Vancouver BC, June 18, 2019 – Following an extensive reconsideration process, we are pleased that the Government of Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. The decision comes with a strategy to address a number of key issues identified by the National Energy Board, including capacity building, cumulative effects management, added response capacity and quieter vessels. The approval will further enhance Canada’s marine transportation framework to appropriately manage risk and protect coastal waters, while opening up access to new markets for our members.
“The marine transportation industry is supportive of the safe and responsible export of oil to world markets and we are pleased to see that the federal government is supportive of our ability to move oil safely,” said Robert Lewis-Manning, President of the Chamber of Shipping. “We are optimistic about the future of this project, and the value that it will bring to the Canadian economy”.
The marine transportation industry remains focused on protecting the Salish Sea and is committed to mitigating the impact of shipping. The industry has already entered into a five-year commitment with the Government of Canada to increase protection for Southern Resident Killer Whales through a Conservation Agreement, and we look forward to future advancements which will help us in this endeavor.
The Chamber of Shipping also welcomes the Salish Sea Initiative and its long-term investment strategy to better understand the cumulative impact of all human activities on local ecosystems. The marine industry will continue to work with the Government Canada, First Nations, and other stakeholders through the Oceans Protection Plan and in support of a clear marine spatial plan for the Canada’s West Coast.
