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 more than $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 has announced more than $1.3 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 well being of Canadian rural and coastal communities.

• As of April 2024, the Small Craft Harbours (SCH) program was responsible for 949 harbours:
o 691 core fishing harbours; and
o 258 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 of Canada announced $463.3 million over three years to repair and maintain small craft harbors.
• In Budget 2021, the Government provided $300 million (M) over two years to repair, renew, and replace small craft harbours.
• As part of the Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund (HFRF) established in October 2022, $70M was earmarked for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to support the immediate and urgent work of repairing SCH damaged by Hurricane Fiona.
• There are roughly 22,500 small craft harbour 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.
• The SCH Program's annual regular budget has been stable at about $90 million (includes salaries and administrative costs) since 2007-08.

If pressed on status of Fiona impacted harbours
• Our government allotted $70 million to the Small Craft Harbours program in the days following Fiona. These funds were used to undertake cleanup activities and initial repairs, as well as for planning longer term construction needs as a result of the storm. This work is continuing.
• As a result of these investments, impacted harbours were available to fish harvesters during the 2023 fishing season.
• With the funding announced through Budget 2024, we will continue repairing damages caused by Fiona.