Posted on February 6, 2023
The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project at the Port of Vancouver has received the go-ahead from Canada’s Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
In a letter to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA), Minister Steven Guilbeault has deemed the project to have sufficient information to support government decision-making.
This determination comes after the VFPA provided additional information in response to a government request regarding potential effects of the project on fish and fish habitat, salinity, and Indigenous people.
The additional information provided by the VFPA demonstrated that the project could be completed in an environmentally responsible manner and included measures for mitigation and adaptive management as well as increased monitoring.
The project, which is expected to increase Canada’s West Coast container terminal capacity by 30 per cent, is seen as a critical piece in meeting the country’s growing trade needs, supporting economic prosperity, and ensuring reliable access to goods for Canadian consumers and businesses.
The VFPA has collaborated and signed agreements with 24 Indigenous groups, with the aim of delivering economic, cultural and environmental opportunities and initiatives specific to each community.
This approach is aimed at ensuring the benefits of the project are shared while continuing to consult with all identified Indigenous groups.
The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project has now entered the final stage of the federal environmental assessment process, which began in 2013.
The VFPA is hopeful that the government of Canada will make a decision on the project in the near future.
In an exclusive interview from last year, PTI spoke to the VFPA about possible solutions and the way ahead following severe weather events in November 2021 that led to significant congestion in ocean and rail.
