MONTREAL — The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, today announced more than $1.8 million in funding over the next three years for eleven boating safety awareness projects under Transport Canada’s Boating Safety Contribution Program (BSCP).
“We are pleased to support not-for-profit and public safety organizations, local governments and other institutions as we work to deliver effective boating safety programs in Canadian communities,” said Minister Lebel. “Together, we are making waterways safer and working to reduce boating fatalities and injuries.”
Funding under the BSCP has been allocated as follows:
- Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC), up to $909,400;
- Canadian Red Cross (CRC) – Atlantic Zone, up to $228,062;
- Association Maritime du Québec (AMQ), up to $286,985;
- Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot, up to $23,925;
- Canadian Power & Sails Squadrons (CPS), up to $75,750;
- Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador (KNL), up to $12,465;
- Conseil québécois du nautisme (CQN), up to $60,000;
- Conseil de gestion du bassin-versant de la rivière Restigouche, up to $18,884;
- South Eastern Alberta Search and Rescue Association (SEASARA), up to $13,500;
- Fédération québécoise du canot et du kayak (FQCK), up to $62,499; and
- Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA) Pacific, Inc, up to $150,000.
The program aims to increase the number of pleasure craft operators who follow safe boating practices, improve the availability of national boating incident data to enhance awareness and education initiatives, and reduce loss of life, injuries and property damage due to boating accidents.
The renewed program is nearly twice the size of the previous program, allowing it to fund more boating safety projects across Canada. The program provides financial contributions of up to 75 per cent of eligible costs of projects that advance boating safety awareness and promote the importance of following safe boating practices.
In addition, the Minister announced a call for applications under the BSCP for additional education and awareness projects that promote safe boating practices which would start in the 2014 boating season. Applications will be accepted until October 15, 2013.
This announcement comes just prior to North American Safe Boating Awareness Week 2013, which is taking place from May 18 to 24. For more information, please visit the Canadian Safe Boating Council website at www.csbc.ca.
For more information about the Boating Safety Contribution Program, please visit: www.tc.gc.ca/bscp.
A backgrounder with information about this year’s funding recipients and projects is attached.
Contacts:
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities,
Minister of the Economic Development
Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs,
Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.
