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From the Atlantic shores of Newfoundland and Labrador to the Arctic Ocean in Nunavut to the Pacific coast of British Columbia, small craft harbors are at the heart of Canada’s coastal communities.
Last week, Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, highlighted Budget 2024’s investment in small craft harbors, which are vital to the economies of fishing communities from coast to coast to coast.
Budget 2024 : Fairness for Every Generation proposes to provide $463.3 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, for the repair and maintenance of small craft harbors, including those damaged by Hurricane Fiona.
This is on top of the Department’s annual budget of $90 million for the Small Craft Harbors program. These investments will support local economic development for generations to come, providing safe and functional harbors for Canadians working in the fisheries, aquaculture, construction, and marine engineering sectors.
The government of Canada is currently funding repairs and/or dredging at 40 harbors across the country to ensure that they are in good working condition to support the hardworking harvesters.
Once Budget 2024 is adopted, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will work to identify the priorities of each region and will announce the breakdown of this investment in due course.