Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy
Sector
Industrial
Location
Delta, British Columbia
Sector
Industrial
Location
Delta, British Columbia
Description
The Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy (Gateway Strategy) is an overarching transformative strategy that will support an integrated pathway to grow capacity at the Port of Vancouver, and support Canada’s growth and diversification objectives, including doubling exports to non-U.S. markets by 2035.
The Gateway Strategy intends to increase export capacity and improve efficiency by addressing existing constraints at the Port as a system. This includes expanding container-handling capacity, identifying and developing land for construction of modern terminals and other export-focused infrastructure, upgrading rail infrastructure to support the movement of goods, and prioritizing Canada’s environmental protections for coastal habitat and at-risk whales.
The Gateway Strategy is focused on four pillars:
- The expansion of container capacity via the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) project;
- Development of land and infrastructure for bulk terminals;
- Rail infrastructure optimization and expansion; and
- Environmental protections to support future trade growth responsibly through the Whales Initiative and enhanced Southern Resident killer whales (ESRKW) protection measures, the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, and the Oceans Protection Plan.
Roberts Bank Terminal 2
New container capacity at Roberts Bank Terminal is critical to grow Canadian trade and will improve the competitiveness of the Port of Vancouver, provide it with the ability to serve the largest vessels, and build resilience into the system.
RBT2 is well advanced in the regulatory and project planning processes, having progressed through relevant regulatory approvals for more than a decade, including a robust environmental assessment approval process and consultations with Indigenous groups.
More about the RBT2 project.
Land use and infrastructure for bulk terminals
The Port hosts 29 major marine terminals, many of which handle Canada’s most important exports, including grain, potash, petroleum products, and canola oil. Dry and liquid bulk account for approximately 70 per cent of total Port of Vancouver tonnage.
Limited industrial land at the Port has discouraged investment in new terminals. Instead, operators have kept existing terminals in service longer, rather than building new, more modern and efficient facilities. Identifying, preparing, and developing industrial land through land-use optimization and land creation is necessary to get Canadian products to market and double non-U.S. exports by 2035.
On July 20, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) will launch a process to select an operator for its 40-acre Fraser Wharves terminal site in Richmond – the first major terminal opportunity at the Port in a decade.
The Major Projects Office (MPO) may support VFPA with this process to ensure the project is efficiently advanced, while respecting Indigenous rights and safeguarding the environment.
Under the Gateway Strategy, the MPO and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority will cooperate to identify similar opportunities for export terminal expansion.
Rail infrastructure optimization and expansion
The majority of cargo moving through the Port is transported by rail, and the current rail networks and supply chain infrastructure servicing the Port will require investment to diversify Canada’s trade.
In collaboration with the railways and other supply chain stakeholders, the MPO and Transport Canada are developing a rail infrastructure strategy to increase capacity and enhance supply chain efficiency, reliability, and resilience. The strategy will explore opportunities for investment in physical infrastructure and the optimization of gateway operations that aim to improve the reliability, stability, and competitiveness of Canada’s supply chain transportation infrastructure through the Port.
The MPO supported the development of an MOU between the Port and Global Container Terminals (GCT), the largest majority Canadian-owned terminal operator, to build the project faster and better.
Environmental protections
Recognizing the potential impacts of future trade growth on the marine environment, the Gateway Strategy is supported by Canada’s strong environmental protections, including the long-term protection of Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) through the Whales Initiative, funding to protect and restore Pacific Salmon through the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, and commitments to coastal protections through the Oceans Protection Plan.
Description
The Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy (Gateway Strategy) is an overarching transformative strategy that will support an integrated pathway to grow capacity at the Port of Vancouver, and support Canada’s growth and diversification objectives, including doubling exports to non-U.S. markets by 2035.
The Gateway Strategy intends to increase export capacity and improve efficiency by addressing existing constraints at the Port as a system. This includes expanding container-handling capacity, identifying and developing land for construction of modern terminals and other export-focused infrastructure, upgrading rail infrastructure to support the movement of goods, and prioritizing Canada’s environmental protections for coastal habitat and at-risk whales.
The Gateway Strategy is focused on four pillars:
- The expansion of container capacity via the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) project;
- Development of land and infrastructure for bulk terminals;
- Rail infrastructure optimization and expansion; and
- Environmental protections to support future trade growth responsibly through the Whales Initiative and enhanced Southern Resident killer whales (ESRKW) protection measures, the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, and the Oceans Protection Plan.
Roberts Bank Terminal 2
New container capacity at Roberts Bank Terminal is critical to grow Canadian trade and will improve the competitiveness of the Port of Vancouver, provide it with the ability to serve the largest vessels, and build resilience into the system.
RBT2 is well advanced in the regulatory and project planning processes, having progressed through relevant regulatory approvals for more than a decade, including a robust environmental assessment approval process and consultations with Indigenous groups.
More about the RBT2 project.
Land use and infrastructure for bulk terminals
The Port hosts 29 major marine terminals, many of which handle Canada’s most important exports, including grain, potash, petroleum products, and canola oil. Dry and liquid bulk account for approximately 70 per cent of total Port of Vancouver tonnage.
Limited industrial land at the Port has discouraged investment in new terminals. Instead, operators have kept existing terminals in service longer, rather than building new, more modern and efficient facilities. Identifying, preparing, and developing industrial land through land-use optimization and land creation is necessary to get Canadian products to market and double non-U.S. exports by 2035.
On July 20, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) will launch a process to select an operator for its 40-acre Fraser Wharves terminal site in Richmond – the first major terminal opportunity at the Port in a decade.
The Major Projects Office (MPO) may support VFPA with this process to ensure the project is efficiently advanced, while respecting Indigenous rights and safeguarding the environment.
Under the Gateway Strategy, the MPO and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority will cooperate to identify similar opportunities for export terminal expansion.
Rail infrastructure optimization and expansion
The majority of cargo moving through the Port is transported by rail, and the current rail networks and supply chain infrastructure servicing the Port will require investment to diversify Canada’s trade.
In collaboration with the railways and other supply chain stakeholders, the MPO and Transport Canada are developing a rail infrastructure strategy to increase capacity and enhance supply chain efficiency, reliability, and resilience. The strategy will explore opportunities for investment in physical infrastructure and the optimization of gateway operations that aim to improve the reliability, stability, and competitiveness of Canada’s supply chain transportation infrastructure through the Port.
The MPO supported the development of an MOU between the Port and Global Container Terminals (GCT), the largest majority Canadian-owned terminal operator, to build the project faster and better.
Environmental protections
Recognizing the potential impacts of future trade growth on the marine environment, the Gateway Strategy is supported by Canada’s strong environmental protections, including the long-term protection of Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) through the Whales Initiative, funding to protect and restore Pacific Salmon through the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, and commitments to coastal protections through the Oceans Protection Plan.
Quick facts
- Current capacity: The Port of Vancouver handles more cargo than the next five largest Canadian ports combined and hosts 29 major marine bulk terminals. It is Canada’s leading port in exports of grain, potash, petroleum products and canola oil, among other products.
- Economic importance: The Port currently handles $1 billion in trade per day with 170 countries, facilitates $1 in every $3 of Canadian trade in goods outside North America, and contributes about $16.3 billion in GDP across Canada from coast to coast.
- Jobs: The Port currently supports about 132,400 jobs in Canada with 103,000 of them in British Columbia.
- Trade diversification through Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project: The project would establish a three-berth marine container terminal built on 320 acres of new industrial land, unlocking about $100 billion in annual trade capacity, and adding $3 billion to Canada's GDP annually.
Benefits
- The primary goal of the Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy is to create opportunity and capacity for private sector investment that will drive growth in trade, supported by a predictable and stable regulatory environment; protect and enhance the natural environment; and continue to work towards reconciliation with Indigenous Groups.
- Combined with improvements to rail and bulk infrastructure, RBT2 will improve the competitiveness of the Port of Vancouver. The project would have capacity to serve the largest vessels, which tend to be more efficient for carriers to use, and is connected to rail lines that do not pass through the congested downtown core of Vancouver, which simplifies rail logistics.
- Together, these measures would reduce shipping costs, increase supply chain reliability, and expand Canada’s ability to capture global growth opportunities.
- Efficient, modern infrastructure is key to keeping Canada competitive on the world stage via trade diversification.
- The Gateway Strategy would strengthen Canada’s economic security and increase export capacity to non-U.S. markets by expanding container-handling capacity, building new land masses to accommodate modern and efficient terminals, and upgrading rail infrastructure.
- As part of the Spring Economic Update 2026: Canada Strong For All, the Government committed more than $258 million over five years to renew and enhance funding for protection of whales and their habitats. This includes $95 million over the next five years and $16.5 million on an annual basis to protect Southern Resident killer whale habitat along B.C.’s Coast through enhanced Southern Resident killer whales (ESRKW) protective measures. Expanding from the foundational programming renewed through Whales Initiative, the ESRKW protection measures will seek to address imminent threats to SRKW survival and recovery related to vessel underwater noise and disturbance through enhanced research, monitoring and informed management measures to minimize impacts of major port project expansion.
- The Government’s announcement of $412.9 million over five years to renew the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) will enable continued protection and recovery of wild Pacific salmon stocks of greatest conservation concern.
- Through the $3.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada has partnered with Indigenous and coastal communities to develop a world-leading marine safety system that meets the unique needs of Canada and British Columbia.
Latest updates
- On July 16, 2026, the Government of Canada referred the Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy to the MPO as a Transformative Strategy. Within the Gateway Strategy, the RBT2 project is being proposed for potential listing under the Act.
- On July 2, 2026 the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to explore partnership opportunities to advance major projects in the province.
- On April 21, 2026, the VFPA and GCT entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to explore partnership to advance RBT2 at the Port of Vancouver.
- On April 20, 2023, following an environmental assessment conducted by an independent Review Panel, the Government of Canada approved the RBT2 project, subject to 370 legally binding conditions.
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