Funding for ports

TIGNISH - It could take several funding years to complete all the expansion work planned for Tignish's busy fishing port.
Harbour manager Russell Gallant said more than 150 boats utilize the port in peak periods even though there are berths for only 104.
Tignish was one of 14 Island ports awarded funding yesterday when Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announced her department's Small Craft Harbours' 2010 budget for all of Canada.
Shea confirmed a $67-million Small Craft Harbours national budget this year, including $3.2 million for P.E.I. ports.
"The good news for Tignish is that this harbour has been identified as a priority," Shea told port chairs from across the province during her announcement at Royal Star Foods.
She said Tignish is receiving funding this year to plan for a major expansion.
Five other harbours will receive funding to plan for future projects and four are scheduled for dredging.
There will be wharf repairs and improvements taking place this year in Annondale and Montague. A dock repair project which was started at Miminegash last year will continue, Skinner's Pond will get a new west block breakwater and a section of wharf is currently being replaced.
"We're going to dig the channel between Jude's Point and Tignish and we're going to put wharf along the causeway, with probably some floating docks attached to it," Gallant said. "So we're going to join our two harbours, basically and we're going to expand the channel."
Given the size of the project, Gallant said the work will likely be spread over several years.
"It's long-term," he explained. "You have to have the plan approved, with all the permits before you can get even one phase of it going."
To prepare for the major expansion, Gallant said the port authority has spent the past few years bringing other structures at the port up-to-date. He noted two projects were carried out over the winter.
Her department's Small Craft Harbour's budget also includes about $1 million for minor work at ports across the province.