Against Port Expansion in the Fraser Estuary BC
APE (Against Port Expansion in the Fraser Estuary BC) is a group of concerned citizens who recognize that plans for container terminal expansion on Roberts Bank (RBT2) will see the loss of globally-significant wetlands and habitat (classified as a Globally Significant Important Bird and Biodiversity Area - IBA) for migratory birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, salmon, herring, crabs and orca whales; degradation of the quality of life for thousands of Lower Mainland residents; and the industrialization of prime agricultural land.
On April 20 2023 the federal cabinet approved RBT2, effectively signing the death certificate for the Fraser Estuary.
Watch MP Elizabeth May present the petition to parliament that many of you signed. https://www.raincoast.org/2023/04/despite-green-light-from-cabinet-elizabeth-may-presents-petition-house-of-commons/
The RBT2 project was approved:
- Over a mountain of opposition;
- With political interference
- Ignoring Environment Canada scientists’ concerns
- Ignoring significant wide ranging credible research and science, much of it published in peer-reviewed science journals, demonstrating the project’s significant adverse environmental effects that cannot be mitigated.
- Ignoring the facts and evidence.
Major environmental groups, scientists expert in their field, citizen scientists, the Cities of Delta, Richmond and White Rock, MPs, members of the public rose up and voiced their opposition to RBT2. As the final phase of the environmental assessment concluded that opposition grew and grew. The politicians ignored all of that and by approving the project signed the death certificate for what little remains of the natural habitat in the Fraser Estuary and the wildlife that relies on it.
THESE CABINET MINISTERS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE SUPPORTED RBT2. EMAIL THEM TO PROTEST THEIR SUPPORT AND DEMAND THE APPROVAL BE REVERSED
JONATHAN WILKINSON minister.ministre@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca;Jonathan.Wilkinson@parl.gc.ca
OMAR ALGHABRA TC.MinisterofTransport-MinistredesTransports.TC@tc.gc.ca;omar.alghabra@parl.gc.ca
THESE CABINET MINISTERS WERE KNOWN TO OPPOSE RBT2. EMAIL THEM TO ASK WHY THEY THEN APPROVED IT
STEVEN GUILBEAULT ec.ministre-minister.ec@canada.ca;Steven.Guilbeault@parl.gc.ca
CARLA QUALTROUGH EDSC.EDMIPH-EWDDI.ESDC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca;Carla.Qualtrough@parl.gc.ca
JOYCE MURRAY DFO.Minister-Ministre.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca;joyce.murray@parl.gc.ca
TELL THEM TO HONOUR THE AGREEMENTS CANADA HAS SIGNED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT (MOST RECENTLY AT THE UN BIODIVERSITY CONFERENCE). TELL THEM TO REVERSE THE RBT2 APPROVAL.
THIS IS THE TORTUOUS PATH THAT LED TO RBT2 APPROVAL
MARCH 2023 STILL NO DECISION - AFTER EIGHT YEARS !!
- MAR. 27 2020 THE FEDERALLY-APPOINTED REVIEW PANEL PUBLISHED ITS REPORT IDENTIFIYING SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS IN MANY AREAS SHOULD RBT2 BE BUILT.
- AUG. 24 2020 THE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENT MINISTER PAUSED THE DECiSiON PROCESS AND ASKED THE PORT FOR MORE INFORMATION.
- AUG. 28 2020 THE PORT SAYS IT WILL HAVE COMPLETED GATHERING THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PRIOR TO YEAR END
- NOV. 5 2020 THE PORT SAYS IT WILL NOT PROVIDE THE INFORMATION UNTIL SUMMER 2021.
