The government of Canada is providing CAN$40 million over two years to support shellfish farmers impacted by a devastating hurricane.
Hurricane Fiona ravaged the Atlantic coast of North America in September last year, killing 32. It was the costliest and most intense storm to hit Canada on record.
The financial support, from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, will help with immediate needs such as storm damage repairs, equipment replacement and product loss as well as longer term projects to make communities more resilient to extreme weather events.
This latest tranche of funding is part of the CAN$300 million Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund announced by prime minister Justin Trudeau last October.
“Our government has been working collaboratively with hard-hit communities, sectors and businesses that suffered devastating losses as a result of this storm,” said The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the ACOA.
“The support we are announcing today for the shellfish sector will help fill gaps where no other support measures are available. This is one of many measures our government has initiated to maintain jobs after the hurricane took its terrible toll,” she added.
