BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program has been extended by another two weeks to ensure that as many Canadian fish harvesters as possible can take advantage of it. The online portal will now close on October 19, 2020.
The Program is delivering financial support to self-employed harvesters across the country who are facing hardships brought on by the economic impact of COVID‑19. The Program provides eligible Indigenous and non-Indigenous fish harvesters with the financial support they need right now, while also positioning the sector for a strong recovery in the long-term.
Harvesters are encouraged to visit the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/harvesters-pecheurs to find guidance on eligibility and what documentation is required to complete the application process.
Applications are now being accepted until 6 p.m. EDT / 3 p.m. PDT on October 19, 2020.
- The Government of Canada has announced additional targeted new initiatives to support Canadians, including Canada’s fishing, aquaculture and processing sectors, through the COVID-19 pandemic, such as:
- totalling up to $469.4 million, the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program marks the single largest investment in Canada’s fisheries in more than two decades;
- the Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund, a new $62.5 million initiative to assist the fish and seafood processing sectors;
- an investment of $50 million to help farmers, fish harvesters, and all food production and processing employers put in place the measures necessary to follow the mandatory 14-day isolation period required of all workers arriving from abroad. This means the Government will provide $1,500, per temporary foreign worker, to employers or those working with them to ensure the isolation requirements are fully met;
- the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund to help Canada enhance its reputation as a country that provides legal, sustainable, high quality and value-added fish and seafood products;
- the Surplus Food Rescue Program, a time-limited program to help manage and redirect existing surpluses to organizations addressing food insecurity to avoid food waste during the COVID-19 crisis; and
- the Government is also implementing temporary measures to support self-employed fish harvesters who rely on Employment Insurance (EI) fishing benefits in the off-season. These measures will allow EI fishing benefits for these workers to be calculated using either their actual fishing earnings for their current claim, or their fishing earnings from their claim for the same season from the previous year, whichever is higher.
