August 5, 2011
Cormierville, New Brunswick – The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Regional Minister for New Brunswick, announced today that the Government of Canada will invest in the repair and maintenance of small craft harbours in New Brunswick.
“Our Government is committed to ensuring a healthy future for New Brunswick’s commercial fishery and the communities that depend on this important industry,” said Minister Ashfield. “We are pleased to provide hard-working New Brunswickers with safe and efficient harbours that they can depend on to support their families.”
This year, Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Small Craft Harbours Program will undertake necessary dredging, repair and maintenance projects at 14 core commercial fishing harbours across New Brunswick.
This investment is in addition to funding announced in March 2011, to support fish harvesters in storm-damaged areas in New Brunswick, other provinces in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Manitoba.
“This Government continues to demonstrate its commitment to renewing infrastructure at fishing harbours across Canada,” said Minister Ashfield. “The investments we are making will help meet the needs of commercial fishers and their communities for years to come.”
Fisheries and Oceans Canada undertakes these projects in cooperation with the local harbour authorities that manage and operate facilities for local users. Close cooperation between the Department and harbour authorities allows the federal government to continue to provide an operable system of harbours and facilities throughout Canada in support of the commercial fishing industry.
The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, was in Barre-de-Cocagne, New Brunswick, today and announced $57 million in funding to undertake necessary dredging, repair and maintenance projects at approximately 135 fishing harbours, and support harbour operations and Harbour Authorities across the country in 2011-2012. As part of the investment, the Government of Canada will provide $9.7 million to repair and maintain small craft harbours in New Brunswick.
The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, speaks with fishermen Armand Légère, Eugene Legere and Rodrigue Cormier following a $ 57 million funding announcement for repair and maintenance projects at core commercial fishing harbours across the country in 2011-2012. As part of the investment, the Government of Canada will provide $9.7 million to repair and maintain 14 small craft harbours in New Brunswick.
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For Broadcast:
The Government of Canada will invest $57 million to repair and maintain small craft harbours across Canada. This funding includes $9.7 million for harbours in New Brunswick. The funding announced today is in addition to the $71.6 million committed by the Government last March, to clean up storm-damaged fishing harbours in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Manitoba.
Background information:
Investments in small craft harbours in New Brunswick
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michèle Bernier
Communications
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
506-851-7704
Barbara Mottram
Press Secretary
Office of The Honourable Keith Ashfield
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
NR-G-11-05E
