2012-13 Departmental Performance Report

Program 1.10 – Small Craft Harbours

Description

The Small Craft Harbours Program operates and maintains a national network of harbours, in good working condition, capable of meeting the effective operation of the commercial fishing industry. Investment in small craft harbour infrastructure contributes to public safety, protects the environment, and improves economic benefits associated with Canada's fisheries. The program is delivered in cooperation with Harbour Authorities that are local not-for-profit organizations representing the interests of both commercial fish harvesters and the broader community. In order to focus resources on core commercial fishing harbours that are managed by Harbour Authorities, the program transfers, where possible, the ownership of non-core fishing and recreational harbours to local communities through divestiture. The program is supported by two component Transfer Payment Programs: the Small Craft Harbours Class Grant Program and the Small Craft Harbours Class Contribution Program. The program operates under the authority of the Fishing and Recreational Harbours Act and its regulations, and the Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act.

Financial Resources ($ millions)

Total Budgetary Expenditures
(Main Estimates)
2012-13		 Planned Spending
2012-13		 Total Authorities
(available for use)
2012-13		 Actual Spending
(authorities used)
2012-13		 Difference
2012-13
106.8 106.8 114.3 111.8 4.9

Human Resources (full-time equivalents)

Planned
2012-13		 Actual
2012-13		 Difference
2012-13
171 165 -6

Performance Results

Expected
Result		 Performance
Indicator		 Target Actual Result
Commercial fish harvesters have access to a national network of safe and accessible harbours Percentage of core commercial fishing harbours with harbour performance rating1 of fair or better 70%
by March 31, 2013		 Result: 71.6%
Improved 1.6% compared to 2011-12 result of 70%.
Fishing harbours are open, safe, and in good working condition Percentage of facilities at core fishing harbours in fair or better condition 80%
by March 31, 2013		 Result: 83%
Improved 1% compared to 2011-12 result of 82%.
Harbour Authorities operate and manage core fishing harbours Percentage of core fishing harbours that are operated and managed by Harbour Authorities 95%
by March 31, 2015		 Result: 92%
Maintained 2011-12 result of 92%.
Measures are taken to ensure user safety at harbours Barricades, load limits, or use restrictions are put in place as required As required. As of 2011-12, 12.6% of Small Craft Harbour sites have some form of barricade, load limit, or use restriction in place. Result: 14%
Put in place barricades, load limits, or use restrictions for 14% of sites to ensure user safety.
Removal of non-core harbours from Small Craft Harbours' inventory Percentage of harbours divested relative to annual plan 100%
by March 31, 2013		 Result: 100%
Finalized divestiture of 24 harbours funded through the Divestiture of Non-Core Harbours Program and brought five additional sites to the final stages of divestiture with regular program funding.
Upkeep of harbour inventory as funding allows Percentage of repair, maintenance, and dredging funding spent 100%
by March 31, 2013		 Result: 100%
Included approximately $88 million in funding for repairs, maintenance, and dredging.

Performance Analysis and Lessons Learned

Improving Fisheries Management Priority

  • Rationalized Infrastructure — Undertook several projects related to the establishment of a multi-year Long-Term Infrastructure Strategy for Small Craft Harbours:
    • Began updating asset condition ratings for all harbours, a process that will continue into 2013-14;
    • Developed a model to predict annual replacement and maintenance costs at harbours;
    • Developed a project management framework; and
    • Developed Terms of Reference and began work on a long-term plan for the Small Craft Harbours Program that will include options to enhance the financial sustainability of the program and a strategy to address the divestiture of non-core harbours.

Other Program Initiatives

  • Pangnirtung Harbour, Nunavut — Continued the construction of the small craft harbour in Pangnirtung, Nunavut:
    • Completed the basin dredging work within contract timelines (Phase 1);
    • Completed channel dredging and most of the main wharf construction (Phase 2); and
    • Worked closely with the municipality and local stakeholders towards establishing a harbour authority.
    • Lesson Learned: Planning and engineering phases are particularly important for northern projects due to added complexities such as a short construction season, increased time to mobilize equipment and materials, and limited transportation options.
    • This initiative contributes to Canada's Northern Strategy.
  • Small Craft Harbours Organizational Strategy — Implemented the organizational and human resources changes resulting from the Small Craft Harbours' Functional Review:
    • Implemented the new National Headquarters organizational structure;
    • Submitted work descriptions for program management; and
    • Developed national model work descriptions within all three of the functional streams of the program.

Program Evaluation... In 2012-13, the Department completed the Evaluation of the Small Craft Harbours Program.


Footnotes

1 Harbour performance ratings are assigned by Small Craft Harbours regional staff after considering both the physical condition of the facilities (breakwaters, wharves, etc.) and the functional adequacy of such facilities to serve the basic requirements of harbour users.