Government of Canada provides emergency funding for fish harvesters affected by ice conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec

OTTAWA, May 22, 2019 /CNW/ - Fisheries play a vital economic role in rural coastal communities across Atlantic Canada and Quebec. Over the past weeks, some fish harvesters in parts of Newfoundland and Labrador and parts of Quebec have faced delays in the start of the fishing seasons due to ice conditions, affecting their ability to earn income.

Today, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced that the Government of Canada will provide emergency financial assistance to fish harvesters in the most affected areas of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec.

The Government has set aside up to $5 million in emergency funding for payments to  eligible applicants who are fishing out of ports in the most ice-affected areas of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec.

Eligible applicants must be fish harvesters who had established and exhausted an Employment Insurance (EI) Fishing Benefits claim based on their fishing activity in 2018; who are not receiving or eligible for any EI benefits; and who fish out of ports in the identified ice-affected areas. 

Eligible applicants will receive up to $508 for each week of eligibility. The program will cover the period between May 5 and June 15 for eligible areas in Newfoundland, Southern Labrador, and Quebec. For Labrador (North of Cape St. Charles), the period is between May 26 and July 6. The program eligibility period was established based on ice conditions and the typical start of fishing activity. 

More information is available on the DFO website: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/initiatives/ice-assist-glace-eng.htm.

Quotes

"Fish harvesters off the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec have faced ice conditions that delayed their fishing season and impacted their livelihood. Our government is committed to supporting hard-working fish harvesters and their families through this difficult period."

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

Related Products:

• Ice Assistance Emergency Program (Backgrounder)

Associated Links

• Ice Assistance Emergency Program webpage

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada