We are the people of the Fraser Estuary, lucky to live on its islands. The estuary, where river meets sea, is one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet. But it’s in danger.
Recently, many of us responded to the review panel for Roberts Bank Terminal 2.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, a federal crown corporation, is behind the project, which would pile 15 million cubic metres of fill into the estuary for a container-shipping site.
In the final few days of public input, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency received 282 comments to the panel from groups and individuals. Their advice ranged from a few words to 100-plus pages.
Most of the contributions, including a dozen from First Nations, put the needs and gifts of nature ahead of the port authority’s wants.
Still, one may ask, how else can we export Canada’s resources to Asia and import more foreign products? Use the Port of Prince Rupert, instead.
It’s a solution that’s best for Prince Rupert, Richmond, our region, our province and our country.
But it doesn’t appease the port authority. After all, the authority’s main revenue is rent from federal property under its control. It wants more land, not less control.
In any case, the federal government has known the solution since 2008, when Transport Canada brought experts together to improve the Asia Pacific Gateway.
They recommended a “single port authority be created to include the existing Vancouver ports plus Prince Rupert.”
“This is the only way to assure complete collaboration of Canada’s West Coast ports,” they noted.
They suggested developing “container capacity in Prince Rupert before making investments in Vancouver” and taking a systematic approach to capacity before deciding “a particular port must necessarily be physically larger.”
What’s more, the best current analysis shows that the combined ports could double their container capacity by 2020, without Terminal 2. That would keep them far ahead of increased business, so there’s time to amalgamate smoothly.
For its part, Prince Rupert has the space and desire to expand the capacity of its natural deep-water port. Its industrial land, shorter routes to Asia, rail synergies and top-notch reputation are promising.
Meanwhile, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority uses its “Port of Vancouver” alias to greenwash with ads about its love of the Fraser. It also laments its lack of industrial land to expand its rental holdings, such as the Harvest Power site.
Between sobs, it tries to annex two square kilometres of estuary and buys up fertile farmland like the Gilmore Farm in East Richmond at ALR prices — to rent it out at industrial rates if it can overcome our pro-ALR resistance.
The harm, especially to estuary habitat of international significance, will be irrepairable unless sanity prevails. It’s unconscionable that this is happening under our watch.
Jim Wright is a longtime Richmond community activist
