The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced that the government is ready to provide fund of $3.2 million for several harbours in central Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.
The prograamme states the repair and improvement projects planned for small craft harbours in Arisaig, Ballantynes Cove, Barrios Beach, Caribou Ferry, Havre Boucher, Pictou Landing, Port Bickerton East, and Toney River. Projects are also planned for Canso, Cheticamp, Glace Bay, Inverness, Judique, Louisburg, Margaree Harbour, Murphy’s Pond, and Upper Whitehead.
According to Minister MacKay this investment creates economic opportunities and support the livelihoods of communities in central Nova Scotia and across Canada. He added that Canadian government’s investments in these harbours will provide commercial fishers with safe and accessible harbours for the future.
The press release said that this project is part of the $67 million the Small Craft Harbours Program is investing across Canada, of which $12 million was announced in May for harbours in Nova Scotia. These repair and improvement projects are being undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in cooperation with the local harbour authorities that manage and operate facilities for local users. This investment is in addition to the funding provided by Canada’s Economic Action Plan , which provides $200 million for two years for harbour repairs and maintenance projects.
