Media Release
Federal approval of Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion a positive signal to global markets: Canada West Foundation
April 21, 2023 – CALGARY, AB —The Canada West Foundation (CWF) welcomes the federal cabinet’s approval of the Port of Vancouver’s Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion. This approval sends a much-needed positive signal to global markets that Canada can build the infrastructure needed to enable trade.
Research by CWF has underlined the importance of trade for Canada. The Port of Vancouver currently moves one-third of all products exported from Canada to regions outside North America. Nineteen per cent of Saskatchewan’s GDP and eight per cent of Alberta’s GDP flow through the port. The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion will enable the country to keep pace as the influence of the Indo-Pacific region continues to rise – an opportunity the federal government calls a “once-in-a-generation global shift”—and will enable Canada’s provinces to trade with these growing markets to the West.
The environmental approval process took over 12 years and involved numerous changes by the Port in response to the concerns of stakeholders and Indigenous groups. CWF strongly supports an approval process that is transparent, robust, inclusive, fair and evidence-based—so that what is built, is built right. However, environmental review should be efficient as well as effective. While the review process for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project was not a good example of timely approval, we are encouraged by the federal government’s recent focus on improving regulatory efficiency, which was allotted $1.3 billion in the federal budget.
“Of everything that doesn’t go to or from the U.S., one-third moves through the Port of Vancouver. This project is especially important to the West where 19 per cent of Saskatchewan’s GDP and eight per cent of Alberta’s move through the port.”
Gary Mar, President and CEO, Canada West Foundation
“The federal government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy recognizes the importance of the Indo-Pacific region and calls it a once-in-a-generation global shift. A generational challenge requires generational infrastructure, and the Roberts Bank expansion is that sort of investment.”
Carlo Dade, Director of the Trade and Investment Centre, Canada West Foundation
For Canada West Foundation’s work on the issue, see:
REPORT | From Shovel Ready to Shovel Worthy: The path to a national trade infrastructure plan for the next generation of economic growth
John Law with Carlo Dade, May 22, 2021
SUBMISSION | National Infrastructure Assessment
John Law and Carlo Dade, July 21, 2021
OP-ED | Indo-Pacific reality check in Tsawwassen
Carlo Dade, February 16, 2023, The Hill Times
OP-ED | Trade growth on the Prairies linked to Port of Vancouver expansion, Gary G. Mar and Colleen Collins, February 15, 2023, The Calgary Herald
For information or interview
Ruth Klinkhammer, Communications Director
403 852-7651