Ottawa designates Roberts Bank Terminal 2 a project of national interest

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced on Friday in Delta, British Columbia, that the port expansion joins the list of projects of national interest. It is the second project named under the Building Canada Act, after the Pacific Link pipeline earlier this month.

Added container capacity a year

2.4 million containers

The terminals would raise the Port of Vancouver's annual container capacity by about 50 per cent, or 2.4 million containers, as Ottawa aims to double exports outside US markets by 2035.

Ottawa says the designation would let the three new berths open sooner, in 2035 at the earliest instead of 2039. The estimated $5.9 billion cost awaits a final investment decision in May 2027.

And us?

Ottawa promises a 25 per cent cut in the cost of importing containers and 17 per cent faster delivery between Vancouver and Toronto, together with other supply-chain investments. It also says the project would add $3 billion a year to GDP.