No. P17/99
For release October 5, 1999

IMPROVING SAFETY AT PENTICTON AIRPORT

PENTICTON, B.C. — Senator D. Ross Fitzpatrick, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced federal funding of $650,000 for a repaving project at Penticton Airport. The work is scheduled to be completed by November and the repaving is expected to create up to 12 jobs over the one-month construction period.

The project includes repaving Penticton Airport’s Taxiways B, C, D and Apron 1. The pavement on the taxiways and apron is beginning to deteriorate and needs replacing. They were last paved in 1969 and 1977. As part of the repaving project a Fuel Interceptor System will be installed to help prevent fuel from getting into the storm drainage system. The construction contract for the project was awarded to Peter Bros. Construction Ltd., of Penticton, B.C.

"Today’s federal contribution is part of Transport Canada’s commitment to fund safety-related projects at the Penticton Airport and will help ensure that the airport remains a safe and efficient facility." said Senator Fitzpatrick. "These improvements will also help to meet the future needs of the airport and reduce the airport’s environmental impact on the Okanagan Valley."

Transport Canada continues to operate Penticton airport and ensure the safety and security of the travelling public, while seeking a long-term solution to transferring the airport to local control. Transport Canada will continue to operate the airport until March 31, 2000. At that time airports that haven’t been transferred to local interests, under the National Airports Policy, will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

The Penticton Airport is a major transportation hub in the south Okanagan Valley offering flight training, aircraft maintenance, air ambulance, charter and regularly scheduled passenger services. Passenger traffic at the airport jumped by 10 per cent in 1998, climbing from 74,174 in 1997 to 81,953. The Penticton Airport plays a significant role in the Okanagan, injecting roughly $12 million into the local economy and supporting over 120 jobs.

"The Penticton project is an example of the federal government directing infrastructure resources to where they are needed and can best enhance economic growth and aviation safety," said Mr. Collenette. "These types of projects are just one way the government seeks to ensure a safe, efficient and affordable airports system to serve Canadians well into the future."

Funding for the project was provided for in the federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This initiative is an example of how the federal government is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.

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Contact:

Rod Nelson
Communications, Vancouver
(604) 666-1675 

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