What Happened

The Tsleil-Waututh First Nation has launched a legal challenge against the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s plan to dredge the Second Narrows of Burrard Inlet. The dredging project is designed to allow larger Aframax oil tankers to fully load at the Trans Mountain pipeline’s Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby. The port authority has received all necessary federal permits and initiated a public comment period for its environmental review process. Dredging work is anticipated to begin later this year, with completion expected by 2027 or 2028. The project involves removing approximately 25,000 cubic metres of sediment from an area less than two hectares in size.

Why It Matters

The dredging aims to increase the capacity of oil shipments from the Trans Mountain pipeline, which was expanded to carry 890,000 barrels of oil per day. Currently, depth limitations in Burrard Inlet restrict tankers to filling only 75-80% of their capacity. By deepening the channel, the port authority expects to allow Aframax tankers, which can carry up to 755,000 barrels, to load fully. This efficiency would reduce the number of ships needed to transport the same volume of oil, potentially lowering shipping costs and increasing export capacity. The project represents less than one percent of the port’s annual maintenance program but has sparked significant legal and environmental opposition.

Local Vancouver / Burnaby Context

The Westridge Marine Terminal is located in Burnaby, adjacent to Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet. The dredging area is near the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge in the Second Narrows. The Trans Mountain pipeline was taken over by the federal government in 2018 for $4.5 billion, with the total cost of the expansion reaching $34 billion. The expanded pipeline began operations in 2024. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation, whose traditional territory includes Burrard Inlet, has raised concerns about the environmental impact on marine life and the disturbance of toxic pollutants in the seabed. The nation’s former chief, Jen Thomas, emphasized their legal obligation to protect the inlet. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, led by acting vice-president of infrastructure Charlotte Olson, has stated the project is necessary to boost trade capacity. The environmental review process is expected to continue through 2026.