Big investment for Quebec harbours

The Government of Canada yesterday announced an important investment for Quebec harbours.

Supported by the Small Craft Harbours (SCH) Program, the government will invest $36.6 million to help maintain small craft harbours across the province.

In the Gaspé Peninsula, the upcoming investments and works under the SCH Program totalling more than $18 million include six major projects:

• Newport Harbour: reconstruction and reshaping of the spatial organization of the harbour’s reception facilities, this will ensure the safety of the operations carried out there by users.
• Saint-Godefroi Harbour: reconstruction of a loading station, rehabilitation of the launch ramp and dredging work in the exclusion zone and in other areas of the harbour.
• Paspébiac Harbour: relocation and reconstruction of the launch ramp and dredging of the basin in the ramp area.
• Grande-Rivière Harbour: repair and improvement of the defence system of the harbour wharves in order to adapt to the growing dimensions of the fleet of inshore and offshore fish harvesters.
• Cloridorme Harbour: installation of a cathodic protection system and painting work in order to slow down the corrosion process of the metal components of the harbour infrastructure.
• Matane Harbour: construction of a shelter for used oil tanks.

“Fishing is a crucial hub in many communities across Canada, including our own, in the Gaspé Peninsula, the Magdalen Islands and the North Shore – which is why it’s important to support our local fishermen and communities with quality, well maintained harbour infrastructure,” said Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue and MP for Gaspésie─Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

In the Magdalen Islands, more than $8 million will be available for six major projects, at the harbours of Grande-Entrée, Havre-Aubert, Île d’Entrée, Millerand, Cap-aux-Meules and Pointe-aux-Loups.

“Investments in Canada’s small craft harbours demonstrate the Government’s commitment to local economies and communities. By ensuring the safety, accessibility and good condition of our national system of small craft harbours, we continue to support the fishing industry so that it, in turn, can continue to play its important role in Canada’s economy and its recovery from the pandemic,” commented Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

As for the North Shore, the financial assistance and work under the SCH Program will amount to nearly $9 million, and will target four main projects, at the harbours of Blanc-Sablon, Les Escoumins, Sept-Îles and Rivière-au-Tonnerre.

Finally, an investment of $550,000 is planned to inspect non-core harbours across the province and address some safety issues.