Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has referred the Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy to Canada’s Major Projects Office for accelerated approval.

The move is designed to expand the country’s largest port, diversifying trade and helping Canada double exports to non-U.S. markets by 2035.

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the referral, saying the strategy aligns with the Building Canada Act’s goal of accelerating nation-building infrastructure projects. The strategy includes the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) container project, expanded bulk- terminal infrastructure, rail-network improvements and environmental-protection measures.

“Canada needs modern transportation infrastructure that helps our businesses compete, gets Canadian goods to new markets, and creates good jobs across the country,” said MacKinnon. “By investing in our ports and transportation network, we are growing our economy, strengthening our supply chains, while protecting the environment,” said MacKinnon.

The RBT2 project is being referred to the MPO for potential designation as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act. If built, the three-berth container terminal would increase the Port of Vancouver’s container capacity by 50%, add more than $100 billion in annual container trade capacity, contribute more than $3 billion annually to Canada’s GDP and support 17,000 ongoing supply chain jobs, said Ottawa. The project has completed a federal impact assessment and is awaiting final permits.

The strategy also calls for new export-terminal development, including a process to select an operator for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s 40-acre Fraser Wharves site in Richmond. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has launched a search for a Fraser Wharves operator.

“The Port of Vancouver is helping unlock Canada’s economic potential by building the trade capacity needed to move more of the products Canadians make, mine, harvest and grow to more customers around the world,” said Peter Xotta, the port authority’s president and CEO.

“This is a very rare opportunity to develop and operate a new terminal within a proven port ecosystem that has unparallel access to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. We look forward to finding the right partner to turn this site into a terminal that can deliver Canadian commodities to world markets and support trade diversification work.”

Located at 13800 Steveston Highway, the Fraser Wharves site previously used as an auto terminal, but was consolidated under the Annacis Auto Terminal Optimization Project and is now free to support new trade opportunities. The brownfield location includes deep-sea vessel access to the Fraser River and an existing marine berth; a fully paved, secured and fenced site with existing CN Rail infrastructure comprised of nine existing on-site tracks and expansion opportunities, and access to Highway 99 located 1.5 kilometres away.

The port authority said Fraser Wharves’ dry-bulk export have grown 12% in the last five years due “strategic investment” and global demand for high-quality Canadian commodities.

The Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy also includes rail-infrastructure investments to improve supply-chain efficiency, and more than $258 million in federal funding over five years to enhance whale protection measures along B.C.’s coast.

“The Gateway Strategy reflects the type of nation-building infrastructure projects the Building Canada Act aims to advance,” said Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, intergovernmental affairs, internal trade and one Canadian economy. “Grounded in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, it will drive Canada’s efforts to diversify our trading partners and increase our capacity to export to global markets, while delivering substantial economic benefits for Canadians.”

“As Canada’s largest port, we know we’re going to play an outsized role in delivering on Prime Minister Carney’s commitment to double exports to markets outside of North America,” said Xotta. ‘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.”

The port authority and GCT Global Container Terminals signed a memorandum of understanding in spring 2026 to explore a partnership aimed at advancing the container project at Deltaport in Delta, B.C., across from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal with the Fraser Wharves project excluded.

After signing the MOU, the company withdrew its separate application to the Major Projects Office for the Deltaport Terminal 4 expansion project and instead focused on RBT2. It remains to be seen whether GCT will seek to be involved with Fraser Wharves.

The port authority said it expects to conduct a two-stage selection process. Qualified interested parties will have until before 5 p.m. on September 11 to submit expressions of interest. A Fraser Wharves brochure is available online.

Expressions of interest can be submitted to: [email protected].

Pictured: Future Roberts Bank Terminal 2 in Delta, B.C.

Rendering: Vancouver Fraser Port Authority