Mr. Speaker, there is a serious problem with small craft harbours. The budget has been continuously gutted by the government over the last five years. In fact, the budget has been cut in half.
The government announced funding in its 2014 budget, but is spending none of it this year and only $1 million next year. This is an insult to the fishery and jeopardizes the safety of Canadians.
There are harbours and breakwaters across the country that are in dire need of repair, and there is dredging that has to be done to ensure safety and livelihoods. I call on the government to actually commit to spending this money, not just to make phony announcements and photo ops.
Well-kept harbours are critical for our fishing and coastal communities, and I urge the government not to play politics with infrastructure that is so crucial for so many Canadians.