The Government of Canada invests in transportation infrastructure for the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia
News release
May 17, 2018 Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Transport Canada
The quality of Canada’s transportation infrastructure and the efficiency of the country’s trade corridors are key to the success of Canadian firms in the global marketplace. The Government of Canada supports infrastructure projects that create quality middle-class jobs and boost economic growth.
Today, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, announced a major investment of $55.8 million for four projects led by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority that will help local businesses compete by moving local goods to market, and by making improvements to port infrastructure.
These projects include the following:
- Addition of nearly 5 km of track at the Canadian Pacific Facility, reconstruction of Harris Road to provide four lanes that will travel beneath the existing Canadian Pacific railway, and construction of a new two-lane overpass to replace the crossing at Kennedy Road in Pitt Meadows;
- Upgrade of the existing Westwood Street and Kingsway Avenue intersections at the railway corridor to separate road traffic from rail traffic on the municipal boundary between the Cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam;
- Design work to raise Pitt River Road and Colony Farm Road to create overpasses of the existing rail corridor (and Lougheed Road) that will allow for a new 5 km-long section of track that will pass beneath these two crossings permitting trains to travel in both directions along the Canadian Pacific in the City of Coquitlam; and
- Improvements at the existing Canadian National railway overpass at Mountain Highway that include lowering the roadway to provide additional clearance for oversized cargo travelling under the railway bridge in North Vancouver.
These projects are expected to have significant economic and employment benefits by creating an estimated 550 jobs during construction.
The Government of Canada is supporting infrastructure projects that contribute most to Canada’s continued success in international trade. For example, projects being funded will:
- support economic activity and the physical movement of goods or people in Canada;
- help the transportation system withstand the effects of climate change and make sure it is able to support new technologies and innovation;
- address transportation bottlenecks and congestion along Canada’s trade corridors; and
- increase the fluidity of Canadian trade around the world through our ports, airports, roads, railways, intermodal facilities, bridges and border crossings.
Provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous groups, not-for-profit and for-profit private-sector organizations, federal Crown Corporations, Canadian Port Authorities, and National Airport System Airport Authorities are all eligible for funding under the National Trade Corridors Fund.
Quotes
“Our government is investing in Canada’s economy by making improvements to our trade and transportation corridors. We are supporting projects that will efficiently move commercial goods to market and people to their destinations, stimulate economic growth, create quality middle-class jobs, and ensure that Canada’s transportation networks remain competitive and efficient.”
The Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport
“I am pleased to see these projects going ahead. Investing in the Port of Vancouver’s infrastructure will benefit not only the local and Canadian economy but also provide Canadian exporters with new opportunities to reach the global market. This investment will also have a real impact for those who live and commute in the Tri-Cities area as they will be tangible improvements in traffic flow and congestion.”
Ron McKinnon
Member of Parliament for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam
“Strategic investments in transportation infrastructure are vital to our economy. The Port of Vancouver’s transportation links ensure that local companies can get their goods to market efficiently and remain competitive. Time and again in our consultations with constituents, what we heard was that Pitt Meadows residents want to move freely in and out of their community. I was pleased to be a part of the process, to bring us to where we are today.”
Dan Ruimy
Member of Parliament for Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge
“Transportation and distribution of goods are a vital part of our local, regional and national economies. The investment announced here today will make our transportation system stronger by addressing urgent capacity constraints at the Port of Vancouver and fostering long-term prosperity for our community.”
Terry Beech
Member of Parliament for Burnaby North—Seymour
Quick facts
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The Port of Vancouver is a critical link to Asia, most notably with China, South Korea and Japan. The United States is also among its principal trading links.
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The Port of Vancouver is the 3rd largest port in North America in terms of volume and the largest port in Canada, almost 4 times larger than Canada’s second busiest port (Montréal) with 142 million tonnes of cargo handled in 2017 (2.7 million tonnes per week).
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Transportation is an important element of Canada’s trade with other countries. In 2017, total international merchandise trade amounted to $1.1 trillion. The United States continued to be Canada’s top trade partner, with $703 billion in trade ($415 billion exported, $288 billion imported), accounting for 63.5 per cent of total Canadian trade in 2017.
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The Government of Canada places a strong emphasis on exports because of the connection between trade and good, well-paying jobs, as industries that are export-intensive pay wages that are, on average, more than 50 per cent higher than industries that are not.
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Contacts
Delphine Denis
Office of the Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
delphine.denis@tc.gc.ca
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
media@tc.gc.ca
613-993-0055
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