Big orders on the wayFederal funding aims at boosting transit security
Updated Tue. Nov. 14 2006 7:45 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Ottawa is expected to provide details today behind its long-promised plan to help Canada's largest public transit systems keep commuters safe from terrorist attacks.
Federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon is scheduled to make an announcement about the funding this morning in Montreal (at about 10:30 a.m., to be carried live on CTV Newsnet).
Cannon is expected to award up to $80 million to six cities in an effort to prevent the type of bombings that rocked Madrid, London and Mumbai.
In Vancouver, Translink spokesperson Drew Snider told CTV there will be an effort to install security cameras on board buses.
Snider said the money might also go toward the creation of a smart-card fare system, which would identify and track transit users. Those measures would combine with a newly-formed and armed Skytrain police.
Montreal Transit has already installed 531 closed circuit cameras and plans to have 1,200 in place by next June. But an official won't reveal what improvements that the federal dollars would be used for due to security reasons.
The Toronto Transit Commission expects to get $10 million in funding, which will be used to install 10,000 television cameras.
Ottawa-Gatineau, Calgary and Edmonton are also expected to receive federal funding.