Ontario Construction News staff writer
The federal government has approved the Port of Vancouver’s proposed $3.5-billion container terminal, a project expected to spur economic growth while complying with environmental rules.
The agreement clears the way for construction of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project, or RBT2, subject to 370 legally binding conditions.
“When we engage in good faith and let ourselves be guided by science, we can grow the economy in a way which advances reconciliation and protects the planet,” Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said at a news conference last week.
Plans for RBT2 include creating an artificial island to be located near Delta, B.C., about 30 kilometres south of Vancouver.
The project will create more than 18,000 jobs during construction.
“Roberts Bank Terminal 2 has been designed in a way that ensures it aligns with our work toward our vision to make the Port of Vancouver the world’s most sustainable port, including protecting and enhancing the natural environment and reflecting Indigenous priorities,” said Judy Rogers, port authority board chair. “The port authority has collaborated with Indigenous groups on the project for more than a decade and now we look forward to working together to deliver economic, cultural and environmental opportunities and initiatives.”
It’s a project that has faced opposition from environmentalists, community activists and a rival proposal from GCT Global Container Terminals Inc.
“The approval of this project was not taken lightly,” said federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra. “With strong measures, we will protect our ecosystem while increasing Canada’s supply chain capacity to ensure Canadians receive affordable goods on time.”
Labour leaders have expressed concerns about the level of automation.
One of the conditions of approval requires the port authority to provide a $150-million financial guarantee during the first three years of construction.
“With this approval, we can advance one of Canada’s most important trade infrastructure projects to date, bolster our national supply-chain resilience, and deliver generational economic benefits for Canadians and Canadian businesses,” said Robin Silvester, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency mandated to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver.
The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project includes building new land and a new three-berth marine container terminal near existing port terminals at Roberts Bank in Delta, B.C. and will add 2.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of capacity, ultimately increasing Canada’s west coast container capacity by approximately one-third.
The port authority will continue to work with Indigenous groups on environmental mitigation and training, employment, contracting opportunities, as well as providing benefits through the Indigenous Legacy Benefit Fund and signed agreements with 26 Indigenous groups, as it continues its commitment to respectful, long-term relationship building. The new marine terminal will be located in subtidal waters to minimize environmental effects. It will be funded by the port authority and private investment.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is the federal agency responsible for the shared stewardship of the Port of Vancouver. Visit the port authority’s website for more information about the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.