B.C.’s Terminal 2 Roberts Bank project gets federal approval; 370 binding conditions

OTTAWA — The federal government has approved a contentious container port expansion project at Roberts Bank south of Vancouver, drawing swift condemnation from environmentalists.

The government said Thursday that the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, proposed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, can proceed, subject to 370 legally-binding conditions to protect the environment and prevent harm to local species.

The Canada Pacific Gateway area is the country’s most important trade corridor, with more than $275 billion in trade passing through the port authority each year, it said in a statement.

“In the coming years, the government believes Canada’s major West Coast ports will reach maximum capacity, meaning congestion will become a chronic issue,” the statement said.

“This project would increase the port’s capacity by 50 per cent,” it said. “Without this port expansion, $3 billion in added GDP would be jeopardized by capacity shortages.”