The federal government is moving forward with the process of potentially categorizing the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 port expansion in Metro Vancouver as a project of national interest. A notice released in the Canada Gazette on August 29 initiates a 30-day consultation period to determine whether listing the port expansion as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act is warranted. This designation would enable expedited approval processes, including environmental assessments, for projects deemed to be in the national interest.
The Liberal government, in its announcement of the potential listing of both the terminal and the Mackenzie Valley Highway project in the Northwest Territories, emphasized that these projects have the potential to enhance Canada’s transportation and trade networks and bolster the country’s long-term economic sovereignty. However, environmental organizations are apprehensive that expediting the port expansion could lead to circumventing environmental safeguards.
The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) port expansion project, overseen by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, aims to establish a three-berth container terminal, increasing the port’s capacity by nearly 50% and creating an estimated $100 billion in annual trade capacity. The federal government granted approval for the project in 2023, subject to 370 legally binding conditions addressing environmental concerns. Additionally, in the same year, British Columbia issued the project an environmental assessment certificate with 16 supplementary conditions.
Both levels of government acknowledged the likelihood of significant adverse environmental impacts from the project but deemed them justified under the circumstances. The RBT2 project is currently in the process of securing final environmental permits, including legal approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada concerning compliance with the Species at Risk Act (SARA). If granted national-interest status, the project could potentially receive an exemption from SARA regulations.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced $10 billion in federal support for the expansion project in July as part of a broader agreement with British Columbia. Environmentalists stress that the proposed location for the expansion in the Fraser River estuary is crucial for the survival of numerous species, many of which are endangered.
“This is an incredibly important breeding ground ecosystem for over a hundred at-risk species,” noted Julia Levin, associate director of national climate at Environmental Defence, a Canadian environmental advocacy group. These concerns were raised in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups last year, asserting that the project would harm vital chinook salmon habitats and jeopardize the southern resident killer whales’ survival.
Southern resident killer whales, part of over 600 wildlife species listed under the Species at Risk Act, face significant threats with only 75 remaining. Chinook salmon, a primary food source for southern residents, have lost approximately 85% of their habitat due to development and infrastructure. The port authority intends to restore 102 hectares of habitat in collaboration with First Nations to benefit key species like juvenile Chinook salmon and Dungeness crab.
While the port authority is implementing measures to protect southern resident killer whales, including requiring ships to participate in slowdown programs to reduce underwater noise, environmental groups and experts express concerns about the government’s potential fast-tracking of projects at the expense of environmental protections and endangered species. Proposed changes to environmental regulations, including the Species at Risk Act, could expedite approval and construction processes for major projects, raising alarms about overriding critical environmental safeguards.