Minister Véronyque Tremblay Announces Three Important Measures

Regional Air Transportation

GASPÉ, QC, July 20, 2018 — The measures announced at Regional Air Transportation Summit are taking shape. The Minister for Transport, Ms. Véronyque Tremblay, made an announcement at the Michel-Pouliot de Gaspé Airport, regarding the simplification of the Airfare Reduction Program and the eligibility requirements, the new assistance program for regional airport infrastructure and its eligibility criteria, as well as the composition of the permanent working group.

Airfare Reduction Program

The revision and improvements to the Airfare Reduction Program will allow us to better respond to citizens who live outside of Québec’s major metropolitan areasResidents who are already eligible will now benefit from an increased reimbursement rate for the cost of airfare, as well as the maximum annual amount to which they are entitled. Additionally, residents throughout the Côte-Nord, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions are now eligible.

The program applies to air travel for personal reasons where the itinerary’s final destination is located in Quebec. Airfare purchased since April 1, 2018, is eligible for this program enhancement. Complete information on the program, the form as well as access to online services to make a request, are available on the program page at: Program: https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/en/transport-aerien/programme-reduction-tarifs-aeriens/Pages/programme-reduction-tarifs-aeriens.aspx

Assistance Program for Regional Airport Infrastructures

The Government of Quebec will invest massively in Quebec airports over the coming years through this new program. The financial assistance will allow for improvement projects and the development of infrastructures such as runways, traffic routes, aprons, runway lighting, navigational aids, terminals, hangars, or parking lots. Additionally, various mobile equipment that is essential to safe operation of an airport or airfield can be financed, including snow removal equipment.

The program will be in effect until March 31, 2022, and is endowed with a budget of 100 million dollars. The request form is available on the following page: https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/en/transport-aerien/programme-reduction-tarifs-aeriens/Documents/V-3135A.pdf

Permanent Working Group

Composed of 19 representatives from the air transport industry, the municipal and tourism sectors, as well as business people, this committee’s main mission will be to continually examine the implementation of government measures announced during the summit, and to promote and improve regional air transportation by determining structured solutions to make regional air transportation more accessible, attractive and efficient as well as to allow the industry to support sustainable mobility in Quebec. The list of its members can be found in annex 3.

Quotes:

As we mentioned at the summit, this event did not mark an end in itself, but rather the beginning of the work that is to be accomplished. Today’s announcement is one step further toward better quality airport infrastructures and more effective air service at a better cost. We are fulfilling our commitments and are in motion to improve all citizens’ quality of life.

– Véronyque Tremblay, Minister of Transport

Airports in the Gaspésie and Îles-de-la-Madeleine region can access financial aid to improve and develop their infrastructures and acquire equipment that is essential to their safe operation. I am thrilled for residents of Gaspé who will benefit from reduced fees and for residents of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine who will benefit from increased reimbursements: these measures will facilitate their travels.

– Pierre Moreau, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister responsible for the Plan Nord and Minister responsible for the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region

Quick Facts:

• The Regional Air Transport Summit was held in Lévis on February 2^nd.
• Eight measures that will improve regional air transportation in Quebec were announced.

Related Links:

• Ministry of Transportation, Sustainable Mobility and Transport https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/en/transport-aerien/Pages/sommet-aerien-regional.aspx
• Airfare Reduction Program:
  https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/en/transport-aerien/programme-reduction-tarifs-aeriens/Pages/programme-reduction-tarifs-aeriens.aspx
• Assistance program for regional airport infrastructure (French only):
  https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/aide-finan/programmes-aide/programme-aeroportuaires-regionales/Pages/paqiar.aspx

Annex 1—Airfare Reduction Program

Residents throughout the Côte-Nord, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions are newly eligible for this program. Also for those who were already admissible living in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, on the Basse-Côte-Nord, on Île‑d’Anticosti, in Minganie, Fermont, Schefferville and in Nord-du-Québec, the refunds have been increased.

Component	Eligible Communities	Refund	Maximum annual amount
Component 1	Communities That Are Not Connected to the Road Networks (Whapmagoostui, L’Île-d’Anticosti, Basse-Côte-Nord, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Schefferville)	60%	$3,000
Component 2	Communities Connected to the Road Networks and Recognized as Remote by Revenu Québec (Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, Fermont and Minganie)	40%	$1,500
Component 3	Other Communities Connected to the Road Networks (Gaspésie, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Côte-Nord, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Abitibi-Témiscamingue)	30%	$500

Quick facts:

Eligible applicants are:

• Residents who occupy permanent housing in a region covered by the program;
• Full-time students that are registered in an educational institution located outside of the regions covered by the program and whose parents or legal guardians are residents of a region targeted by the program.

