The Port of Prince Rupert will receive $19.81 million (CAN$25 million) from the government of British Columbia to improve and expand infrastructure at the Ridley Island Export Logistics Platform and enhance its capacity for containerised trade.
Once complete, the new platform will increase the Port’s transloading capacity from 75,000 TEU to 400,000 TEU annually.
It will have new and updated rail tacks and dedicated roadways to and from the Fairview Container Terminal and feature new offloading and storage facilities, plus large-scale equipment.
The project is expected to provide substantive economic benefits, including supporting regional businesses and creating 200 jobs in transloading, plus an additional 2,000 jobs in areas such as warehousing, longshore work and trucking.
Shaun Stevenson, president and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority, said, “We thank the B.C. [British Columbia] government for investing in the development of the Ridley Island Export Logistics Platform, and its recognition of the value it will create for B.C. export industries and the communities that economically rely on them.
“This pivotal project presents an unprecedented opportunity for sustainable economic recovery, improved competitiveness, and greater diversification and stability throughout northern B.C.”
Jennifer Rice, MLA for North Coast, on behalf of Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, also commented, “Our investment in the Port of Prince Rupert will help create new good-paying jobs in our region, while improving western trade corridors and helping Canadian importers and exporters get goods to market.
“It will support regional businesses and provide the necessary infrastructure to boost our provincial economy to help build back stronger from the hit of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an important investment in the future of Prince Rupert and of B.C. as a whole.”
The project is funded through a mix of public and private investment, including a $49.8-million federal contribution through the National Trade Corridors Fund and a $25-million provincial contribution as part of StrongerBC, B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan.
