The Government of Canada supports icebreaking activities in Northern New Brunswick
News release
August 26, 2019
Shippagan, New Brunswick – The Government of Canada is currently putting in place an arrangement to support icebreaking activities in Northern New Brunswick this winter.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst Serge Cormier, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
The arrangement to be put in place will enable the Coast Guard to call up third party icebreakers on an as-needed basis, to open local harbours for fishing activities. Harbour breakout is undertaken when ice conditions allow for fisheries to be safely conducted outside of the harbours. This initiative will support the opening of the spring fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence at the crucial time when icebreaking demand is at a peak.
The Coast Guard fleet continues to be responsible for icebreaking activities in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The Canadian Coast Guard fleet provides icebreaking, escort, and ice management services to support the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across Canadian waters. When additional capacity is needed in the short term, it can use a Supply Arrangement in the St. Lawrence Seaway and on the Great Lakes, where private sector ships can be contracted for short periods of time. A similar type of arrangement is what is envisioned for Northern New Brunswick. The fleet was recently further enhanced with the procurement of the three interim icebreakers, one of which will be assigned to icebreaking in the Gulf this winter as well.
Quotes
“Our government does everything it can to allow fishing activities to start as early as possible. The safety of harvesters remains a priority. Getting additional icebreaking support from the Coast Guard will help in allowing, when it is safe to do so, for an earlier start of fishing activities. I am proud that our Government will be investing to make this possible. Fisheries sector is the economic engine fuelling many coastal communities. By working together we can continue to make improvements that will benefit our region and our economy.”
Serge Cormier, Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst
“Investments that help strengthen communities are a central priority for our government. And, when we invest in building up our coastal communities, Canadians from coast to coast to coast benefit. Planning for timely and efficient icebreaking activities for Northern New Brunswick demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to supporting these local economies. We are proud of this initiative to support the fishing industry—a key economic sector that helps support coastal communities not only in New Brunswick but across Atlantic Canada and the country."
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Associated links
Contacts
Jocelyn Lubczuk
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans
and the Canadian Coast Guard
343-548-7863
Jocelyn.Lubczuk@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-990-7537
Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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