Caissie Cape, New Brunswick - Small craft harbours are essential hubs for many coastal communities, supporting over 45,000 Canadians in the fish and seafood industry. As part of Budget 2024, the Government of Canada has announced an investment of $463.3 million over three years for the repair and maintenance of small craft harbours, including those damaged by Hurricane Fiona. This funding, starting in 2024-25, adds to Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) annual budget of $90 million for these harbours.
Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, alongside the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced a $70-million investment over three years for 18 small craft harbours in New Brunswick. The announcement was made at Cap-des-Caissie, one of the harbours receiving this funding.
Over the next three years, Cap-des-Caissie will receive a new wharf, improvements to armourstone protection, basin dredging, and enhancements to the containment cell that holds sediment from dredging. Additionally, more than $23.5 million of this investment will be allocated to reconstruct and repair piers, breakwaters, and other critical harbour infrastructure at six harbours that were severely damaged by Hurricane Fiona.
The fishing industry is crucial to many coastal communities across Canada, and ensuring that small craft harbours are safe and reliable is vital. With climate change leading to more extreme weather events, investing in resilient infrastructure is critical for the safety of harbour users. These investments will support local economic development for generations, providing functional harbours for Canadians working in fisheries, aquaculture, construction, and marine engineering sectors.
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Jul 15, 2024). The Government of Canada invests $70 million in New Brunswick small craft harbours. https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans/news/2024/07/the-government-of-canada-invests-70-million-in-new-brunswick-small-craft-harbours.html