Canada: Shea, Kerr Announce Funding for Small Craft Harbours

Shea, Kerr Announce Funding for Small Craft Harbours

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, accompanied by Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, yesterday announced that the Government of Canada will invest in construction, repair and dredging projects at four small craft harbours in Southwest Nova Scotia. They also provided an update on the ongoing projects at Digby Harbour.

Our Government understands the importance of safe and efficient harbours to communities across Nova Scotia,” said Minister Shea. “The projects announced today will help ensure that core fishing harbours meet the needs of commercial fishermen and their communities into the future.”

Projects at small craft harbours not only support the local economy, but create jobs and promote growth in surrounding communities,” said MP Kerr. “Our Government’s investment in these harbours demonstrates its support of Nova Scotia’s coastal communities where fisheries play a key role.”

This year, Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Small Craft Harbours Program will undertake repair and maintenance work at core fishing harbours across Canada through an investment of approximately $63 million. This investment will fund over 100 major repair, construction, maintenance and dredging projects at small craft harbours across Canada.

In addition, this investment will enable a large number of minor repair and redredging projects to be carried out at fishing harbours throughout the country.

Major projects being announced yesterday, under the 2013/2014 Small Craft Harbours Program, include:

Maintenance and repair

– Repair of the steel piles on the floating dock system at Wedge Point (Wedgeport);

– Reconstruction of the south wharf at Pinkneys Point, to be carried out over two years;

– Construction and installation of floating wharves at Saulnierville, to be carried out over two years.

Dredging

– Dredging of the basin and wharf areas at Meteghan;

– Basin dredging at Saulnierville, to be carried out over two years.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada undertakes these projects in cooperation with the local harbour authorities that manage and operate facilities for local users. Close cooperation between the Department and harbour authorities allows the federal government to continue to provide an operable system of harbours and facilities throughout Canada in support of the commercial fishing industry.

Under the 2012 federal budget, the Government of Canada provided funding for Digby Harbour, as announced on July 12, 2012, to support repairs and improvements at the harbour over two years. The installation of the floating dock system and the demolition of the existing inner wharf have now been completed.

The construction of the new northeast breakwater is ongoing, and the fendering and marginal wharf repairs are at the design stage. These projects will help support marine-related activities and ensure that Digby Harbour facilities are functional and in good repair.

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Press Release, October 20, 2013