coell, British Columbia's Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. "Having state-of-the-art training facilities in our province will ensure British Columbia's maritime industries will have access to the highly trained professionals they need."
British Columbia is one of five provinces to receive federal funding under the $7.2-million Marine Simulators Contribution Program. This program provides financial assistance to five provinces that have Marine Training Institutes – British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador – over a four-year transition period, from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011. Ten marine training simulators currently owned by the Government of Canada are being transferred free of charge to the provinces to promote consistent training standards for seafarers, while allowing more flexibility around their use.
For further details on the above initiative and other marine safety issues, visit www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/menu.htm.
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Contacts:
Catherine Loubier
Director of Communications
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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