Port Metro Vancouver – Managing its triple bottom line mandate

Date: November 28, 2014

Name: Managing its triple bottom line mandate

Presenter: Robin Silvester

Canadian ports play a critical role in Canada’s economic growth and Port Metro Vancouver is prepared to support the growth through the balance of people, planet and profit. Robin Silvester, the President and CEO of Port Metro Vancouver, is invited to share his long-term view of Port Metro Vancouver. The leadership and planning from Port Metro will facilitate the trade industry, protect the environment, and connect local communities. During this presentation, Robin Silvester will present the annual update of Port Metro Vancouver, and interview by Frances Bula, the award-winning journalist. This presentation will benefit local logistic companies in British Columbia.

Port Metro Vancouver is one of the largest ports in British Columbia. There are over 184 billion of goods per year and 115 million of goods import and export through Port Metro. The port creates many opportunities for logistic companies and has 9% increase revenue from 2012. Robin Silvester announces Port Metro is a gateway for local companies to the pacific region and connects to the world. Port Metro has sustainability through community and first nation. Moreover, it has commitment by measure actions with core values.

The first principle of consultation of Port Metro is listening to customer, stakeholders, and community. They are able to reach to new people and support community activities.

Land is considered the social challenge in British Columbia. Port Metro has developed an action plan for land usage. The guideline of the action plan will focus the future usage of land and water. Port Metro will use the industrial land to create more job opportunities. Port Metro estimates the usage of industrial land will last for 15 years; therefore, the plan of create jobs and protect agriculture will act immediately. Moreover, the industrial lands use reserve and it creates new roads for local communities.

The vision of Port Metro is to connect oversea market, deliver solution for current infrastructure. The infrastructure will impact the life land for people. 9 billion dollars will be invested through many projects on infrastructure. In addition, new container terminal will be implemented. Port Metro needs to stay economic practice in the community, so the future of Port Metro will remain focus on environment, culture and community.

British Columbia is a global economic player. British Columbia will take a stand to provide unique advantage to protect the jobs and economy. Port Metro is responsibility to help British Columbia to work together.

The interview

After the election, Silvester announces Port Metro will go beyond the minimum to handle the future challenge. Port Metro will build the framework to ensure local projects meet the mandate.

Silvester believes Port Metro needs to review the current issues of lower mainland by understanding the current strength. Silvester emphasizes the usage of land is a challenge. The 15 years guideline will help Port Metro to act immediately; otherwise, it will kill the quality of life. The guideline is a great step forward to utilize the reserve land. The traffic from Port Metro will increase 10% and Silvester believes it is necessary to rezone the land for economic growth.

Silvester indicates the policy of agriculture land is to solve economic problem and remain agriculture as much as possible. The infrastructure of Port Metro will restructure the current trucker’s license by reducing number of trucks and create more accountability on truck companies. Silvester shares the general problem in trucking is low barriers to enter and long working hours. There is a huge need in supply and demand. The legislation law has passed to help companies to be accountable and more stable.

Silvester believes Port Metro has implemented innovation strategies. The innovation will increase the usage of terminal, and improve the efficiency on economy area. The self-cleaning system in terminal will benefit the operation of Port Metro. Silvester announces the plan for pipeline alternative is to create permit from Port Metro. This will increase the traffic and ensures practices are taking place efficiently.

Port Metro will involve the transit in lower mainland. The idea is to work with the range of stakeholders to improve the regional infrastructure. Silvester is confident that Port Metro has demonstrated to build better opportunities for the community. There will be expansion of Port Metro in the future. Silvester believes the expansion of the port requires population and resource of agriculture. Port Metro will create business collaboration with Korean to reduce the barrier to enter and establish creditability. Silvester believes Port Metro can build better on international trade.

Silvester mentions British Columbia has various of resources and property that it is up to the community to take advantage. It is important to work with the terminal, port and province to improve the new economic infrastructure. The collaboration with community will benefit the future of British Columbia.