Mr. Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to speak in further detail about our small craft harbours program.
As he mentioned, communities have waited a long time in vain, through several governments, to deliver funding that never came. I am pleased, however, to be a member of the government that is able to deliver this funding.
Through our economic action plan, the government is delivering direct support to fisheries, marine industries and the coastal communities that they support. I am pleased to say we are moving quickly to get shovels in the ground. In the Maritimes and gulf regions, for example, $12 million in projects are already underway and another $14 million in projects have been awarded or are being tendered.
In P.E.I., for example, we will invest $13.9 million for projects at core commercial fishing harbours over the next two years. This is in addition to our regular program funding of $3 million that will also be taking place in the province this year.