Harrington Harbour, Quebec -

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced $10.3 million to support improvement projects at small craft harbours in Quebec.

This investment will support the following projects:

• The beginning of a multiyear project involving breakwater construction and the installation of floating wharves at Harrington Harbour;
• Widening of the wharf at Mingan;
• Construction of a derivation structure at Rivière au Tonnerre;
• Breakwater construction and relocation of floating wharves at St-Georges-de-Malbaie; and
• A major wharf reconstruction project at Ste-Thérèse-de-Gaspé, to be carried out over two years.

In addition, the funding will support maintenance dredging in the Gaspé region, at Saint-Godefroi, Port-Daniel-Est, L’Anse-à-Beaufils, L’Anse-à-Brillant, Bonaventure, Gascons, and in the Magdalen Islands at l'Île-d’Entrée, Pointe-Basse, Grosse-Île, Pointe-aux-Loups and Millerand.

This funding is part of the Government of Canada’s investment of approximately $106 million in repair, construction, maintenance and dredging projects at small craft harbours across Canada. This includes $66 million in regular program funding for 2014-2015 and an additional $40 million over two years, as announced in Economic Action Plan 2014.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is investing in major construction projects at five Quebec harbours and will carry out dredging at 11 harbours in the province.
• Harrington Harbour is homeport to about 26 vessels. This harbour supports fisheries worth over $2 million annually.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada undertakes harbour improvement projects in cooperation with the local harbour authorities that manage and operate facilities for local users.
• Small craft harbours support nearly 90% of all commercial fish landings in Canada.
• The Small Craft Harbours Program is responsible for over 1000 small craft harbours across Canada.

Quotes

“This funding will support our small craft harbours while creating employment opportunities, benefiting local communities and the fishing industry. Our Government’s investments in small craft harbours are ensuring that the fishing industry and local communities will have safe and efficient harbours for many years. They are critical for economic growth and prosperity in communities across Canada.”

Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans