Federal government unveils Vancouver port strategy focused on trade growth and major infrastructure

Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon on Friday announced the Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy, a federal initiative aimed at expanding Canada's trade capacity through the Port of Vancouver and strengthening transportation infrastructure on the West Coast.

According to the federal government, the strategy includes advancing the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion project in Delta and referring Alberta's proposed West Coast oil pipeline project to the Major Projects Office for an expedited review under a single regulatory approval process. The government said the initiative is intended to support the creation of approximately 17,000 jobs and help increase container trade to a target value of $100 billion.

The federal government said the strategy is designed to strengthen trade with the Indo-Pacific region and double Canada's non-U.S. exports by 2035. Officials also said both new and long-delayed major projects will be reviewed through the Major Projects Office to streamline the federal approval process.

The Vancouver Gateway Strategy also includes plans to modernize and improve rail infrastructure serving the Port of Vancouver, Canada's largest port. The federal government said the upgrades are intended to improve the movement of goods through the national supply chain and increase the port's long-term capacity.