The MPO was established in August 2025 to advance nation-building projects faster by streamlining and accelerating regulatory approvals and by helping to structure and coordinate financing of projects.<\/p>\n
The port moves $1 billion in goods every day and handles 40 per cent of Canada\u2019s trade beyond the North American market.<\/p>\n
The government stated in a press release that longstanding infrastructure constraints need to be addressed at the port if Canada is to meet its trade diversification objective.<\/p>\n
More than half of Canada\u2019s grain exports leave the country through the Port of Vancouver.<\/p>\n
The main pillar of the government\u2019s Gateway Strategy is the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) project<\/a>, a proposed three-berth container terminal that would increase the port\u2019s container capacity by 50 per cent.<\/p>\n That project has been referred to the MPO for potential listing as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act.<\/p>\n Read Also<\/p>\n RBT2 has already undergone more than a decade of regulatory reviews. The project completed a federal impact assessment in 2023, receiving key environmental approvals and is now awaiting final permits. It also has mutual benefit agreements in place with 27 First Nations.<\/p>\n \u201cListing allows the Minister of the One Canadian Economy to bring RBT2 under one single regulatory window,\u201d stated the government press release.<\/p>\n The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority applauded the government\u2019s new Gateway Strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough this strategy, we are one step closer to unlocking $100 billion in additional (annual) trade capacity through our proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project and positioned to grow our bulk and rail capacity to help Canadian businesses get their products to market,\u201d the port said in a press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n The port recently selected TerraMarine as its construction partner for the landmass and wharf component of the RBT2 project.<\/p>\n Construction is supposed to begin in 2028 with terminal operations expected to start in the mid-2030s.<\/p>\n The port also recently signed a memorandum of understanding<\/a> with Global Container Terminals (GCT) to explore a partnership that would see GCT be the builder and operator of the terminal.<\/p>\n A stipulation of the MOU is that GCT would have to withdraw its application to the MPO for its separate Deltaport Berth 4 expansion project and instead focus its efforts on advancing RBT2.<\/p>\n Another pillar of the Gateway Strategy is to identify opportunities for export terminal expansion.<\/p>\n The port hosts 29 marine terminals that handle exports such as grain, potash, petroleum products and canola oil.<\/p>\n The government says new land, modern terminals and other export-focused infrastructure needs to be built at the port.<\/p>\n To that end, the port announced<\/a> on July 20 that it is looking for an operator for its Fraser Wharves terminal in Richmond.<\/p>\n The 40-acre site is the first major terminal opportunity at Canada\u2019s largest port in a decade. It was previously used as an auto terminal.<\/p>\n It offers potential operators a brownfield site with existing marine, rail and road connections.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a very rare opportunity to develop and operate a new terminal within a proven port ecosystem that has unparallel access to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,\u201d Peter Xotta, president of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, said in a press release.<\/p>\n \u201cWe look forward to finding the right partner to turn this site into a terminal that can deliver Canadian commodities to world markets and support trade diversification work.\u201d<\/p>\n Qualified interested parties are invited to submit an expression of interest for the site by Sept. 11.<\/p>\n The third pillar of the Gateway Strategy is the development of a rail infrastructure strategy to increase capacity and enhance supply chain efficiency, reliability and resilience.<\/p>\n The final pillar is environmental protections. In its Spring Economic Update 2026, the government pledged $258 million over five years to renew and enhance funding for protection of whales and their habitats.<\/p>\n Reaction to the Gateway Strategy from the agriculture sector has been positive.<\/p>\n Fertilizer Canada called it a \u201cstep in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2025, approximately 14 million tonnes of fertilizer moved through the Port of Vancouver, a 21 per cent increase over 2024 levels. Fertilizer represented about 10 per cent of the port\u2019s total outbound cargo volume. Potash accounted for 75 per cent of that.<\/p>\n \u201cAchieving the strategy\u2019s objectives will require sustained investment in both port and rail infrastructure to improve capacity, reliability and access to global markets, including the Indo-Pacific region,\u201d Michael Bourque, president of Fertilizer Canada, said in a statement.<\/a><\/p>\n Grain Growers of Canada noted that more than half of the grain grown in Canada is exported through the port. That amounts to $35 million in grain and grain products per day.<\/p>\n The group welcomed the advancement of the RBT2 project and the government\u2019s commitment to developing a rail infrastructure strategy focused on capacity, reliability and resilience.<\/p>\n
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