TSAWWASSEN — Upgrading the Port of Vancouver has been referred to Canada’s Major Projects Office for possible fast-tracking, with Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon calling it a “transformational strategy” to grow and diversify trade.

MacKinnon announced the referral on Thursday at a news conference in Delta, B.C., where he said the upgrades known as the Gateway Strategy will aim to boost trade capacity and allow Canada to reach more global markets such as the Indo-Pacific region.

“Canada needs modern transportation infrastructure that helps our businesses compete, gets Canadian goods to new markets, and creates good jobs across the country,” MacKinnon said in a statement.

“By investing in our ports and transportation network, we are growing our economy, strengthening our supply chains, while protecting the environment.”

MacKinnon said the upgrades will centre on four “key pillars” including Roberts Bank Terminal 2, a proposed three-berth terminal that would increase the port’s container capacity by 50 per cent.

The minister said the new container terminal would then enable $100 billion in new trade capacity annually, potentially contributing $3 billion to Canada’s GDP each year.

Other pillars include plans to expand capacity of bulk terminals through land use and infrastructure improvements. Part of the expansion includes the 16-hectare Fraser Wharves terminal site in Richmond, B.C., with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority set to launch the process to select its operator next week.

Alberta’s West Coast oil pipeline proposal — which would terminate at Roberts Bank and also has a major-project referral — is being considered as part of the port infrastructure plans.

There are also plans to expand and optimize rail infrastructure linking to the port, as well as related environmental protections for the habitat of Southern Resident killer whales.

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority president Peter Xotta said that the port is set to “play an outsized role” in Ottawa’s plans to double exports to markets outside North America.

The Port of Vancouver is the largest in Canada, handling more cargo than the next five largest Canadian ports combined.

“Today’s announcement will help the Port of Vancouver and our partners get game-changing projects like Roberts Bank Terminal 2 built, and move more of what Canadians make, mine, harvest and grow to more customers around the world,” Xotta said.

The Port of Vancouver announced earlier in the week that it had selected TerraMarine as its construction partner for Terminal 2, which will require a land mass to be built beyond existing lands at Roberts Bank.

The government said in a news release that the Major Projects Office will immediately begin consulting with Indigenous communities about the port upgrades.

Other B.C. projects that have already received referral include the Ksi Lisims LNG project, Phase 2 of LNG Canada’s Kitimat facility, the North Coast Transmission Line and the Red Chris copper mine expansion.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2026.

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press