The importance of harbour authorities in coastal communities
Harbour authorities are unique and independent legal identities which are responsible for managing, operating and maintaining one or more public fishing harbours through a lease agreement with the Small Craft Harbours program.
Transcript: The importance of harbour authorities in coastal communities
Luc Legresley, President, Harbour Authority of Newport, Quebec
Luc Legresley: (Speaking in French) I've been with the harbour authority since 1995. I started out as a municipal representative, I was a municipal councillor and since then, because of the interest I've taken and the importance of the wharf in the community, for my 18 years I've always been a representative here and I've stayed ever since.
Jamie Craig, President, Harbour Authority of Toney River, Nova Scotia
Jamie Craig: With the harbour authority run by fishers, we see what we need to have done. We see where things can, you know, when things need to be changed. We change them so that it suits our needs and it works.
Kevin Ault, President, Harbour Authority of Grand Rapids, Manitoba
Kevin Ault: My name is Kevin Ault from the local Harbour Authority representing Grand Rapids Fisherman's Coop. We've been here for about 15 years. The harbour authority has looked after our dock. There's 2500 people that live here in Grand Rapids. There are 92 fishermen that have fishing quotas. And then there are so many people that have recreation vehicles and it is important for the community to have it in place.
Cindy Blicq, Gimli Harbour, Manitoba
Cindy Blicq: The harbour is a gathering place. It's in the centre of town. It's obviously the centre for the commercial fishing as well as for the boaters. But its also a gathering place for people in the community.
Rick Tanaka, Port Hardy Harbour, British Columbia
Rick Tanaka: The value of having our harbour authority managed by somebody who lives here if its doled out at some company or somebody who doesn't live here and what they don't have any vested interest in and they're just doing their job and they don't care about, you know, these people live here. They are my neighbours, and they care and they use the harbour themselves. Its huge, it needs to be.
Armand Caron, Deputy Mayor, Shippagan, New Brunswick
Armand Caron: (Speaking in French) Being all people from the community, well them, they live here. So they're in a position to grasp, even I'd say in relationships whether it's with industry, whether it's with the fishers, whether it's with the municipality, and it establishes a close relationship and that in my opinion is fundamental, and I can imagine for people in the industry, that they have people from the community who are there, I'm certain it's a win-win situation. The government wins, but the community wins too.
Roland Andrews, Port de Grave Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
Roland Andrews: We have people that come here all the time and visit it, and it's just the place to go. And its importance is second to non for everything that develops on the peninsula. SO having local management, local participation, eh, it's the way to go. Without question!
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