No. H 021/09
For release - January 23, 2009
ALMA, QUEBEC — Air travellers and airport workers will benefit from more than $7 million to enhance airport safety across Canada. The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture), today announced funding under Round One of the federal government's 2009-2010 Airports Capital Assistance Program.
"The safety of air travellers and those who work at our airports is a priority for our government," said Minister Blackburn. "In addition to strengthening safety at airports, these investments will also contribute to trade and tourism as well as help to boost local economies."
"This investment in safety by our government is a win-win for Canadians," said Canada's Transport Minister, John Baird. "By investing in projects like these we are improving the economic potential of our airports and their surrounding communities."
The Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) finances capital projects related to safety, such as the rehabilitation of runways, taxiways, visual aids and heavy airside mobile equipment. Since the inception of ACAP, the Government of Canada has invested a total of $476 million for 571 projects at 165 airports, including today's announcement. Over 99 per cent of these projects were airside projects.
Backgrounders on ACAP and the selected projects are attached.
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The Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) 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 with a minimum of 1,000 passengers each year over the most recent three consecutive years; 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 be considered only if the current facilities have a potentially negative impact on safety at the airport.
Through ACAP, the Government of Canada is improving airport safety, as well as helping the economic viability of this important aspect of Canada's transportation infrastructure.
ACAP is an example of the Government of Canada directing infrastructure resources to where they are most needed and can best enhance safety.
January 2009
