Government of Canada Small Craft Harbours Program

Government of Canada Small Craft Harbours Program
Name	Small Craft Harbours Program
Type	Federal program
Founded	1976
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario
Location	Canada
Area served	Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Prairie Provinces, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories
Services	Harbour infrastructure maintenance, pier construction, breakwater repair
Parent organization	Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Government of Canada Small Craft Harbours Program The Small Craft Harbours Program is a federal initiative providing infrastructure for fishing and marine communities across Canada. It supports harbours, wharves, and breakwaters serving commercial fishers and coastal communities in regions including Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairie Provinces, British Columbia, and the Northern Territories.

Overview

The Program administers a national network of fixed and floating harbour assets coordinating with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, Parks Canada, and provincial authorities such as Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Government of British Columbia. It serves stakeholders including the Canadian Coast Guard, Fishing Federation of Canada, local municipalities of Canada, Indigenous organizations like the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and industry groups such as the Fish, Food and Allied Workers and the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union. The Program interacts with national policies such as the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Fisheries Act, and infrastructure initiatives linked to the National Trade Corridors Fund.

History

The Program evolved from provincial and federal harbour schemes originating in the early 20th century influenced by events such as the economic shifts after World War II and policy reforms during the Trudeau ministry (Pierre Trudeau). Major expansions occurred during the tenure of ministers from the Liberal Party of Canada and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada with parliamentary debates in the House of Commons of Canada shaping funding allocations. Past projects have been associated with regional development commissions like the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and historical fisheries disputes involving communities represented by organizations such as the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union.

Mandate and Governance

The mandate falls under the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and is implemented by regional offices reporting to headquarters in Ottawa. Governance integrates policy instruments from the Fisheries Act, program delivery standards influenced by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, and accountability mechanisms through parliamentary committees such as the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. Collaboration occurs with Indigenous governance frameworks including agreements with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami leaders and regional Indigenous governments like the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.

Facilities and Infrastructure

Assets managed include fixed wharves, floating docks, piers, breakwaters, and causeways located in harbours from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and Halifax, Nova Scotia to Vancouver, British Columbia and communities in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Engineering and construction involve contractors registered with provincial bodies such as British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and standards influenced by organizations like the Canadian Standards Association and the Canadian Coast Guard Engineering and Technical Services. Projects link to ports and terminals managed by entities such as the Prince Rupert Port Authority and the Halifax Port Authority and serve fleets registered under the Canada Shipping Act.

Funding and Economic Impact

Funding originates from federal budgets approved by the Parliament of Canada and is allocated through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans with oversight from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Economic analysis engages agencies such as the Department of Finance Canada and regional development boards including the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government and the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. The Program supports commercial fishery sectors represented by bodies like the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and contributes to regional employment data tracked by Statistics Canada and trade outcomes connected to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal.

Environmental and Fisheries Stewardship

Environmental stewardship aligns with regulatory frameworks such as the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act predecessors, the Fisheries Act, and species protection considerations involving the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and species listed under provincial statutes like those of Quebec and British Columbia. The Program coordinates with conservation organizations including World Wildlife Fund Canada and scientific partners such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Science Branch and academic institutions like Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia for habitat restoration, eelgrass protection, and mitigation measures for species affected by harbour works.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have come from stakeholders including local fishers, Indigenous leaders, and environmental groups like the David Suzuki Foundation and the Council of Canadians, raising concerns over maintenance backlogs, prioritization disputes in regions represented by parties such as the Conservative Party of Canada, and compliance with the Fisheries Act. Controversies have involved legal challenges and parliamentary scrutiny by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, disputes tied to allocation decisions affecting communities like those in Newfoundland and Labrador, and tensions over consultation processes involving entities such as Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and regional Indigenous governments.

Category:Federal departments and agencies of Canada