A specific mention of Powell River is buried on page 121 of the Government of Canada’s Budget 2018, which was released on February 27.
According to the federal plan to renew Canada’s network of small-craft harbours, the government will be “making improvements to enhance the safety of moorage facilities for the fisheries industry and other harbour users in Port Hardy and Powell River.”
While no further details were announced, North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney said the measure is something she has been advocating strongly for since being elected for the first time in 2015.
“We really need to make sure we have good harbours that are doing the work they need to do,” said Blaney, “so tied to the economy.”
The government said it proposes to spend a total of $250 million over two years beginning in 2018. The money will funnel through Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to renew small-craft harbours and work with municipalities such as Powell River to enhance important economic and recreational amenities, but Department of Finance Canada and DFO have released no further details.
City of Powell River has not been told anything formally, according to director of infrastructure Tor Birtig, but he said any federal funds would likely go toward repairs at Westview Harbour.
“The ultimate goal is to keep the commercial fleet viable and operational,” said Birtig.
The city has asked Small Craft Harbours, a DFO-run program that does major maintenance on the facility, to do work at Westview Harbour, according to Birtig.
“The decking is at the end of its life,” said Birtig. “We have asked them to do repairs on that and that's the only thing we're thinking this money would be going toward.”
The major focus of the federal budget is on billions of dollars that will be spent on closing gaps for working women and the critical place Canadian women play in the strength of the economy.
Blaney criticized the government for doing little to address affordable health care or make significant investments in child care.
“Also, there's some talk in the budget about legislation around pay equity,” said Blaney. “There are still too many women getting paid 87 cents per men’s dollars. I welcome legislation. It's something we asked for but there's absolutely no money in the budget to support that.”
Blaney, who is the NDP’s seniors’ critic, said she was disappointed with the lack of attention Canada’s aging population received.
“Nothing for seniors, absolutely nothing,” she said. “We know so many seniors are falling through the cracks. What we're asking for is a national seniors’ strategy.”
The federal government is expected to release a strategy for seniors later this month.
While the budget does not include anything specifically for seniors, Blaney said there is some funding for areas of dementia and for caregivers.
