In response to Mr. Cliff Stewart, Vice President Infrastructure,
Port Metro Vancouver: "Interest by investors demonstrates need for T2". This article appeared in the Delta Optimist May 6, 2015.
The bulk of Mr. Stewarts comments in this article are of an economic nature.
This is quite appropriate as a response to the (economically perceived ) “need” for Port Metro’s terminal
2 project. However, as an argument for desire
for Terminal 2 it fails badly. Sadly Mr. Stewart, whose bias is one of port infrastructure, cannot speak to the major community argument against the project; how it affects the
environment.
What Mr. Stewart calls the “most stringent process by an
independent review panel” has been questioned at every turn by the community
and a number of very well informed professionals. So far the public input
meetings for this environmental review
have been little more than a public relations exercise that Port Metro is
legislated to undertake. Port Metro has steadfastly refused to deal with the
larger picture of environmental concerns caused by all of its undertakings.
Delta will be affected by larger ships going further up the
Fraser when the bridge is built. This will require dredging the channel further
eroding the delta’s natural habitat. These ships will bring more truck traffic
on top of the increase from Terminal 2 causing more pollution. These ships have
not been required to use shore power. American ports are far ahead of Port
Metro in this. Not only does diesel power cause more pollution, it means older,
poorly outfitted ships that can’t be used in ports like Los Angeles will be
docking here. As a result, we have more pollution. Lastly, more Industrial land will be required
off the South Fraser Perimeter road. Farmland prices are already under pressure
due to the speculative purchasing of land for future Industrial use. Where and
when will this stop? I haven’t even broached the issues of shipping LNG gas
from Tilbury or the increase of soft coal export from the Fraser Surrey Docks.
What Mr. Stewart hasn’t touched on is that Port Metro, as a
Federal Crown Corporation has a very large investor; the Canadian public. Port
Metro has a vision; “inspiring support from our customers
and from communities locally and across the nation” and
a mission statement: “To lead the growth of Canada’s Pacific Gateway
in a manner that enhances the well-being of Canadians and inspires national
pride”.
If the community were polled about Port Metro’s various
undertakings on the Fraser the response would be very interesting. I very much
doubt that “inspiring support and…national pride” or “enhancing the well-being
of Canadians” would ring true for anyone in Delta.
Should Port Metro really want to live up to its mission
statement or achieve its vision it will need to prove that the community feels
the “need for T2”, not just investors.
