Canada's Economic Ambitions Hinge on Bridge Fix

The Second Narrows Bridge in British Columbia's Lower Mainland is a vital link to the national economy, connecting the Canadian market to global markets. However, this critical infrastructure has a major weakness: it's stuck in the down position for four days in February, blocking commercial ships and practically grounding the port.

The bridge must rise for large cargo vessels servicing petroleum marine terminals east of the crossing, but this standstill happened just before the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. In February, Trans Mountain Corp. (TMX) loaded only 17 oil tankers at its Port of Vancouver marine terminal, far short of its capacity.

This incident highlights not just the weaknesses of a single port, but also the broader failings of the Canadian economy, including overdependence on the U.S. market and neglect of necessary infrastructure upgrades. The Port of Vancouver handles $1 billion worth of cargo daily, with vital resources such as potash, grain, and steel passing through it.

The government's ambitions to double non-U.S. exports within the decade will depend on reliable flow of goods in and out of this port. However, a recent dredging project aimed at increasing vessel capacity has been delayed due to regulatory approvals taking over a year to obtain.