Covehead – Small craft harbours are the heart of many coastal communities, bringing people together in work and play, while supporting jobs in the fish and seafood industry for over 45,000 Canadians. As part of Budget 2024, $463.3 million over three years will be invested for the repair and maintenance of small craft harbours, including those damaged by Hurricane Fiona, starting in 2024-25. This is on top of the Department’s annual budget of $90 million for these harbours.
As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to growing the economy to help everyone get ahead, Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, on behalf of Diane Lebouthillier, announced an investment of more than $61-million over three years to continue important work at harbours in Prince Edward Island. Investments will be used to reconstruct and repair wharfs, launch ways and other critical harbour infrastructure. This includes wharf reconstruction and new shoreline protection at Covehead Harbour.
The fishing industry is central to many coastal communities across Canada, and harvesters need small craft harbours to be safe and reliable. With climate change causing more extreme weather events, it is critical to invest in infrastructure that is more resilient, and above all else, safe for harbour users. These investments support local economic development for generations to come, providing functional harbours for Canadians working in the fisheries, aquaculture, construction, and marine engineering sectors.
Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, announced total contributions of up to $4.2 million for two wharf infrastructure projects on Prince Edward Island. The announcement was made on behalf of Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA.
The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is providing a non-repayable contribution of up to $3.25 million to the Province of Prince Edward Island for the design and construction of a new landing wharf in Keir’s Shore, so that mussel boats can safely offload their catches. The Province of Prince Edward Island is providing a contribution of $4.55 million to complete the project.
The federal government is also providing $965,865 to the Harbour Authority of Covehead to support efforts to rebuild essential infrastructure around the wharf, including a multi-purpose building to replace lost bait sheds, so that commercial operations can continue and visitors experience the popular summer destination.
“Our seafood from PEI is famous around the world—locals are proud of it, tourists love it, it’s one of our biggest exports, and it employs plenty of hard-working folks. Your federal government is doing its part to keep this industry thriving through investments in PEI wharfs.” – Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA