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441-01167 (Transportation)

Paper petition

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Minister of Transport

We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, residents of the Province of British Columbia and electors of ridings found in the Lower Fraser River, draw the attention of the Minister of Transport to the following:

Whereas:

  • 1. Canada has signed the 2030 Nature Compact committing to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Including to "collaborative effort between consumer and producer countries to advance global and regional sustainable supply chains..." and the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in the United States and Canada;

  • 2. The Fraser Delta is recognized as a Ramsar Wetland of international importance, a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Site and part of the Southwest BC Priority Area within the Pan-Canadian Framework for Species at Risk;

  • 3. Researchers have published peer reviewed studies warning of extensive habitat loss and risk of ecological collapse on the Fraser River Delta and scientist have published an open letter stating; "If the recovery of Canada's endangered and iconic wildlife is a priority for the government of Canada, as stated, then it must reject the proposed Terminal 2 project";

  • 4. The BC Great Blue Heron Society has petitioned the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to investigate the lethal impacts of transmission lines on birds in the globally important bird habitat around the Roberts Bank Superport;

  • 5. Environment and Climate Change Canada experts have warned of unmitigable and irreversible species-level risk to Western Sandpipers and shorebirds more generally should the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project proceed as designed; and

  • 6. The Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association has written the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada requesting the implementation of a Regional Assessment that includes both the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 and DeltaPort 4 projects.

Therefore, your petitioners call upon the Minister of Transport to instruct the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to halt any work on the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project until a Regional Assessment of the cumulative impacts of proposed transportation infrastructure projects on the Fraser Delta is conducted and results reported to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development highlighting alternative options for the import and export of containers on Canada's west coast that best align with Canada's commitments to enabling sustainable supply chains in support of efforts to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity.

Response by the Minister of Transport

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Omar Alghabra

Canada’s Port Authorities, including the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, are federally incorporated and autonomous corporations that operate at arm’s length from the Government of Canada. The Port Authority is responsible for administering, managing and operating federal assets pursuant to the Canada Marine Act, and its independent board of directors is responsible for decisions regarding investments in port infrastructure and the day-to-day operations at the Port of Vancouver. Under the Canada Marine Act, the Minister of Transport does not have directive power over port development projects such as Roberts Bank Terminal 2.

Such projects are subject to a range of federal laws and regulations, including in respect of environmental impacts. Transport Canada participated in the environmental assessment of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project by the Review Panel, providing expertise on topics related to the Department's mandate such as Canada’s marine safety and security system, west coast trade and national supply chains. The environmental assessment process, led by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project is ongoing.

 

Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Steven Guilbeault

The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project (the Project) is subject to an environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012). The assessment was conducted by an independent expert Review Panel (the Panel). The Panel completed its review of the Project and issued its report on March 27, 2020.

As part of its review, the Panel considered the potential environmental effects of the Project including how marine shipping would impact the area, as well as potential effects on migratory birds, Southern Resident Killer Whales and salmon, and cumulative effects that are likely to result from the Project. Furthermore, the Panel reviewed the Project’s potential economic, social and health effects.

On August 24, 2020, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (the Minister) requested that the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority provide additional information including on fish and fish habitat, potential effects on the Southern Resident Killer Whale, salinity relating to biofilm and Western Sandpiper, as well as potential effects on Indigenous communities.

On June 21, 2022, the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association requested the conduct of a regional assessment in the Salish Sea under the Impact Assessment Act (the IAA). As required under the IAA and its regulations, the Minister replied to the request on September 20, 2022. It was determined that a regional assessment would not be conducted at this time.

In response to the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association, the Minister highlighted that existing and planned programs and initiatives are in place to address the issues raised in the regional assessment request including to consider and address potential and realized effects (including cumulative effects) associated with development in the Salish Sea. This determination will be confirmed in the analysis to support the government response to the recommendations provided in the environmental assessment report of the Review Panel for the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.

The Minister appreciates the concerns raised in this petition with respect to the Project and all information will be considered when making decisions under CEAA 2012. The legislative time limit for a decision on the Project is April 23, 2023.

Presented to the House of Commons
Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway)
March 6, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01167)
Government response tabled
April 19, 2023
Photo - Don Davies
Vancouver Kingsway
New Democratic Party Caucus
British Columbia

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.