As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada review and improve consultation and communication with harbour authorities and users of small craft harbours to:

• a) determine the best use of federal government resources for each harbour; and
• b) to plan and complete harbour improvement projects.

Recommendation 2

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada conduct a minimum of two meetings per year between harbour authorities, the Small Craft Harbours program’s regional offices and other interested parties with respect to operational concerns.

Recommendation 3

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada work with harbour authorities to develop long-term business and/or capital plans for core fishing harbours.

Recommendation 4

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada work on building the capacity of the harbour authorities’ volunteer workforce and boards of directors,  and devise a consistent training policy which clearly outlines what harbour authorities are responsible for and ensure that they are adequately prepared to implement and enforce.

Recommendation 5

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada develop a consistent, common policy as it relates to maintenance for which harbour authorities are responsible.

Recommendation 6

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada and other relevant federal departments and agencies work cooperatively, and in a timely manner, with small craft harbour authorities to establish clear protocols and lines of jurisdictional authority, to address challenges harbour authorities face in dealing with delinquent tenants and unsafe or abandoned vessels.

Recommendation 7

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada, without delay, bring data on harbour performance and harbour facility conditions up to date to address issues raised by the Department’s 2013 evaluation report, and in 2018 testimony from the Department’s Small Craft Harbours program management personnel.

Recommendation 8

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada review its safety assessments for small craft harbours and prioritize capital and repair projects based on health and safety risks to users of the small craft harbour.

Recommendation 9

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada create a separate A-base funding envelope for maintenance dredging work, to assist the Department with better long-term planning on dredging projects.

Recommendation 10

That the appropriate federal government departments review the federal government’s methods of procuring contracts for maintenance, improvements and dredging of small craft harbours with the objective of achieving the most efficient use of funds.

Recommendation 11

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada consider initiating a pilot project with a willing and able harbour authority to establish a co-operative model for managing and funding a capital improvement of their small craft harbour, and incentivize the project with fast tracked funding from the Department.

Recommendation 12

That, given the impact of climate change and the severity of storms, accelerating the degradation of facilities, as well as growing demand, the Government of Canada double the amount of A-base budget available for the Small Craft Harbours program.

Recommendation 13

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada recognize the economic impact that  recreational harbours can have on local communities and consider the benefits of tourism generated from recreational harbours when developing funding models.

Recommendation 14

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada work with Indigenous groups to develop a funding model that addresses the needs of Indigenous and coastal communities and fisheries development.