January 20, 2004PORT HOOD, NOVA SCOTIA -- A $2,269,525 competitive contract has been awarded to J&T Van Zutphen Construction Inc., of Port Hood, N.S., to reconstruct the breakwater and dredge the channel at Inverness Harbour, Inverness County, N.S. Awarded on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Small Craft Harbours Program), this contract will create 15 jobs and will be completed in mid-August. The announcement was made today by Rodger Cuzner, MP for Bras d'Or-Cape Breton, on behalf of Stephen Owen, Minister of Public Works and Government Services. "I am very pleased to announce this contract to reconstruct the north and south breakwater at Inverness Harbour," said Mr. Cuzner. "Not only will this work create many jobs in the community but it will also greatly improve the capacity of this harbour to handle vessels. The company will also re-use a lot of existing material and that is great for the environment." The company will dredge the channel area of the harbour of sand, silt and other debris. It will salvage approximately 23,000 tons of rock material and will supply approximately 85,000 tons of new armour, filter and core stones to extend the breakwater.This is a Small Craft Harbours Program (SCH) project. The SCH program works through local harbour authorities in five regions across the country to provide commercial fishers and recreational boaters with safe and accessible facilities. Through these authorities, the SCH program ensures that nearly 1,300 harbours and 6,000 structures, critical to the economic and social life of small maritime communities, remain open and in good repair. Funding for this contract was provided for in the February 2003 Federal Budget. -30-For further information please contact:Office of the MinisterAlastair MullinDirector of Communications(819) 994-5412orPublic Works and Government Services CanadaIrene AguzziSenior Media Relations Advisor(819) 956-2310PWGSC news releases are also available at: www.pwgsc.gc.ca/text/generic/sub_infocentre_newsrel_e.html
