No. H 236/08
For release - December 8, 2008
DEER LAKE, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — The Government of Canada has announced today that the Deer Lake Regional Airport will receive funding for a new aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle.
"Our government is committed to making safety a top priority for travellers," said John Baird, Canada's Transport Minister. "This funding enables Deer Lake Regional Airport to strengthen its ability to respond to emergencies."
"This funding demonstrates our government's commitment to ensuring safety at airports," said the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. "This specialized vehicle will enhance the airport's ability to respond to emergencies and to keep those who visit or work at the airport safe."
Deer Lake Regional Airport will receive up to $681,200 to cover the cost of an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle. The funding comes from the 2009-2010 Airports Capital Assistance Program, which funds 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 for mainly 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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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.
December 2008
