Government of Canada invests in transportation infrastructure in Greater Vancouver to move goods to market

News release

June 30, 2020    Vancouver    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 companies in the global marketplace. The Government of Canada invests in infrastructure projects that create quality, middle-class jobs and support economic growth.

The Government of Canada is committed to protecting and serving Canadians through the challenge of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  That includes making sure our vital trade corridors and gateways remain open and functional and ensuring Canadians continue to receive the essential goods they need to remain safe and well while supporting and stimulating Canada’s economy.

Today the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, announced new and important investments that increase transport capacity and efficiency and move Canadian goods to international markets. More than $28 million is being invested in three projects that will reduce bottlenecks at three facilities in the Greater Vancouver area.

Funding for projects include:

  • $17.5 million to expand and improve the Ray-Mont off-dock transload facility in Richmond, British Columbia. The expansion increases terminal capacity by about 160%, representing an additional 64,000 TEU or 1.7 million tonnes per year. Rail capacity to move specialty grain exports will also increase, and transit times on congested rail corridors will be reduced. Ultimately these improvements will increase supply chain efficiency and provide access to new markets overseas.
  • $7.5 million to double on-site rail capacity at the Fibreco terminal in North Vancouver, British Columbia. This improvement reduces congestion between road and rail operations and increase agri-food product and wood pellet exports. The increased capacity at the rail terminal will accommodate up to 200 additional trains, enable more efficient unloading, and improve rail access for other nearby North Shore terminals.
  • $3.5 million to improve the competitiveness of the gateway industry on Annacis Island in Delta, British Columbia, by increasing rail access to  auto terminals and off-dock facilities that serve shipping containers. Improvements will be made to three separate areas of the Southern Railway of British Columbia rail network on the island, including building approximately 1.2 kilometres of new rail track, re-aligning track configuration at key areas, and upgrading existing rail sections to a heavier standard.

These investments have important economic benefits for Canadians and will create an estimated 520 jobs during construction.

The Government of Canada is supporting infrastructure projects that contribute most to Canada’s success in international trade. Trade diversification is a key component of the National Trade Corridors Fund, through projects that:

  • improve the performance of the transportation system to increase the value and volume of goods exported from Canada to overseas markets; and
  • generate new overseas trade as a result of the investment.

Quotes

“Our government is investing in Canada’s economy by making improvements to our trade and transportation corridors. We are supporting projects that will help efficiently move goods to market and people to their destinations, stimulate our economy, create quality middle-class jobs, and ensure that Canada’s transportation networks remain competitive and efficient.”

The Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport

Quick facts

  • An efficient and reliable transportation network is key to Canada’s economic growth. The Government of Canada, through the National Trade Corridors Fund, is making investments that support the flow of goods to international markets. While the United States continues to be Canada’s top trade partner with $752 billion in trade ($447.1 billion exported, $304.9 billion imported) in 2019, trade is growing with international markets. From 2015 to 2019, trade with Asia (excluding the Middle East) grew by 17.9 per cent to $197.7 billion and trade with the European Union grew by 26.7 per cent since 2015 to $125.7 billion in 2019.

  • Canadian ports are an integral part of the overseas export of Canada’s natural resources and are an important hub linking Canadian coastlines to domestic markets.

  • 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.

  • Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

Associated links

Contacts

Livia Belcea
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
livia-marina.belcea@tc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
media@tc.gc.ca

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