Canadians have been clear that they want the Government of Canada to take decisions that protect the environment while building a strong economy, creating jobs and keeping everyday goods and services affordable. Following a robust and science-based environmental assessment conducted by an independent Review Panel and significant work to address concerns highlighted by the Panel report, the Government of Canada has decided the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project can proceed subject to 370 legally binding conditions to protect the environment, including to prevent harm to local species.
The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, a port expansion project proposed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, will be key to supporting Canada's economic growth over the coming years. Canada's Pacific Gateway is Canada's most important trade corridor, with over $275 billion of trade passing through the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority each year. In the coming years, the Government believes Canada's major west coast ports will reach maximum capacity, meaning congestion will become a chronic issue. This project would increase the port's capacity by 50 per cent. Without this port expansion, $3 billion in added GDP would be jeopardized by capacity shortages. The project is also expected to create hundreds of jobs during construction, and several hundred more both onsite and off-site during operations.
The approval of this project comes after extensive consultation with local communities and Indigenous groups. The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project will be subject to 370 legally binding conditions, to protect the environment, local wildlife and land-use activities of Indigenous Peoples. These include:
- Over 100 measures protective of local wildlife such as developing habitat creation programs to support western sandpiper populations and other shorebirds;
- Development and implementation of an adaptive management approach to prevent negative effects to biofilm, which includes a minimum of three years of monitoring key parameters reviewed by an independent scientific body;
- Limiting in-water construction to the window of least risk for several marine species;
- Requirement for zero-emission cargo handling equipment on-site and to offer electrical power to vessels while berthed;
- Installation of infrastructure to permit the safe passage of fish;
- Requirement to avoid, mitigate and offset effects to fish and fish habitat and develop a follow-up program to monitor any impacts to the region's salmon as a result of the project;
- Creation of a marine mammals' detection and response plan to protect marine mammals during construction; and
- To further protect Southern Resident killer whales, the proponent must monitor noise levels to remain at or below a certain baseline level, implement procedures to delay departures of container vessels and reduce underwater noise during berthing activities when whales are present in the project area.
These conditions and more will also help address concerns raised in consultation with local Indigenous Nations. The Government of Canada is also announcing today over $45 million to accommodate project impacts on Indigenous rights in order to preserve, promote and develop Indigenous culture, heritage and stewardship activities. This funding will also establish a Stewardship Committee.
As a condition of approval of the project, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority must also put in place a $150-million financial guarantee to ensure funds are available for the first three years of construction to comply with these legally binding conditions.
The legally binding protection measures placed on this project build on existing and planned work by the Government of Canada to protect local species and marine mammals on the West Coast including Southern resident killer whales and Chinook salmon. This includes Canada's Oceans Protection Plan, which is providing over $3.5 billion to protect Canada's coasts and waterways, a new $151.9 million through Budget 2023 to protect endangered whales which is a renewal of the Whale Initiative first announced in 2018, and $165.4 million through Budget 2023 to establish a Green Shipping Corridor Program to spur the launch of the next generation of clean ships, invest in shore power technology, and prioritize low-emission and low-noise vessels at ports. Additionally, federal finance tools are available to further support efforts to reduce noise impacts to species and reduce GHGs This includes the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which as part of its $5 billion Public Transit priority, has financing available for conversion to zero-emission ferries.
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the environment while ensuring that projects critical to Canadian workers and businesses can proceed in a responsible manner.
