Thank you, Madam Chair. It's nice to see you again.
Thank you for the opportunity to present our project.
The Port Alberni Port Authority is pursuing a strategic opportunity to develop a new container transshipment hub in the Alberni Inlet to enhance capacity and increase resiliency and environmental benefits throughout the Asia Pacific gateway.
The Port Alberni transshipment hub, or PATH, is envisioned to become a modern, fully automated container terminal that is able to efficiently handle any size of vessel, including new ultra-large container ships of 20,000 TEUs and beyond. This project would create one of the largest container terminals in Canada.
PATH is premised on a hub-and-spoke transshipment model, which has been used successfully throughout Europe and Asia. The primary focus of PATH as the hub is to support the container handling facilities—the spokes—in the Salish Sea area, covering the Lower Mainland and Puget Sound. The dedicated cellular barges will deliver pre-sorted cargo at the right time and at the closest point to the end destination.
In addition, PATH conceptually envisions servicing Vancouver Island's captive market and ever-growing business and population base. PATH also provides an opportunity to service coastal trade.
As envisioned, PATH will truly expand and maximize the use of our marine highway. PATH will service a catchment area of over 13 million people within a 500-kilometre radius and significantly enable growth and development of the Pacific northwest coast through its spokes. It will also unlock better land utilization for working and living. It will revolutionize shipping logistics and trading on the west coast.
In the current logistics paradigm, distribution centres are primarily concentrated in Alberta and situated over 1,000 kilometres away from tidal waters. This spatial disparity leads to congested railways and challenges in efficient cargo movement.
Currently, vast amounts of goods are unnecessarily hauled back and forth by rail or truck and a large number of ships are forced to stay for an extended period of time at anchorages in the Salish Sea area. This adds to congestion, logistical complexities and negative socio-economic impacts for the gateway. PATH presents a viable solution by providing a closer, more efficient distribution point, thereby reducing strain on existing transportation infrastructure.
The Lower Mainland of British Columbia grapples with persistent truck traffic and congestion on its streets. The influx of products, coupled with limited transportation arteries, contributes to gridlock and inefficiencies in the movement of goods. PATH offers a strategic alternative by diverting cargo transportation away from road networks and utilizing our scarcely used marine highway by short-sea shipping goods to the doorstep of the next node in the supply chain.
Vancouver Island, which is home to PATH, boasts a unique demographic landscape, with a population that is close to 900,000. Despite its size, the island faces significant challenges in moving goods on and off its shores. To alleviate these challenges and foster economic growth, Vancouver Island has been designated as a foreign trade zone, offering incentives and benefits to businesses engaged in international trade. Even with that designation, Vancouver Island is still significantly impeded due to its inability to cost-efficiently move goods on and off the island.
PATH can contribute significantly to reducing environmental impacts, mitigating climate change and improving air quality. Additionally, the reduction in wear and tear on transportation infrastructure further enhances environmental sustainability, which preserves natural resources and reduces maintenance costs over the long term.
In terms of quantifiable benefits, PATH strengthens Canada's gateway resilience and stability, while fostering innovation in marine transportation. By enhancing competitiveness and providing more options for port users, PATH facilitates the development and optimal utilization of both new and existing port facilities. Furthermore, it presents an opportunity to capture more of the 30 million TEUs of Pacific trade within its reach and establish a coastwise transportation link, thereby expanding trade opportunities and bolstering economic ties.
In conclusion, overall, PATH represents an evolutionary step in our supply chain into Asia Pacific gateway 2.0. Its multi-faceted benefits underscore its significance as a transformative force in Canadian trade.
By leveraging cutting-edge technology, a strategic location and operating model, PATH not only addresses current supply chain challenges but also paves the way for a more sustainable, efficient and prosperous future for generations to come.
Thank you very much.