Environmental opposition to RBT2 has been reiterated by Delta Council in 2022, (
Global News). There was also a letter written a year ago to the federal Environment Minister by 12 scientists with expertise on Chinook salmon, southern resident killer whales and the Fraser River estuary, also urging Ottawa to reject RBT2.
“We evaluated the threats facing 102 species of conservation concern in the Fraser River Estuary, and found that pursuing projects that further reduce the habitat for these at-risk species will only further their decline,” said Tara Martin, a professor in the Forest and Conservation Science Department at the University of British Columbia, in a news release.
“Our research shows that species recovery requires implementing cost-effective conservation-based science that is supported by a management plan and co-governance.” (Reported in
The Narwhal in detail, and mentioned by Global).
Many first nations were opposed to the project, and some appear to have been bought off. The Tsartlip First Nation, for example, based on southern Vancouver Island withdrew their objection following an offer of “payments on signing of a mutual benefits agreement and payments on approval of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Board of Directors making a final decision authorizing construction of the Project.” (
The Tyee).
Others continue to object to aspects of the project.
In 2020 Fraser Voices and The Boundary Bay Conservation Committee were opposed to both projects. (
Delta Optimist).
Perhaps most importantly, Environment and Climate Change Canada in
their most recent submission (October 2022) on the changes that the Port suggested could make everything alright, continue to hold the opinion that "The changes predicted as a result of the Project would likely constitute an unmitigable species-level risk to Western Sandpipers, and shorebirds more generally."
There's lots of groups opposing the project on environmental grounds, local and national, including two local Councils. (Even the District of North Vancouver debated the idea of objecting, but decided not to, as they aren't directly affected). The Port have been forced into making changes, adding more extensive (and expensive) 'mitigation' and payments to first nations, but haven't convinced scientists that their plans won't cause significant harm to the wildlife that use the area, including birds, fish and whales.
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You can't really build anything without it being on the Earth somewhere. As long as it's not going to collapse the salmon fishery or cause keystone species to go extinct I have a hard time seeing how Ottawa would oppose the project.
Photo from Port of Vancouver 
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