MP Lunney Announces Investment for Small Craft Harbours on Vancouver Island

FRENCH CREEK, B.C. – Small craft harbours at French Creek, Ladysmith and Crofton on Vancouver Island will benefit from substantial improvements thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.

James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni, on behalf of the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the Government of Canada will invest $2.2 million to improve the small craft harbours at French Creek, Ladysmith and Crofton. In addition, a number of minor projects will be carried out at other small craft harbours throughout Vancouver Island.

“Our small craft harbours are gateways to coastal fisheries, commerce and recreational activities,” said Dr. Lunney. “Improving these harbours will benefit the local communities on Vancouver Island, as well as fish harvesters and everyone who uses them.”

These projects are being undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Small Craft Harbours Program, in close collaboration with the harbour authorities that manage and operate the facilities for transient and local users. The close co-operation with clients allows the Government of Canada to provide a system of harbours and facilities across Canada that support commercial fish harvesters.

The Government of Canada understands the importance of small craft harbours to communities across the country. Since February 2006, the permanent annual funding for the Small Craft Harbours Program has been increased by $20 million, with a further $10 million commitment made in Budget 2008 for repairs and environmental cleanup at recreational and non-core fishing harbours to permit the transfer of these harbours to interested parties.

BACKGROUNDER

IMPROVEMENTS TO SMALL CRAFT HARBOURS ON SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND

Approximately $2.2 million will be invested by the Government of Canada to improve several small craft harbours on Southern Vancouver Island.

These funds will be directed to specific project initiatives throughout Vancouver Island, as outlined below:

Two separate improvement projects will be undertaken at the French Creek harbour. The first includes the installation of concrete floating wharves, with shore access, to replace the current, deteriorating timber structure. The second is the planning phase of a multi-year major capital project to improve harbour access and provide increased space for moorage.

A project at the Crofton harbour facility will increase the amount of electric power available to harbour users and ensure that new receptacle cabinets use power more efficiently through the utilization of metered outlets. Remaining older electrical cabinets will also be replaced and housed in corrosion-resistant enclosures, providing a continued safe supply of electrical power.

At Ladysmith, the construction phase of a multi-year major capital project will be initiated to extend the existing detached off shore rockmound breakwater shoreward along the south-east side of the harbour. This will improve the wave climate and boat safety, while facilitating more efficient use of the harbour.

A number of minor works projects throughout Vancouver Island will also be carried out to support safe harbour operations and help ensure facilities are in good repair. Work may include replacement of worn, infested, or rotten timbers in wharves or other marine structures, electrical system repairs and repair of damage caused by storms.

These preventative harbour maintenance projects will help to avoid major repair costs, loss of fishing gear, damage to fishing vessels, potential pollution and loss of services to users of the facilities. The projects are generally carried out locally by harbour authorities, contractors and suppliers located in the coastal communities.