Harper Government Invests in Quebec Harbours

QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 5, 2011) - The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced today that the Government of Canada will invest in the repair and maintenance of small craft harbours in Quebec.

"Our Government understands the vital importance of Quebec's fishing industry," said Minister Paradis. "We are pleased to invest in the harbours that our hard-working men and women depend on to earn a living."

This year, Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Small Craft Harbours Program will undertake necessary dredging, repair and maintenance projects at 33 core commercial fishing harbours across Quebec.

This investment is in addition to funding announced in March 2011, to support fish harvesters in storm-damaged areas in Quebec, Atlantic Canada and Manitoba.

"The Government of Canada is committed to the coastal communities of this province and is pleased to contribute to their economic growth and future prosperity," said Minister Paradis. "Today's investment in small craft harbours will benefit the local economy for years to come."

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.

FOR BROADCAST:

The Government will invest $6.3 million to repair and maintain small craft harbours in Quebec this year. This funding is part of $57 million for small craft harbours across the country, and in addition to the $71.6 million committed by the Government last March, to clean up storm-damaged fishing harbours in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Manitoba.

Backgrounder

INVESTMENTS IN SMALL CRAFT HARBOURS IN QUEBEC

As part of a $57 million investment in small craft harbours across the country in 2011-2012, the Government of Canada will provide $6.3 million to repair and maintain small craft harbours in Quebec.

Major projects that will be funded under the program include:

• major wharf reconstruction work at Gascons (Ruisseau-Chapados);

• completion of breakwater construction at Grosse-Île (Cap-du-Dauphin);

• completion of harbour improvements at the multipurpose harbour at Cap-aux-Meules;

• wharf repairs at Baie-Comeau, Carleton (fishermen's section), Cloridorme, L'Anse-à-Brillant, Rivière-Saint-Paul (Baie Chevalier), and Rivière-au-Renard;

• installation of floating docks at Étang-du-Nord, Gascons (Anse-à-la-Barbe), and Mingan;

• installation of fendering systems at Grande-Rivière and Percé;

• service area repairs at the multipurpose harbour at Cap-aux-Meules;

• channel/basin clean-up at Rivière Bonaventure and Cap-Chat (New Harbour);

• engineering studies at the main fishermen's wharf at Blanc-Sablon, Harrington Harbour and Pointe-aux-Loups;

• dredging, which has already been carried out at Baie-Trinité, Grande-Entrée, Grosse-Île (Cap-du-Dauphin) Île d'Entrée, l'Anse-à-Beaufils, l'Anse-à-Brillant, Les Méchins (fishermen's wharf), Millerand, Pointe-aux-Loups, Pointe-Basse, Port-Daniel Est, Rivière-au-Renard, Rivière Madeleine (Cap-à-l'Ours), Shigawake, St-Godefroi, and Tourelles (St-Joachim); and

• advance planning for dredging at Baie-Comeau and Rivière-au-Tonnerre.

In recent years, the Government has made significant investments in Canada's fishing harbours. Permanent annual funding for the Small Craft Harbours Program has been increased by $20 million in 2007-08. Canada's Economic Action Plan provided an additional $200 million for harbour repair and improvement projects across the country, including $22.5 million for projects in Quebec, in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.

Additionally, last year, the Federal Government invested $71.6 million towards the repair of harbours affected by storms in the fall and winter of 2010. Hurricane Igor in Newfoundland, the Manitoba "Weather Bomb," and the December storms in Atlantic Canada and Quebec caused damage to fishing harbours in more than 250 communities. Federal assistance has allowed repairs to be already underway at many harbours.