NR-HQ-00-92E

MP JACKSON ANNOUNCES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AID TO MEAFORD HARBOUR

September 22, 2000

OTTAWA -- Ovid Jackson, Member of Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, that financial aid in the amount of $100,000 will be given to Meaford Harbour for dredging. Interim funding of $55,389 will be released immediately to cover the work already completed at the marina. This assistance is provided under the Government of Canada’s Great Lakes Water-Level Emergency Response Program announced in July of this year.

"Marina operators on the Great Lakes have found themselves in extremely difficult circumstances this year due to the dramatic decline in water levels. The federal government is offering financial assistance for the high and unexpected costs the marina operators incurred in order to keep their harbours viable and safe," said Mr. Jackson.

The Great Lakes Water-Level Emergency Response Program has been designed to assist those marinas most severely affected by low water levels on the Great Lakes. Financial assistance will be given to those marinas that meet the criteria required to qualify for the program. In this cost-share program, the federal government is contributing one-third of the cost of emergency dredging to a maximum of $100K per marina.

"Members of the Ontario Marina Operators Association (OMOA) are delighted with the effectiveness and speed with which the Government of Canada responded to this unusual situation on the Great Lakes. The association would like to thank Minister Dhaliwal for his concern and consideration of Great Lakes marina operators during this critical period," said Al Donaldson, OMOA President.

More information on the Great Lakes Water-Level Emergency Response Program can be found on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.