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 and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard on behalf of the Honorable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced a $34.1 million investment to upgrade, reconstruct, and repair wharfs and other critical harbor infrastructure including electrical upgrades in four Nova Scotia Harbors; Louisbourg, Glace Bay, Upper Whitehead, and Grand Étang. This work will ensure that harbors remain safe and operational for local harvesters and recreational users alike.

The fishing industry is vital to the economy and a significant source of employment in coastal communities across Canada, and safe, reliable small craft harbors are essential to maintaining harbor operations. Investments announced today will ensure small craft harbors remain safe for harbor users in Nova Scotia while building resiliency to climate change, which is causing more frequent and extreme weather events that can impact harbor infrastructure.

Investments announced today will help ensure functional harbors for Canadians working in the fisheries, aquaculture, construction, and marine engineering sectors, driving job creation and local economic development for years.

“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 harbors not only supports harvesters but also the processors, exporters, and everyone else in the fishing sector. Having safe, reliable, and resilient harbors helps create strong local economies,” said the Honorable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

“Small craft harbors are at the heart of our community. Harbors 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 harbors, which is, in turn, an investment in the whole community,” commented Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Quick Facts

• Small craft harbors provide critical support to the commercial fishing industry, which had landings valued at almost $4.7 billion in 2022.
• Small craft harbors support more than 45,000 jobs within the Canadian commercial fishing industry, as well as many thousands of additional jobs in supporting industries.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Small Craft Harbors program mandate is to manage and maintain a national network of harbors used by the commercial fishing industry. The program maintains these harbors so that they are safe and accessible for fish harvesters and other users.
• The program is responsible for 942 harbors, of which 655 are considered to be essential to the commercial fishing industry.
• Harbor restoration projects are undertaken in cooperation with the local harbor authorities, which are incorporated, not-for-profit organizations that manage and operate facilities for local users. There are more than 5,000 volunteers in harbor authorities across Canada.