Thursday, March 27, 2025
Small craft harbours play a vital role in our community, bringing people together in work and play, while supporting jobs in the fish and seafood industry for over 45,000 Canadians. In addition to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s annual budget of $90 million to upgrade small craft harbours, Budget 2024 announced $463.3 million over three years for the repair and maintenance of small craft harbours, including those damaged by Hurricane Fiona, starting in 2024-25.
As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to growing the economy to help everyone get ahead, today Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard on behalf of the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced a $34.1M investment to upgrade, reconstruct, and repair wharfs and other critical harbour infrastructure including electrical upgrades in four Nova Scotia Harbours; Louisbourg, Glace Bay, Upper Whitehead, and Grand Étang. This work will ensure harbours remain safe and operational for local harvesters and recreational users alike.
“As part of Budget 2024, the Government of Canada is ensuring that coastal Canadians have the infrastructure they need, and deserve, to carry out their important job of feeding the world. Investing in small craft harbours not only supports harvesters, but also the processors, exporters and everyone else in the fishing sector. Having safe, reliable and resilient harbours helps create strong local economies,” said The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
The fishing industry is vital the economy and a significant source of employment in coastal communities across Canada, and safe, reliable small craft harbours are essential to maintaining harbour operations. Investments announced today will ensure small craft harbours remain safe for harbour users in Nova Scotia while building resiliency to climate change, which is causing more frequent and extreme weather events that can impact harbour infrastructure.
Investments announced today will help ensure functional harbours for Canadians working in the fisheries, aquaculture, construction, and marine engineering sectors, driving job creation and local economic development for years to come.
“Small craft harbours are at the heart of our community. Harbours like ours provide jobs and recreation for countless people, and a strong fishing industry means a strong Nova Scotia. I’m proud to be a part of the Government of Canada’s investment in these harbours, which is, in turn, an investment in the whole community,” said Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
