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4. The Government of Canada Invests Close to $15 Million in its Airports of the North Shore and in Schefferville

The Government of Canada Invests Close to $15 Million in its Airports of the North Shore and in Schefferville

No. Q002/11
For release - August 8, 2011
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SEPT-ILES (Quebec) — Today, the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, announced during a visit to Sept-Îles a $15 million investment in six airports on the North Shore and Lower North Shore and in Schefferville, to keep the facilities safe and in operational condition and ensure the efficient pursuit of airport activities.

"Maintaining airport facilities for regional and remote communities is essential," Minister Lebel said. "The work that is done and the equipment that is purchased will enable these six airports to continue to support the regional economy, which is based on mining, aluminum smelting, fishing, tourism and public services."

The airports at Sept-Îles, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Natashquan, Chevery, Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon and Schefferville will receive significant investments to carry out projects and procure equipment, including:

• Replacement of service vehicles, refurbishment of the lighting and electrical distribution system and the terminal building roof, connection to the municipal water system and refurbishment of the public areas of the Sept-Îles airport;
• Procurement of various equipment, redevelopment of the terminal building and runway surface repair at the Havre-Saint-Pierre airport;
• Installation of surveillance equipment and refurbishment of the external siding of the Natashquan terminal building;
• Procurement of surveillance equipment for the Chevery airport;
• Refurbishment of parts of the garage, replacement of the approach lights and runway identification lights, and renovation of the Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon terminal building;
• Refurbishment of the multi-purpose building and replacement of a loader at the Schefferville airport.

These refurbishment and procurement projects are to go out to public tender so that expert firms can be selected in a rigorous process and then carry out the projects or provide the required equipment. The various project phases will begin this year and could extend to 2014.

"These projects and the procurement of equipment for these airports, which are vital to the economies and sustainability of their respective regions, illustrates our government's ongoing commitment to regional, local and remote communities," Mr. Lebel added.

While the work is going on, the necessary measures will be taken to minimize the impact on the airports' regular activities. Attached is a backgrounder on the airports and projects announced today.

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Backgrounder

The Government of Canada Invests Close to $15 Million in its Airports on the North Shore and in Schefferville

Below is a summary of the work and equipment procurement for each airport:

Close to $7 million will be invested in the Sept-Îles airport to replace service vehicles, including a tractor and a snow plow. The bird scaring system, the lighting and electrical distribution system, the terminal building roof and the gas detection system in the multi-purpose building will be replaced. Refurbishment of the public areas of the terminal and the fire protection system will be undertaken and the airport will be connected to the municipal water system.

About the Sept-Iles Airport

The airport is located on the North Shore in Eastern Quebec and serves an area with a population close to 100,000. It provides numerous daily flights to Quebec City and Montreal for tourists and business travellers. Some carriers operating at the Sept-Îles airport are also active in Nunavik and Newfoundland and Labrador. Since February 2009, a new carrier has been offering a seasonal service between Sept-Îles and the Caribbean.

Over $2 million will be invested in the Havre-Saint-Pierre airport. The air terminal will be redeveloped and repairs will be made to the facilities, including the runway surface. A snow plow will also be replaced.

About the Havre-Saint-Pierre Airport

The airport is located 3 km from the centre of Havre-Saint-Pierre. It provides service between the Middle and Lower North Shore, the major centres in Quebec, Anticosti Island and general aviation services for cargo shipments in the winter.

Approximately $5.5 million will be directed toward the Natashquan airport, the Chevery airport, the Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon airport and the Schefferville airport. This investment will provide the residents of their regions with the only reliable means of transportation, available year-round, through regular or chartered passenger and cargo flights.

Surveillance equipment will be installed at the Natashquan and Chevery airports. Exterior siding of the Natashquan terminal building will also be repaired. The investments in the Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon and Schefferville airports will go to refurbishing parts of the garage, the multi-purpose building and the terminal building, and replacing the approach lights and runway identification lights, as well procuring heavy equipment.

Details about the exact cost of each of these refurbishment or procurement projects will be known once the public tendering procedures have been completed.

Date modified:

2011-09-27

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