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 notification released in the Canada Gazette on August 29 initiates a 30-day consultation period to determine whether to designate the port expansion as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act. This legislation allows projects deemed to be of national interest to undergo an expedited approval process, including environmental assessments.
The Liberal government has identified both the terminal and the Mackenzie Valley Highway project in the Northwest Territories as having the potential to enhance Canada’s transportation and trade networks and bolster the country’s long-term economic sovereignty. However, environmental organizations are worried that expediting the port expansion could lead to circumventing environmental safeguards.
The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) port expansion initiative, spearheaded by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, aims to establish a three-berth container terminal that would boost the port’s capacity by nearly 50% and create around $100 billion in annual trade capacity, according to the port authority. The federal government granted approval for the project in 2023, imposing 370 legally binding conditions to address environmental concerns. Concurrently, British Columbia issued an environmental assessment certificate for the project with 16 additional conditions.
While both levels of government acknowledged that the project could have significant adverse environmental impacts, they deemed it justified under the circumstances. The RBT2 project is currently in the process of securing final environmental permits, including approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada concerning compliance with the Species at Risk Act (SARA). If the project attains national-interest status, Carney’s cabinet could potentially have the authority to exempt it from SARA regulations.
In a recent development, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced $10 billion in federal assistance for the expansion project as part of a broader agreement with British Columbia. Environmentalists have raised concerns about constructing the expansion in the Fraser River estuary, a crucial habitat for hundreds of species, many of which are endangered.
“This is an immensely vital breeding ground ecosystem for over a hundred at-risk species,” stated Julia Levin, associate director of national climate at Environmental Defence, a Canadian environmental advocacy group. “Placing a mega port in this area would destroy nearly 200 hectares of this highly biodiverse estuary.”
Last year, a Federal Court judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by multiple environmental groups who argued that the project would harm critical chinook salmon habitat and endanger the survival of southern resident killer whales. Southern resident killer whales, part of the over 600 wildlife species listed under the Species at Risk Act, are dwindling in numbers, with only 75 remaining. Chinook salmon, a vital food source for the southern residents, have lost approximately 85% of their habitat due to development and infrastructure.
In response to environmental worries, the port authority stated in an email to CBC News that they plan to restore 102 hectares of habitat in collaboration with First Nations to support key species like juvenile Chinook salmon and Dungeness crab. The port authority is also implementing measures to protect southern resident killer whales, including requiring ships to engage in slowdown programs to reduce underwater noise.
The Environmental Assessment office of British Columbia highlighted the binding conditions, affirming that officers would monitor the project for compliance with all provincial requirements once construction commences. Additionally, the federal government proposed $258 million over five years to safeguard whales and their habitats, with a specific allocation for the protection of southern resident killer whales.
Despite these efforts, Levin and other environmental groups argue that the government’s potential acceleration of these projects could lead to their construction at any cost, potentially endangering the southern residents. The government’s pursuit of various avenues to bypass environmental protections, including contemplating changes to the Species at Risk Act, has raised concerns about prioritizing project construction over environmental conservation.
The proposed alterations to environmental regulations could undermine the effectiveness of the Species at Risk Act and the protection it offers, as expressed by multiple scientists in a recent press release. Discussions in May introduced potential changes, such as exempting certain projects from the “jeopardy test” in the Species at Risk Act. Following criticism, the government extended the engagement period until July.
“We are strongly advising the minister to reconsider this approach,” remarked David Green, a biologist and professor emeritus at McGill University involved in the letter opposing the changes. “There should be careful consideration rather than granting unlimited authority to act without due deliberation.”
