A new federal program is supporting investment in Canadian harbours, including two in Chatham-Kent.
As part of the Small Craft Harbours Program, the Government of Canada is providing funding to the Rondeau and Wheatley harbours for infrastructure improvements.
The federal government is proposing a $957.8 million investment over five years, starting in 2026-27, which includes funding for repairs, upgrades and dredging at small craft harbour facilities across Canada.
This funding will enable the Rondeau Harbour to rehabilitate Breakwater 303 and Basin 201, while the Wheatley Harbour will be able to encapsulate its East Pier in steel, construct a new concrete deck, and dredge the Entrance Channel and Sediment Sink.
“Southwestern Ontario’s coastal communities have always depended on their harbours, and they deserve the sustained support to keep thriving,” said London West MP Arielle Kayabaga. “This funding is a meaningful investment in the people, livelihoods, and local economies that are the foundation of communities like Wheatley and Erieau.”
The two harbours are home to more than 80 commercial fishing vessels.