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LENS 5: Federal Role and Effective Partnerships
Gateway/corridor strategies must ground federal actions in concrete federal responsibilities and effective partnerships with other governments and the private sector.
The Government of Canada is responsible for fostering the national transportation system’s efficiency, safety, security and sustainability in all modes as well as for secure and efficient administration of Canada’s borders, pursuing Canada’s interests in international commerce, and positioning Canada to compete and prosper in the global economy.
Still, key elements of the transportation system are owned or operated by both public and private sector players and are regulated and taxed by all levels of government. Therefore, no single jurisdiction or firm can unilaterally address all of the interconnected issues that determine success of a gateway or trade corridor.
Coherent action requires a systems-based approach, and real partnerships with provincial governments and the private sector. Success will depend upon how well the key players — public and private — coalesce around a coherent vision. A key factor in the successful development of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative was the extent to which a stakeholderdriven consensus had taken shape over a number of years.
A central objective of federal involvement will be to foster a "systems" approach to investment, planning and policy development. Gateway councils and other stakeholder-driven forums for consensus-building, planning, sound governance and accountability are also key to advancing regional strategies with national benefits. Provinces also have leadership roles, rooted in their jurisdictional responsibilities. Actions should complement current market-oriented transportation policies, with governments creating a positive climate for private investment in gateway infrastructure, while safeguarding the public interest.
A Federal Role: Enhancing Border Efficiency
An efficient and secure Canada-U.S. border is crucial for Canadian competitiveness. The 2001 Smart Border Accord and the 2005 Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America provide solid bilateral and trilateral frameworks for cooperation to facilitate the legitimate, efficient and secure flow of goods and people.
Tremendous progress has been made on initiatives that directly impact border security and efficiency, such as:
- Implementation of the Free and Secure Trade Program (FAST), a joint Canada-U.S. program for the expedited movement of low-risk goods and truck drivers.
- Expansion of NEXUS, a joint program to facilitate the movement of low-risk, pre-approved individuals who frequently cross the border.
- The Canada-U.S. Transportation Border Working Group, a bi-national, multi-jurisdictional forum, that facilitates information sharing and the exchange of best practices to improve border effectiveness.
To ensure that border capacity keeps pace with growing trade flows, the Government of Canada has contributed to over 30 major projects that both increase capacity and support new border processes.
One such project is the $136 million three-phase redevelopment of the Queenston Plaza on the Canadian side of the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge. In 2007, the bridge was the fourth busiest Canada-US land border crossing for commercial traffic and the fifth busiest for passengers. The Government of Canada will provide $62 million from the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund towards the second phase of this project. When the plaza is a complete, significant benefits to travelers, commercial traffic and the local community will be realized from reduced congestion, more efficient processing, increased vehicle safety, enhanced security at the border crossing and lower air pollution emitted from idling vehicles.
Benefits of a Gateway Approach: The Roberts Bank Rail Corridor example
The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative includes $75 million for strategic improvements along the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor, a 70km stretch connecting Canada’s largest container facility and a major coal terminal with the North American rail network. It passes through a number of municipalities in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, where local residents are impacted as increasing volumes of international freight pass through their communities.
Transport Canada commissioned a study of the corridor to identify road/rail grade separation packages, each including not only overpasses to separate the rail track from local roads, but also carefully selected road closures, network reconfigurations, and traffic management measures to maximize benefits for railways and motorists.
As a result of close collaboration among the federal government, the four municipalities — Delta, Surrey, Langley and Langley Township — the Vancouver Port Authority, Translink (the regional transportation authority), the B.C. Ministry of Transportation, CPR, CN, BNSF Railway and BC Rail, an overall package of improvements of more than $360 million has been developed, cost-shared among these partners. These measures will make a significant difference for local residents in mitigating the impact of increasing freight movements. The Port of Vancouver, railways and shippers will also benefit from improved capacity and efficiency of a key component of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor.
The Roberts Bank Rail Corridor project illustrates the value of the system-based “gateway” approach and the leadership and partnerships it requires. Previously, grade separations were pursued on an ad hoc basis. Under the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, they are being addressed as part of a system, with all the beneficiaries of that system at the table. That leverages financial contributions from more players, and the possibility of additional strategic measures to complement construction of overpasses, generating even greater benefits. This is a win-win-win aspect of the gateway policy approach.
