Question Period Note: Investing In Small Craft Harbours

• Supporting Canada’s network of small craft harbours is a key priority for the Government of Canada. These facilities are vital economic drivers for coastal communities across the country.
• That’s why our Government has announced $463.3 million over three years in Budget 2024 to repair and maintain small craft harbours located throughout Canada.
• In fact, since 2016, our Government announced more than $1.5 billion in new funding to support small craft harbours, where 90 per cent of catches by Canadian commercial fish harvesters are landed.
• This funding contributes significantly to the economic wellbeing of Canadian rural and coastal communities.

• As of April 2024, the Small Craft Harbours (SCH) program was responsible for 942 harbours: 655 core fishing harbours; and 287 non-core fishing harbours.
• Small craft harbours provide key support to the commercial fishing industry. The SCH program keeps the harbours that are critical to the fishing industry open and in good repair.
• In Budget 2024, the Government announced $463.3 million over three years to repair and maintain SCH.
• In Budget 2021, the Government provided $300 million over two years to repair, renew, and replace SCH.
• As part of the Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund established in October 2022, $70 million was earmarked for DFO to support the immediate and urgent work of repairing SCH damaged by the hurricane.
• There are roughly 22,500 SCH users, which are mostly commercial and recreational fishers.
• Approximately 90 per cent of all commercial sea and freshwater landings in Canada occur at harbours operated through the SCH program.
• The value of landings in Canada in 2023 was estimated at approximately $3.4 billion.
• Another key objective of the SCH program is to transfer ownership of designated harbours to third parties; particularly those that are not widely used by fishers or that are focused primarily on recreational boating.
• The SCH program is delivered in cooperation with Harbour Authorities—local, not-for-profit organizations representing the interests of local commercial fishers and the broader community.
• Each year, more than 5,000 volunteers assist the program.
• Since 2007-08, the SCH program's annual, regular budget has remained at about $90 million (which includes salaries and administrative costs).

If pressed on status of Fiona impacted harbours
• With the funding announced through Budget 2024, we will continue repairing damages caused by Hurricane Fiona experienced in 2022.
• My Department is investing more than $165 million from Budget 2024 on repairs to 33 harbours damaged by Fiona in all four provinces of Atlantic Canada and in Quebec.
• The Department is planning and carrying out repairs at these harbours such that the infrastructure can better withstand the impacts of climate change.