A Special Look at the Northwest Transportation Corridor... The focus of this special edition of Transport Trends is the Northwest Transportation Corridor. Stretching from the Queen Charlotte Islands across northern B.C. and into the prairie provinces, the corridor includes an extensive system of road, rail, air and marine transportation networks. Unfortunately, the corridor is being under utilized. To help overcome this problem a special Northwest Transportation Corridor Task Force was established by former Transport Minister David Anderson in 1996. The Task Force held a series of public forums along the Corridor. Their report was released last Spring and contained 78 recommendations on how to boost the economic viability and competitiveness of the corridor. What's happened since then? Here's a look at improvements and trends along the corridor.

Northwest Corridor Development Corporation... The key recommendation of the Transportation Corridor Task Force was to establish a self-sustaining, independent Northwest Transportation Corridor Council. That's well on its way to becoming a reality. The Northwest Corridor Development Corporation's Steering Committee was established last Spring and has held two planning sessions. They will hold the new organization's inaugural meeting on May 12, in Prince George. For more information phone the Northwest Corridor Transportation Corridor Secretariat (Graham Kedgley) at (604) 681-3758.

Coal Deal Renewed... Prince Rupert will continue to export coal to Japan. The coal contracts have been extended until 2003 and call for an annual purchase of 4.6 million tons of Tumbler Ridge coal.

Railway Agreement... In October CN Railway and BC Rail signed a five-year track sharing agreement for new traffic originating in northern B.C. and destined for the Port of Prince Rupert or the Port of Vancouver. They also signed an operating agreement that means forest products that start off on BC Rail will arrive in Chicago two days earlier.

Cruising the Central Coast... Two pocket cruise companies will be offering cruises to Prince Rupert, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and along the central coast in 1998. One of those cruise operators is going to base their vessel in Prince Rupert for the 1998 season.

New Inspection System... Transport Canada and Agriculture Canada have an improved inspection system for vessels at the outer anchorages in Prince Rupert. The new system is quicker and ships don't need to move from one anchorage to another as often as they did under the old system.

New Nav Aids... To help provide a safer and quicker alternative route into the Port of Kitimat for large vessels, the Coast Guard installed two new navigational aids in Kamano Sound last Spring.

Improving Safety... Transport Minister David Collenette recently announced funding of $160,300 for snow removal equipment at Dawson Creek Airport, under the federal government's Airports Capital Assistance Program.

Looking for Improvement... The Community Futures Group is a coalition from the Burns Lake to Queen Charlotte Islands area. In November, they held a two-day conference to discuss ways to improve the region's economy. Human Resources Development Canada helped initiate the meeting. A Teamwork Committee was formed after the conference to work on local issues. For more information contact Teamwork Chairman Charlie Meek at (250) 635-5449.

Licensing-Free Grain Transportation Zone Grows... The British Columbia government has enlarged B.C.'s licensing-free grain transportation zone to include the entire grain producing area of the Alberta Peace River region. Farmers in that area will now be able to transport grain into the 60 kilometre zone on B.C.'s side of the border without meeting special licensing or permit requirements. Alberta had previously lifted licensing requirements for B.C. farmers throughout that province.

Committed to Cooperation... A "Northwestern Ministers' Economic Conference" sponsored by the B.C. Government was held in October in Prince George. The conference was held in conjunction with the provincial government's 'Premiers Summit'. Elected officials from western provinces and territories attended the conference to explore ways to improve the economy of the north. At the conference they confirmed their commitment to cooperative initiatives and partnerships.

Land Claims... Seven First Nations land claims are being negotiated along the Northwest Transportation Corridor. Negotiations are proceeding at a steady rate and the federal government and the First Nations recently agreed to an Aboriginal Fishing Strategy (A.F.S.). The A.F.S. provides aboriginal fishers with guidelines for the harvest, sale and management of ocean fisheries.

Ridley Terminals' Future... Ridley Terminals, a subsidiary of the Canada Port Corporation, is the owner and operator of the coal terminal at Prince Rupert. Northeast B.C. coal is shipped through Ridley Terminals to Japan. In October 1997, Transport Canada commissioned RBC Dominion Securities to examine the value of Ridley Terminals Inc. and to examine commercialization options. The report, expected by the end of the year, will help the federal government decide on Ridley Terminals' future.

Environmental Assessment Process Streamlined... Under a new federal/provincial agreement, signed last year, projects will now undergo a single environmental assessment to meet the environmental assessment requirements of both levels of governments.

Airport Transfers... In January 1997, Prince Rupert airport was transferred from Transport Canada to the Prince Rupert Airport Society. Since 1995, 19 B.C. airports, including Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, have been transferred to local control enabling communities to reduce costs, tailor levels of service to local demand, and attract new and different types of business to their airports.

Improving Shipping... A B.C./Alberta Working Group is exploring initiatives to address transportation problems from a shippers'/carriers' point of view. This group is made up of representatives from the B.C. and Alberta governments.

Transport Trends is published by Transport Canada's Pacific Region to keep our clients and stakeholders up-to-date on transportation activities and trends in British Columbia. Questions or suggestions please phone (604) 666-1675, fax (604) 666-7255

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