Good morning, committee members, and thank you very much for the opportunity to address the standing committee this morning.
My name is Robin Silvester. I'm the president and chief executive officer of Port Metro Vancouver. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, operating as Port Metro Vancouver, has submitted to the Standing Committee on Finance a federal pre-budget submission wherein we recommend that the Government of Canada undertake a new round of funding for the Asia-Pacific gateway and corridor initiative, specifically including the replacement of the New Westminster rail bridge and the replacement or upgrade of Fraser River training infrastructure.
The port recognizes and applauds the support of successive federal governments in the creation and expansion of the Asia-Pacific gateway and corridor initiative. The investments announced by the federal government have bettered our nation's west coast trade infrastructure to the benefit of all of Canada, which is fundamentally a trading nation. These improvements have demonstrated to customers and port users the Government of Canada's commitment to advancing significant trade-related activity in the Asia-Pacific gateway.
While much has been done to facilitate trade through the Asia-Pacific gateway, funds available for investment in this initiative have largely been committed. A number of investment priorities remain. We respectfully submit that the Government of Canada should consider further investment to position the Asia-Pacific gateway as truly competitive. Specifically, the two infrastructure projects I address today are key to the continued and future competitiveness of the gateway.
Port Metro Vancouver is Canada's largest and busiest port and the most diversified port facility in the whole of North America. Port Metro Vancouver's navigable jurisdiction stretches along 600 kilometres of coastline, and the Fraser River comprises nearly half of that jurisdiction.
In 2008, the cargo handled along the Fraser River accounted for 29% of Port Metro Vancouver's total tonnage, representing a very significant contribution to the port's overall economic impact in the region and to the related tax generation of taxes to all levels of government.
The New Westminster rail bridge represents an existing federal asset and a critical component of the gateway infrastructure. This single track swing-span bridge crosses the Fraser River between Surrey and New Westminster. In addition to approaching the end of its useful life, this 100-year-old structure also offers a mere 10-metre vertical clearance over the Fraser River, a major international shipping channel. Furthermore, the narrow distance between its vertical supports presents an ongoing challenge to river navigation, and columns have been damaged in the past after being struck by barges transiting in heavy currents.
The Government of Canada has recognized that rail access to and from Port Metro Vancouver is critical to the success of Canada's international trade initiatives. As a result, the Asia-Pacific gateway and corridor initiative identified three key rail corridors essential to the success of trade in the metro Vancouver region: the Roberts Bank rail corridor, the north shore trade area, and the south shore trade area.
The New Westminster rail bridge is a critical component of the north and south shore rail corridors, especially in conjunction with the increasing freight demand forecasted from higher cargo volumes through the gateway. At this time, the bridge is at or near sustainable capacity. The current users of this bridge include CN, Canadian Pacific, Burlington Northern Sante Fe, Southern Railway of British Columbia, VIA Rail, Amtrak, and the Rocky Mountaineer. Replacement of the New Westminster rail bridge with an improved crossing would represent a sound investment that would significantly contribute to the success of Canada's international trade initiatives. To date, no funding has been identified for the replacement of this crucial infrastructure.
Moving rapidly to the Fraser River training infrastructure, this is also an existing federal asset managed by the Canadian Coast Guard. These marine control structures channel direct current and control wave action, thereby maintaining water depths and reducing erosion. By stabilizing the course of the Fraser River, they in turn help to manage sediment suspension.
The training infrastructure serves three vital functions: the structures improve navigation; they reduce the requirement for maintenance dredging, which I believe links to a number of presentations you had earlier this morning; and they contribute to the commercial viability of the port's dredging program and thus the ongoing viability of the Fraser River as a trade corridor.
The structures also address issues relating to erosion and sediment deposits for lands adjacent to the river and contribute to flood control and safety.
There are 14 structures involved, some of which are more than 100 years old, and all are currently in varying conditions of disrepair. The replacement value of these marine structures is estimated at $150 million—and again, no funding has been identified for their replacement.
To conclude, Canada is a trading nation. Given the importance of trade to Canada's financial well-being, the magnitude and growth in Asia-Pacific trade, and the importance of diversifying and expanding Canada's trade with new markets, the Fraser River is critical to the economy and the communities along metro Vancouver.
Port Metro Vancouver recommends that the federal government undertake a new round of funding for the Asia-Pacific gateway and corridor initiative, including the replacement of the New Westminster rail bridge and the replacement or upgrade of Fraser River training infrastructure.
Thank you.