Economic opportunities will be compromised if the federal government doesn't turn its focus to ensuring the Fraser River is continuously dredged, according to a panel of experts at a September 19 symposium hosted by the Surrey Board of Trade and the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce.
The panel members were in unanimous agreement that if dredging the Lower Fraser River does not take place it will result in clogged channels, affecting thousands of businesses that rely on the river to transport goods.
The amount of silt that needs to be dredged from the river, the experts agreed, is equal to the size of Rogers Arena.
The panel consisted of:
- Allen Domaas of the Fraser River Discovery Centre and former CEO of the Fraser River Port Authority;
- Fraser Surrey Docks president Jeff Scott;
- Craig Jones, chair of the Lower Mainland Chambers Transportation Panel; and
- Jim Crandles, director of planning and development at Port Metro Vancouver
Other topics discussed at the event included short sea shipping, river tourism, transit and small vessel services.
"Our premier needs to be the political champion and Robin Silvester from Port Metro Vancouver needs to be the administrative champion," said Domass.
"But we as stakeholders need to continue this dialogue – including with our elected municipal officials – and push for short sea shipping to become a reality. It is a big opportunity for our region."
Co-hosts Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade, and Cori-Lynn Germiquet, executive director of the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce, said that economic development is a priority for both organizations and that they are committed to working to promote and encourage investment attraction, business retention and expansion on the Fraser River.
At 1,375 kilometres, the Fraser River is the province's longest river.
