French River, Prince Edward Island - Small craft harbours are vital infrastructure for coastal and rural communities, supporting fishing and transportation industries, and the local economies built around them. Canada's commercial fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing sectors support nearly 65,000 jobs - including more than 42,900 commercial fish harvesters - from coast to coast to coast. In 2025, Canada's fish and seafood exports totaled $8.47 billion.
As part of the Spring Economic Update 2026, the Government of Canada is proposing $957.8 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, for the Small Craft Harbours Program. This program provides investments for ongoing repairs and is in addition to Fisheries and Oceans' (DFO) existing annual program budget of approximately $90 million.
Today, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, visited the French River Harbour on Prince Edward Island to highlight an investment from the Spring Economic Update to DFO's Small Craft Harbours Program, on behalf of the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries.
The funding will allow DFO to undertake repairs, upgrades and dredging at small craft harbour facilities across Canada, including the French River Harbour, where the project will consist of reconstructing marginal wharves 404, 405 and 406, as well as the slipway 501. Repairs will be carried out using the latest climate projections, which will result in climate resistant infrastructure that meets the needs of the commercial fishing industry and community. French River Harbour is home to approximately 17 commercial harvesters, and the main fishery is lobster.
As Canada transforms from economic reliance to resilience, this investment will support local economic development for generations to come.
The Government of Canada is building a Canada that is not just strong, but good; not just prosperous, but fair. We're building Canada strong, for all.
