Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Update
April 4, 2022 – Update
President, Nigel Peck sent an email message to the Prime Minister and other ministers. Read the text of the message from THIS LINK.
February 27, 2022 – Update – Submitted by Bev Ramey
As a result of public demand, the deadline to submit comments to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has been extended to March 15, 2022. Excellent responses from scientists on impacts from RBT2 have recently been submitted to the IAAC. If you have not yet submitted your comments, consider this new information by referring to the links below. Comments can be submitted to Impact Assessment Agency of Canada at this website:
https://www.iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80054?culture=en-CA
And most important, write your personal letter to the Ministers responsible, the Prime Minister and BC Premier. Copy to your MP. The following information will be helpful:
Reasons to Oppose RBT2
Scientific Reasons to Oppose
1) Submission from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), February 4, 2022, titled, “Review of Information Request 2020-4: Biofilm and Effects to Migratory Birds” provides scientific information that the proposed development would have major adverse effects on up to 558 hectares of intertidal biofilm. “ECCC’s opinion remains that effects of the Project, as designed, will likely be immitigable and irreversible, resulting in an increased risk to the population viability of the Western Sandpiper species, in particular.” The ECCC scientists write: “the Proponent’s conclusion that salinity changes resulting from the project will not adversely affect biofilm and migratory shorebirds is inconsistent with the established ecology of biofilm and with the results of the proponent’s own studies.” Read the submission from Environment and Climate Change Canada scientists:
https://www.iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80054/contributions/id/56952
At that link to the IAAC registry submission, click the attachment at the bottom to read the scientists 7-page submission.
2) A group of twelve scientists, together with 16 supporting signatures from experts, submitted to IAAC on February 9, 2022. Their letter describes the negative impacts of RBT2 on transboundary Fraser Chinook salmon and Southern Resident Killer Whales. The scientists conclude that the proposed project would have adverse and cumulative impacts on juvenile Chinook salmon and on the Southern Resident Killer Whales. The scientists write: “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 . . . There is also a lack of evidence demonstrating that habitat offsetting can successfully mitigate the adverse effects.”
https://fraserestuary.scienceletter.ca/letter/
Alternatives to RBT2 Port Expansion have not been considered
These two alternatives have not been considered by the review panel:
a) GCT (Global Container Terminals) has an alternate proposal for smaller scale expansion, privately funded. This company currently operates at Deltaport. See their fun publicity video, “A Fair Game”:
https://betterdeltaport.ca/Article?name=better-solution-canada-west-coast-container-capacity
b) Prince Rupert Port Authority announced (February 25) further study for port expansion. “DP World and the Prince Rupert Port Authority have entered into a two-year agreement to assess the feasibility of a new container terminal project in Prince Rupert. The potential project would add up to 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of annual capacity to the Port of Prince Rupert to help increase Canadian trade capacity with critical Asia-Pacific markets.”
Local political opposition:
Delta MP Carla Qualtrough is a Cabinet Minister. She is opposed to RBT2. Her Cabinet position is Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. Copy her your letter so she is aware of the extent of public concerns: carla.qualtrough@parl.gc.ca
The City of Delta voted unanimously against the expansion in early February and asked the federal government to reject or postpone the construction of a new marine container terminal, citing environmental concerns. “Our federal scientists have come out and said the adverse effects will be immediate, continuous and cannot be mitigated,” said Delta Mayor George Harvie.
First Nations Opposition
US Tribes submitted their concerns to IAAC on February 11th, stating: “The U.S. Tribes have treaty-reserved rights and cultural heritage in the Salish Sea that are put at risk by the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.”
https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80054/contributions/id/57158
BC’s Adam’s Lake Indian Band submitted their concerns February 17, stating: “This project will have direct and long term effects on migrating South Thompson Chinook salmon and Sockeye smolts, which have already experienced habitat loss within the Fraser Estuary. Your actions have direct impacts on communities hundreds of kilometers away, and these actions do not go unnoticed.”
https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80054/contributions/id/57572
Your Letter
A letter has been submitted by Nigel Peck on behalf of Nature Vancouver:
Add your voice. Each individual letter sent to the politicians carries weight. Please make the time to draft a letter/email to inform the politicians of your concerns. Send your letter/email to:
Minister Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment & Climate Change Canada: Steven.Guilbeault@parl.gc.ca
Minister Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard: joyce.murray@parl.gc.ca
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
Premier John Horgan: Premier@gov.bc.ca
cc to Minister Carla Qualtrough, MP for Delta, carla.qualtrough@parl.gc.ca and to your own MP (find address at parliament website OurCommons.ca)
THANKS!