Ottawa advances Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy under Building Canada Act

The federal government has referred the Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy to the Major Projects Office (MPO), a move aimed at expanding trade infrastructure and supporting Canada’s goal of doubling exports to non-U.S. markets by 2035.

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the referral, which includes the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) container terminal and other infrastructure initiatives intended to increase port and rail capacity while supporting environmental protections.

The government said RBT2 will be considered for designation as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act, a step intended to streamline the regulatory process. The proposed three-berth container terminal would increase the Port of Vancouver’s container capacity by 50 per cent, adding an estimated $100 billion in annual container trade capacity, contributing more than $3 billion annually to Canada’s gross domestic product and supporting 17,000 ongoing jobs during operations.

The project completed a federal impact assessment in 2023 and is awaiting final permits. The Major Projects Office will begin consultations with potentially affected Indigenous communities before any decision is made on listing the project under the act.

The strategy also includes plans to expand land use and infrastructure for bulk terminals, optimize rail infrastructure serving the port and strengthen environmental protections.

As part of the bulk terminal initiative, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority will launch a process on July 20 to select an operator for its 40-acre Fraser Wharves terminal site in Richmond, B.C., the first major terminal opportunity at the port in a decade. The government also said Alberta’s proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline project in Delta, B.C., will be reviewed as part of the strategy.

The federal government said it will also work with railways to develop a strategy to increase rail capacity and improve supply chain efficiency, reliability and resilience.