- SEP 24 2021 PORT PROVIDED ITS RESPONSE
- DEC 15 GOVERNMENT PROVIDED A DRAFT OF POTENTIAL CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL AND OPENED FINAL ROUND OF PUBLIC COMMENT
- MAR 15 2022 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED WITH THOUSANDS OF OPPOSING SUBMISSIONS
- APR 22 2022 PORT RESPONDED TO SOME OF THE OPPOSING SUBMISSIONS, BUT NOT ON THE KEY ISSUE, BIOFILM
- JUNE 10 2022 PORT RESPONDED ON THE BIOFILM ISSUE. SAME OLD FLAWED SCIENCE, PROMOTING BIOFILM REPLACEMENT WHEN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SCIENCE SAYS THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE ON THE SCALE NECESSARY TO REPLACE WHAT WILL BE LOST
- SEPTEMBER 2022 - A WALL OF SILENCE REMAINS OVER OTTAWA ON RBT2
- OCTOBER 26 2022 - ENVIRONMENT CANADA RESPONDS TO THE VFPA WITH A DETAILED ANALYSIS DEMONSTRATING YET AGAIN THAT RBT2 WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS THAT CANNOT BE MITIGATED. ECCC SCIENTISTS STATE:
"Given the importance of the Roberts Bank site for the Western Sandpiper, the nutritional requirements for fatty acids of migrating shorebirds, and the predicted effects of the Project on biofilm quantity and quality, ECCC continues to advise that the changes predicted as a result of the Project, as currently designed, would likely constitute an unmitigable species-level risk to Western Sandpipers, and shorebirds more generally". - January 23 2023 Ottawa decides it has all the information it needs to make a decision
- Febuary 2023 - The RBT2 Decision is with the Federal Cabinet acting as Governor in Council
- April 3 2023 Still waiting for a decision from Ottawa. Three cabinent ministers are known to support it. Amazing!!!
- April 20 2023. The federal government approves terminal 2 stating
" I (Environment Minister) have determined that the Designated Project (RBT2) is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effectsreferred to in subsection 5(1) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012.In accordance with paragraph 52(4)(a) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, the Governor in Council (Federal Cabinet) decided that the significant adverse environmental effects referred to in subsection 5(1) that the Designated Project is likely to cause are justified in the circumstances.
THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IGNORED ITS OWN SCIENTISTS AND THEIR CONCERNS.
WE NEED YOUR HELP. EMAIL THE PRIME MINISTER AND DEMAND HE REVERSE THIS DECISION. pm@pm.gc.ca
The govenrment has the science, facts and evidence. Its own scientists say RBT2 will result in significant adverse environmental effects that cannot be mitigated. How much more does the government need to reject this project?
KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TELL THEM YOU WILL NOT ACCEPT RBT2 BEING APPROVED.
WRITE TO MINISTER GUILBEAULT. SELECT COPY & PRINT THIS
Attention Minister Steven Guilbeault:
Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) is environmentally unsustainable. Environment and Climate Change Canada scientists have consistently characterized the negative environmental impacts of the RBT2 project as permanent, irreversible and continuous, disrupting and eliminating quality fatty acid production from diatoms in biofilm across Roberts Bank by dampening and reducing salinity. These particular fatty acids are absolutely required by Western Sandpipers and disrupting their production may also have negative implications for salmon and crab production, as well as eulachon a major part of Indigenous heritage. Many international scientists agree, as do Birds Canada, Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, BC Nature, Nature Canada and others.
I am opposed to RBT2 and petition you to deny approval for this project.
Signed________________________Email____________________________________
Name_____________________________________Postal Code__________________
AND MAIL TO
Minister Steven Guilbeault POST FREE
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A0A6
See what others are doing to stop RBT2:
1. Fraser Delta in the International spotlight. Birdlife Interantional has joined the fight to stop RBT2.
https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/waterfowl-winter-refuge-fraser-river-delta-risks-being-lost-forever?utm_source=BirdLife+International+News+Notifications&utm_campaign=a1bb67f58b-Summary_news_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4122f13b8a-a1bb67f58b-131704081&mc_cid=a1bb67f58b&mc_eid=0757e28fcf
2. In May 2022 The Garden City Conservation Society published a comprehenisive analysis of all that is wrong with the RBT2 project, under the title Stop RBT2 - To Enable Success, and sent it to the federal Environment Minister and the Cabinet
stoprbt2_enablesuccess_gccs_0.pdf
3. A video by Ranincoast Conservation
https://youtu.be/HkKLY3P2_ys
4. Natural Legacies versus Waste
5. Fraser Voices
6. Georgia Strait Alliance
https://georgiastrait.org/work/species-at-risk/proposed-terminal-2-deltaport-expansion-2/
Ports for Containers, Jet Fuel, LNG, and Imported Slag are industrializing the Sacred Fraser River, Estuary and Salish Sea, B.C.
Read the attached paper written by Susan Jones, Director Boundary Bay Conservation Committee.
It demonstrates how industrial projects including RBT2 are devastating the Lower Fraser River and its estuary.
RBT2_approval_devastating_to_lower_Fraser_River_and_Estuary.pdf
TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT OK WITH MORE ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND LOSS OF WILDIFE SPECIES
April 20 2023 will be labelled as a bad day for the environment in Canada's history. On that day the Trudeau government decided the significant adverse environmental effects that will result from the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project are justified in the circumstances.
