CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – November 25, 2011 – The Harbour Authority of Egmont Bay is currently undertaking upgrades to the harbour to help attract more visitors to the area, thanks in part to investments made by the federal and provincial governments.
“Our Government is pleased to support initiatives of the Harbour Authority of Egmont Bay,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie. “Projects like this help strengthen local tourism and the local economy and keep a culturally rich community vibrant and strong.”
The Harbour Authority of Egmont Bay is currently in the process of building a more visitor friendly area for the upcoming tourism season. The upgrades will include a fish market, take-out eatery, historical and cultural informational panels, an observation deck and retail spaces.
“The Government of Prince Edward Island is very pleased to partner on improvements to revitalize the Egmont Bay Harbour,” said Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development, Ron MacKinley. “This investment reflects our commitment to developing new opportunities in rural communities. The project will strengthen tourism in the Evangeline Region by improving services to tourists and the local community, and it will also promote a deeper understanding of the area’s rich culture.”
The Government of Canada, through ACOA, has invested $75,000 to support the upgrades to the harbour. The Government of Prince Edward Island has contributed $75,000 through the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development and $54,000 through Skills PEI, for a total investment of $129,000.
“This project has been in the planning stages for quite some time, so we’re very happy to see that it is coming together so nicely and that it will be operational for the next fishing and tourist season,” said Norman Arsenault, Chairman of the Harbour Authority of Egmont Bay. “We are very grateful that the federal and provincial governments have agreed to fund this project, which will benefit not only the local fishing and tourist industries but also the community as a whole.”
With the completion of the upgrades, the Harbour Authority of Egmont Bay will be able to increase and retain visitors to the western part of Prince Edward Island. These enhancements to the area will also expand on the success of festivals in the area, such as the Acadian Festival.
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For more information, contact Kim Klein, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development by email at keklein@gov.pe.ca or phone (902) 838-0670.