Canada Continues to Invest in Small Craft Harbours

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Regional Minister for Prince Edward Island, was in West Point Harbour yesterday to announce a Government of Canada investment of $9.5 million to support improvement projects at small craft harbours in Prince Edward Island.

At West Point harbour, the major projects being undertaken are reconstruction of a breakwater and construction of a service area, being carried out over two years.

“Our Government recognizes that investing is small craft harbours means investing in our coastal communities. It means creating jobs for Canadians, like the hard-working folks of PEI. Ensuring that our small craft harbours are kept in good operating condition will benefit the people who use them and the communities where they are located, for years to come,” the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans said.

This is part of the Government of Canada’s investment of $106 million in repair, construction, maintenance and dredging projects at harbours across Canada. This includes regular program funding for 2014-15 and an additional $40 million over two years, as announced in Economic Action Plan 2014.

Quick Facts

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada undertakes projects in cooperation with local harbour authorities that manage and operate harbour facilities for local users.
• The Department will support major repair, construction, maintenance and dredging projects at thirteen fishing harbours in Prince Edward Island.
• Economic Action Plan 2014 provided an additional $40 million over two years for repair, construction and maintenance projects at Canada’s small craft harbours.
• The Small Craft Harbours Program is responsible for over 1000 small craft harbours across Canada.
• Small craft harbours support nearly 90% of all commercial fishing landings in Canada. In 2012, the landed value of Prince Edward Island commercial fisheries was over $143 million.

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Press Release, July 9, 2014