Osborne Burke, general manager of the Victoria Co-operative Fisheries Ltd, says the damage is still being assessed at fish processing facility in New Haven Cove. Burke said the plant lost more than $500,000 worth of product, sustained significant damage to the buildings and lost many pieces of expensive equipment.
They also lost tens of thousands of dollars worth of seafood that spoiled after the storm surge wrecked much of the plant. “The Bank of Montreal has been working with us and basically they've been funding are repairs to date,” he said. He said ACOA staff in the region are trying to work with businesses to help, but “their hands are tied until somebody at the upper level makes decisions.”
Of the $300 million announced in October for Fiona relief, $100 million was earmarked for repairs to Small Craft Harbours. “And many of the wharves that suffered the most damage were the ones that had not been rebuilt,” he said. This month the Fisheries and Oceans Standing Committee has been examining the impacts of the climate crisis on Canada’s fishing industry.