This government approved RBT2 on two falsehoods by ignoring:
1.The concerns of their own scientists. Environment and Climate Change Canada scientists have repeatedly stated that " ..... the changes predicted as a result of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, as currently designed, would likely constitute an unmitigable species-level risk to Western Sandpipers, and shorebirds more generally"
2.The actual number of containers being handled by Vancouver area ports, demonstrsting there is plenty of spare container terminal capacity at present. The Minister of Transport (April 20 2023) stated Vancouver will run out of container terminal capacity by the late 2020s. Yet actual full container loads handled by Vancouver terminals are lower today than they were in 2013. Furthermore total container volumes for the first quarter 2023 are down by 15.3% compared to the same period in 2022.
Groups Opposing RBT2
Groups opposed to Roberts Bank Terminal 2
Internationally recognized scientists
Letter from scientists regarding Roberts Bank Terminal 2
Salish Sea Institute, Western Washington University
https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80054/contributions/id/57756
Lummi Nation
Can This Tribe of ‘Salmon People’ Pull Off One More Win?
S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance (STSA)
RBT2 Conditions Feedback
Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) comments on RBT2
International Longshore Workers Union Canada (ILWUC)
Open Letter to Government Regarding Roberts Bank Terminal 2
Sacred Lands Conservancy
RBT2 threatens salmon, our orca relations, and Indigenous life ways and livelihoods
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Suquamish Tribe, and Tulalip Tribes
Comments on Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Potential Environmental Assessment
Unitarian Church of Vancouver
UCV Opposes the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project
BCIT Rivers Institute
Letter from scientists regarding Roberts Bank Terminal 2
City of Delta
City of Delta, Council Report Jan 4, 2022
City of Richmond
Richmond joins Delta in opposing T2
Birds Canada and Nature Canada
Roberts Bank: Ottawa should reject a terminal expansion that puts human and environmental health at risk
Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Georgia Strait Alliance, David Suzuki Foundation, and Wilderness Committee
Terminal 2 expansion threatens orcas, salmon and climate action – Ecojustice
Friends of the Earth US
Friends of the Earth US activist comments on Roberts Bank T2 proposed project
Rivershed Society of BC
Comments on Terminal 2
The Waterbird Society
Comments on RBT2
OrcaLab
Please reject Roberts Bank terminal expansion proposal
Against Port Expansion in the Fraser Estuary (APE)
Against Port Expansion in Delta
Garden City Conservation Society
Garden City Conservation Society
White Rock and Surrey Naturalists Society
Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project
Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
Comment Letter on the Fraser River Delta Port Development
BC Nature
https://bcnature.org/take-action/
Boundary Bay Conservation Committee
http://actionintime.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/irreversible_harm_to_fraser_estuary.pdf
Fraser Voices
https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/document/132516
Wild Bird Trust of BC
https://mailchi.mp/wildbirdtrust/spring-opening-coastsalishplantnursery-20194592?e=bc5da82e9a
And Many Thousands of Canadian Citizens
No Need For West Coast Port Expansion
Canada doesn't need any further Port Expansion on Roberts Bank. Here is why.
The container shipping landscape in the Americas is changing. West Coast Canada container terminals can no longer expect their volumes to grow year over year.
As this recent article in Business in Vancouver indicates, West Coast port container volumes are in decline.
China is investing heavily in Mexico under its Belt Rail and Road Initiative. They are building manufacturing capability and investing in logistics and port infrastructure.
Inevitably this means West Coast North American ports will no longer see much growth if any in their container volumes. Nowhere will this be more evident than in Vancouver that relies on handling significant volumes of US container traffic.
Full container loads handled by Vancouver area ports declined again in 2022 - down by 9%, whereas containerized cargo volume to Lazaro Cardenas, Ensenada and other West Coast Mexican ports has risen 26 per cent since 2019. With more container traffic now moving through the Panama Canal to Gulf and East Coast ports and Mexican ports’ container volumes surging the big loser is the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA).
As you may know VFPA uses UK based Drewry Shipping Consultants to assist them in developing container growth forecasts. It is Drewry, in their latest trend analyses, who are now indicating that diversion away from West Coast ports to Mexico and Gulf and East Coast ports will increase.
There is simply no need for any further port expansion on Roberts Bank.
Why waste time effort and expense in carrying out an environmental assessment for GCT Berth 4 when there is no need for any further port expansion.
Here is the only sustainable solution:
1. The federal government deny approval outright for Roberts Bank Terminal 2
2. The federal and provincial governments terminate the GCT Berth 4 assessment now.
