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, and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton–Canso, on behalf of the Honorable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced a $74-million investment over three years to continue important work at 19 harbors in Nova Scotia. This investment will be used to reconstruct and repair wharves, launchways, and other critical harbor infrastructure, such as Glace Bay, where construction of a marginal wharf is expected to begin in 2026.
More than $11.3 million of this overall investment in Nova Scotia is earmarked for five harbors that sustained serious damage from Hurricane Fiona: Cape John, Ingonish (Macleods Point), Judique (Baxters Cove), Little Judique Ponds, and New Waterford.
The fishing industry is central to many coastal communities across Canada, and harvesters need small craft harbors 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 harbor users.
These investments support local economic development for generations to come, providing functional harbors for Canadians working in the fisheries, aquaculture, construction, and marine engineering sectors.
“Glace Bay Harbor is at the heart of our community. Harbors like ours provide jobs and recreation for countless people, and a strong fishing industry means a strong Cape Breton–Canso. I’m proud to be a part of the Government of Canada’s investment in Nova Scotia small craft 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, and Member of Parliament (Cape Breton–Canso).
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.
- DFO is responsible for keeping 949 harbors critical to the commercial fishing industry open and in good repair.
- 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.
