Carney Backs Port Expansion Plan to Boost Canadian Exports

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed support for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion project, a major port facility in Metro Vancouver. The existing capacity of the Port of Vancouver is already larger than that of Canada's next five biggest ports combined, but it won't be enough to meet Ottawa's goals for growing and diversifying the economy within the next decade.

Carney emphasized the importance of expanding port capacity and connected infrastructure to make Canada 'stronger, more independent, more diversified'. He stated that Canada needs to increase trade with Asian countries while moving exports away from the United States. The federal government is planning to invest over $10 billion in the expansion project, which is expected to grow exports by more than 50% and create up to 18,000 jobs.

The project includes a proposal for a new three-berth terminal that would increase the port's container capacity by 50%, with Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon saying it would enable $100 billion in new trade capacity annually. However, environmentalists have been fighting against the expansion plan, citing concerns about the habitat of endangered southern resident killer whales.