Ottawa to spend $62.8 million to improve fishing harbours

Ottawa plans to spend $62.8 million for construction and repair work at fishing harbours across Canada.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the funding in Miramichi, N.B., today, where he said the money this year would go to more than 100 projects that include maintenance and dredging.

Harper says the funding will help support the livelihoods of commercial fishermen.

Each province is set to receive the money, which is intended to cover a range ofprojects including electrical upgrades, float installations and wharf reconstruction.

Funds will be allocated as follows:

• $16.6 million in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• $4 million in Prince Edward Island.
• $10.2 million in Nova Scotia.
• $8.7 million in New Brunswick.
• $10.6 million in Quebec
• $1.6 million in Ontario
• $3.2 million in Manitoba
• $7.9 million in British Columbia

The announcement follows a commitment the federal government made in the last budget to invest approximately $450 million over five years (2013-18) in the Small Craft Harbours Program.

Small craft harbours support the commercial fishing industry, which contributes $5.2 billion to the Canadian economy every year.

There are approximately 100,000 jobs within the Canadian commercial fishing industry, as well as thousands of additional jobs in supporting industries.

Harper has been visiting the region this week. On Thursday, he toured an Irving Oil refinery in Saint Johnand later addressed Conservatives at a meeting in Moncton, N.B.

Harper said after touring the Irving facility that a pipeline proposed by TransCanada to bring Albertan oil east for refining and export would help protect Canada's energy security.