The Governments of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are seeking leave to intervene in the case about new gateway infrastructure fees at the Port of Vancouver.

Pacific Coast Terminals, Viterra and other companies are unhappy with the fees which went to effect on January first. They range from eight to 40 cents per tonne for bulk, non-containerized cargo such as grain and potash. Grain companies and other bulk shippers are seeking a judicial review of the decision through the Federal Court.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba are seeking leave to intervene in the case to provide a “public interest perspective on the interpretation of what constitutes a fair and reasonable fee based on a provision from the Canada Marine Act.” The Act requires the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority have representation from the Prairie Provinces. Saskatchewan maintains that as a landlocked province, it relies on a fair and competitive transportation network to get its goods to export position.

Approximately 44 per cent of all Saskatchewan exports went through the Port of Vancouver in 2020. Those exports were valued at $12.2 billion—including more than $8 billion of agricultural products.

In a Saskatchewan government news release, the CEO of Parrish and Heimbecker is quoted as saying “the Port of Vancouver is trying to impose new gateway infrastructure fees that places an unfair and unnecessary burden on bulk terminal operators like grain.” John Heimbecker adds a significant portion of those costs will inevitably be borne by Prairie grain farmers.

(Above photo: Vancouver Port Authority/Twitter)