The British Columbia government has given approval to the controversial container port expansion project at Roberts Bank, stating that they could not legally prevent the project from moving forward. The three-berth marine container terminal in Delta, B.C. is located primarily on federal land and had already received approval from the federal government in April. In order to safeguard provincial interests, the government has issued an environmental assessment certificate with 16 conditions to mitigate the detrimental effects of the expansion. These conditions include the implementation of a wetland management plan, a wildlife management plan, and a greenhouse gas reduction plan for emissions.

Although there are two parties seeking a judicial review of the federal decision to approve the expansion, the government of British Columbia opted to issue the certificate to ensure that the project would not proceed without addressing their concerns. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the organization behind the project, argues that the expansion is necessary to prevent a capacity bottleneck at the Canada Pacific Gateway, which is the country’s most important trade corridor with an annual trade value exceeding $275 billion. However, five environmental groups have filed a joint legal challenge against the expansion, claiming that it would disrupt critical habitat for approximately 70 endangered southern resident killer whales that inhabit the waters near the port.