Air travel that is paid in part or in full by an employer, a health-care centre, an organization or a third party are not eligible for a reimbursement within this program.

The entire itinerary must occur within Quebec, which excludes any travel to or from a destination located outside of Quebec, with the exception of designated border airports such as Wabush, Ottawa, Deer Lake and Charlo, as they are important to reach certain regions of Quebec.

The application for reimbursement must be submitted no later than one year following travel, using this form:
https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/en/transport-aerien/programme-reduction-tarifs-aeriens/Documents/V-3135A.pdf.

 Annex 2—Assistance Program for Regional Airport Infrastructure

Objectives

• Maintain Quebec’s airport network in good condition and ensure its durability;
• Contribute to the development of the airport network;
• Contribute to the air services offer and to individual’s mobility through adequate infrastructures.

 Components 

Component  1—Repairs and improvements to infrastructure and equipment “runway side”  

Eligible equipment (non-exhaustive list) : runways, traffic routes, aprons, runway lighting, signage, weather observation stations, instrument approach, navigation aids, lampposts.

Ministry participation rate: 50% of costs. However, the financial assistance for some projects that are essential to the offer of medical flights can reach up to 75% of the admissible costs. Exceptionally, this funding is indexed to 90% for municipalities in the fifth quintile of the “Classement des localités selon l’indice de vitalité économique du Québec” (Location Ranking According to Quebec’s Economic Vitality Index). Maximum participation of 15 million dollars.

Component  2—Renovation and construction of air network building and other work related to air network activities  

Eligible equipment (non-exhaustive list): terminals, hangars, garages, parking lots, access roads, aviation fuel reservoirs, aqueducts, sewers and electric networks connected to airports, terminal-specific equipment, costs related to the application of the Politique d’intégration des arts à l’architecture et à l’environnement des bâtiments et des sites gouvernementaux et publics.
Ministry participation rate: 30% of costs up to a maximum of 15 million dollars.

Component 3—Mobile Equipment 

Eligible equipment (non-exhaustive list): maintenance equipment, de-icing equipment, airport vehicles, fire trucks, power generators.
Ministry Participation: 30% of costs up to a maximum of $300,000.

The following organizations, Quebec airport and airfield owners are eligible:

• Local municipalities, municipalité régionale de comté, municipal or intermunicipal organizations that fall under the aforementioned entities;
• A non-profit private legal entity;
• A legal private entity pursuing commercial gains if the airport handles regular flights;
• Indigenous communities represented by their band council as per the Indian Act (Revised laws of Canada, 1985, chapter I-5) or the Naskapi and the Cree-Naskapi Commission Act (Laws of Canada, 1984, chapter 18);
• Cooperatives.

Annex 3—Members of the Permanent Regional Air Transportation Working Group

Aéroport de Québec	Gaétan Gagné, President and CEO
Aéroports de Montréal	Stéphane Lapierre, Vice-President, Airport Operations and Air Services Development
Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec	Martin Soucy, President-Director General
Assemblée des partenaires de la Société du Plan Nord	Manon Cyr, President and Mayor of Chibougamau
Aviateurs Québec	Michel Chartier, Vice-President, Communications
Air Transport Association of Canada	John McKenna, President and CEO
Association québécoise du transport aérien	Jean-Marc Dufour, President—Director General
Centre québécois de formation aéronautique	David Gagnon, Director of Education
Comité sectoriel de main-d’œuvre en aérospatiale	Nathalie Paré, Director General
Conseil des aéroports du Québec	Jacques Poulin, President, Board of Directors
National Airlines Council of Canada	Massimo Bergamini, President-Director General
Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec	Stéphane Forget, President-Director General
Fédération québécoise des municipalités	Jonathan Lapierre, Mayor of Îles-de-la-Madeleine, President of the Communauté maritime, Vice-President of the Fédération québécoise des municipalités
Ministry of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification	Jérôme Unterberg, Assistant Deputy Minister
	Véronyque Tremblay, Minister for Transport
Société du Plan Nord	René Dufresne, President-Director General
Union des municipalités du Québec	Daniel Côté, 2nd Vice-President, Mayor of Gaspé