Roberts Bank Terminal 2 would play an important role in supporting Canadian businesses shipping goods to and from the rest of the world, and in ensuring Canada stays competitive and open for trade.
Economic benefits
If approved, Roberts Bank Terminal 2 would be a significant economic generator on a local, provincial, and national level. The terminal would accommodate increased demand for trade, and play a critical role in supporting Canadian exporters and consumers of goods who increasingly want to trade with economies around the world, supporting Canada’s economic growth. It would create tens of thousands of well-paying, family-supporting jobs during both construction and operation, and provide economic benefits and opportunities to Indigenous groups and neighbouring communities.
The construction of the terminal over six years would:
- provide 18,050 person-years of employment worth $1.6 billion in labour income
- generate $2.3 billion in gross domestic product (GDP)
- contribute $519 million in tax revenue to all levels of government
Each year during operation, the terminal would:
- create 17,317 person-years of employment, including 1,508 on-terminal and 15,809 off-terminal*, worth $1.7 billion in labour income
- generate $3.0 billion in GDP
- add $631 million in tax revenues to all levels of government
*Off-terminal activities include services provided by truck drivers, harbour pilots, tugboat operators, the Canada Border Services Agency, railways, transload and distribution facility operations, and container storage yards.
Environmental benefits
The project has already made significant contributions to scientific knowledge of the Roberts Bank ecosystem and many species of interest.
Given our extensive work in the area of biofilm, the port authority is developing a manual in collaboration with global leaders in biofilm science that will identify and document best practices for developing biofilm habitat in the Fraser River estuary. The manual will serve as a guide for the port authority when we build mudflat habitat to offset project effects, as well as for other marine developers and offsetting practitioners active in the Fraser River estuary.
We have also committed to creating 86 hectares of offsetting habitat, developed in collaboration with Indigenous groups, to support key species of interest such as Chinook salmon and Dungeness crab, should the project be approved. Our offsetting plan will help maintain and enhance the natural productivity of the Roberts Bank ecosystem, and create a meaningful contribution to the future health and recovery of iconic west coast species.
Indigenous benefits
If approved, the delivery and operation of Roberts Bank Terminal 2 would have positive economic impacts for Indigenous groups. These opportunities and benefits include training opportunities, access to many well-paying jobs during construction and operation, and contracting opportunities. We are committed to building positive, long-lasting relationships with Indigenous groups.
We have committed to developing an Indigenous employment, procurement, and training plan for the project, in collaboration with Indigenous groups.
We have many mutual benefits agreements with Indigenous groups to ensure that benefits of the project are shared. We continue to have conversations with those groups with whom we do not yet have agreements.
Community legacy benefits
The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project community investment program will provide $6 million to Delta organizations and students, should the project proceed. Learn more about the details of the program.
