RE: Prioritizing the Port of Vancouver for the next addition to the Federal Major Projects list

Dear Minister Dreeshen,

We are writing to ask for your support in advocating to the Government of Canada to add the Port of Vancouver and its connecting rail infrastructure as a priority in the next tranche of projects of national significance for further consideration under the Major Projects Office (MPO). In conjunction with the Grain Growers of Canada and the 70,000 producers they represent nationally, we have reached out to Minister LeBlanc, urging inclusion of this critical gateway for Canada’s agricultural value chain.

Together, Team Alberta Crops represents 21,000 farms that collectively export $6.9 billion of processed and unprocessed commodities, with the majority of our crops relying on international markets. Due to Alberta’s proximity to British Columbia, over 70 per cent of our exported products rely on the Port of Vancouver to reach global buyers. Without reliable access to international markets, Alberta crop farmers and beekeepers could not sustain their estimated $20 billion contribution to Alberta’s and Canada’s GDP.

While we welcome the reference in the 2025 Federal Budget to the importance of nation-building infrastructure like ports, we are disappointed in the omission of any related projects in the first two project lists to be reviewed by the MPO. Leaving the Port of Vancouver and its rail chokepoints unaddressed creates a critical gap in Canada’s nation-building agenda. Not only is it the primary gateway for Alberta grain to global markets, including the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region, but the Port of Vancouver is also Canada’s largest port, contributing significantly to the national economy. Despite these facts, trade-enabling infrastructure at the port is crumbling and aging, requiring urgent attention.

Due to aging infrastructure, Canada is “one bridge failure away” from a supply chain crisis. For example, the single-track, vertical-lift Second Narrows Rail Bridge opened in 1969 — the only rail link between the Port of Vancouver’s north and south shores — faces growing lift-related delays from increased marine traffic, has no alternative routing if it is out of service, and its failure would jeopardize most of Canada’s grain export flow.

Meanwhile, competitors around the world are scaling up state-of-the-art export facilities, eroding our market share and Canada’s reliability as a trade partner. The lack of investment in infrastructure at the Port of Vancouver causes inefficiencies and delays, rippling across the supply chain to grain farmers who rely on international trade for their livelihoods. Not only would modern infrastructure accelerate Alberta’s economic growth, but it would also support a growing crop sector.

We ask that the Government of Alberta support Albertan farmers by calling on the Government of Canada to designate the Port of Vancouver and its connecting rail infrastructure as a project of national significance. If the Port of Vancouver fails, Canadian grain exports fail too. Immediate, coordinated investment is needed to modernize this gateway, keep goods moving, and protect the strength of Canada’s grain sector. Treating Vancouver’s bottlenecks with the same urgency as the projects already referred to the MPO will protect farm incomes, uphold Canada’s international trade reputation, and accelerate Canada’s economic growth.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Alberta farmers; we appreciate your leadership and look forward to working collaboratively with you and the Government of Alberta to advance these nation-building investments. Please reach out to Jasen Aussant to coordinate a meeting.

Sincerely,

Alison Davie, Chair
Potato Growers of Alberta

Andre Harpe, Chair
Alberta Canola

Curtis Miedema, Chair
Alberta Beekeepers Commission

Gary Tokariuk, Chair
Alberta Sugar Beet Growers

Sarah Weigum, President
Alberta-BC Seed Growers

Scott Jespersen, Chair
Alberta Grains

Shane Strydhorst, Chair
Alberta Pulse Growers

CC:

Honourable RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation – AGRIC.Minister@gov.ab.ca Honourable Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration – JET.minister@gov.ab.ca MLA Shane Getson, Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Corridor Development – lacsteanne.parkland@assembly.ab.ca

Team Alberta Crops is a collaboration between seven of Alberta’s producer groups. We work together to advance grass-roots policy and advocate on behalf of Alberta’s crop and beekeeping sectors.