The MP for Bruce-Grey Owen Sound is concerned about the state of the Meaford Harbour.
Larry Miller, who is a member of the Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, questioned the minister on Tuesday about his department’s inaction regarding funding for repairs at the Meaford harbour.
Just over a year ago, Miller hand-delivered a letter to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Dominic LeBlanc, which outlined the situation at the Meaford harbour. The letter pointed to an agreement between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Municipality of Meaford that states that the municipality would not be responsible for repair work of any kind.
On September 29, 2017, a large storm surge caused significant damage to the break wall and the docks at the Meaford Harbour. The municipality obtained quotes that reveal that costs for repairs range from $65,000 to $75,000.
Officials in the department now claim that they require the municipality to cost share on a 50-50 basis for all required work up to $80,000. Any costs above the $80,000 threshold would also be the municipality’s responsibility.
Tuesday at the committee meeting, Miller called on the minister to find a solution as soon as possible as any further damage or storm could jeopardize the integrity of the harbour.
The minister could only state that he and his department are "working on options".
"I was truly disheartened that the minister could not or would not answer a simple yes or no question today at committee regarding the Meaford harbour," said Miller. "This isn’t a complex question. Is the department going to honour a signed agreement or no? By the sounds of the minister’s answers today it sounds like no."