Northern industry is on the move, by air, rail and road.
Both the federal and provincial governments are in the process of creating new policy documents for handling the movement of people and products across the region, with some focus at both levels on the northern gateway to Asia - one of the fastest routes between the economies of China and the United States, especially.
On the provincial side, a new 10-year transportation plan is underway based on a month of direct input from key stakeholders and the general public. A feedback window was opened in late fall, and the results are now being sifted through by Ministry of Transportation officials. The input will help them prioritize where work needs to be done to smooth out the travel routes for industry and commuters.
As the Premier's BC Natural Resource Forum approaches, host MLA Mike Morris of Prince George is certain the logistics of moving industrial goods and equipment will play a big role in the discussion. Northern needs need to be in boldface on that list, he said, because of the enormous economic profile in this region.
"We need the highways, airports, port facilities, bridges, to ensure these projects can go ahead," he said. "How do we deal with increased capacity? We have to know that the pieces of equipment and the volume of goods we're talking about can actually be delivered to where it's got to go.
"We're going to see big shifts in large populations of people. That means shifts in infrastructure will be needed. There will be movement of large-scale equipment as well. We want a clear line from northeastern B.C. to the west coast of B.C. and to the south coast of B.C. to accommodate the movement of people and equipment."
According to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, this work is already well underway. It has been long known that certain pieces of key heavy equipment could not be transported up Highway 97 through certain bottleneck spots between Prince George and Dawson Creek. This meant industrial firms working in the petroleum fields of the Peace had to drive the equipment via Alberta instead and approach from the east instead of hauling those loads - and all the economic activity that rides with them - through British Columbia.
A concerted investment program was initiated to raise the headroom on bridges, widen corners and remove those sorts of barriers.
"Since 2001, the province has invested $880 million for improvements in the transportation network in the northwest and more than $1.24 billion in the northeast, to keep goods moving throughout the north," said ministry officials.
Recent projects that are part of this investment include the Braatten Road and Mapes Road passing lanes near Vanderhoof, the Upper Fraser passing lane on Highway 16 just east of Prince George, and the Highway 97 East Pine and West Pine Overpasses which have increased the clearances for oversized trucks.
Earlier this year, the government also upgraded the maintenance designation for some segments of northern highways to maximum levels, as another tool to keep industry and its people moving efficiently and safely.
In the past four years, the government of B.C. has invested $129 million in improvements and upgrades on Highway 16 alone.
The government doesn't want to get ahead of itself, however, and rely on assumptions based on outdated information. The public - commuters, regional travellers, commercial drivers and industrial movers alike - know with certainty where the problem areas are, or what the benefits would be if something-or-other was done at such-and-such a place.
The document that will result soon from the public feedback exercise will be a 10-year transportation infrastructure plan called BC On the Move with special focus on connecting communities and building the economy.
"[The strategy is] to develop the transportation infrastructure to support industrial and commercial traffic in the north," said ministry officials. "Based on technical input and consideration of public and stakeholder feedback, the plan will identify a series of short, medium and longer term initiatives to enhance the provincial transportation network within the next 10 years."
The last time such a vision was designed was 2003. It was time for an update, to reflect the work already done and the modern economic and social realities.
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone said, "a safe, efficient, integrated, cost-effective transportation network is the backbone of our economy...our transportation network is important to all of us."
The public input will be integrated with information gathered this past autumn by Parliamentary Secretary Jordan Sturdy.
BC On the Move is expected to be released to the public early in the new year.
At the same time, the federal government is also involved in similar research. A review of the Canada Transportation Act has not been conducted since 2001, so minister Lisa Raitt called together an advisory panel of experienced stakeholders, gave them the backing of a secretariat, and appointed as former Canfor CEO and federal cabinet minister David Emerson as chair.
The federal process, too, calls for public input. It is due by Dec. 30. Anyone interested can submit via the Canada Transportation Act Review website online.
"This review comes at a critical time when we need, more than ever, a safe, efficient and clean transportation system to move goods and people, and help Canadian businesses seize new opportunities and continue to compete internationally," said Raitt. "We need to create the right conditions for a system that has the capacity and flexibility to respond to global and domestic demands. Given Mr. Emerson's extensive private sector and government experience, I am confident we will receive solid recommendations to help us plan for the future.
"The objective of the Review is to provide an independent assessment of how federal policies and programs can ensure that the transportation system strengthens integration among regions while providing competitive international linkages," said Emerson in a written statement. "It's also timely to again consider the role of transportation as a developmental catalyst, particularly for the massive, varied and remote geography that comprises northern Canada. If developmental projects are again to play a significant role, should the role of government focus on providing a framework to harness private capital, or should it be a form of more direct financial involvement? ... What are the emerging patterns and trends Canada must adapt to, and what approaches offer the greatest potential to support the prosperity of generations to come?"
One of the people with special expertise taking part in the conversation is Prince George Airport Authority CEO John Gibson.
"David Emerson's review is looking at rail, roads, marine and air - the whole spectrum," said Gibson. "From an airport standpoint, we are trying to present the things to that review process to move our sector forward and move the Canadian economy forward. We recognize that this means more than just us in our silo. The health of the Port of Prince Rupert and the accessibility of the Pine Pass all play a role in how our airport functions. It isn't just about one mode of travel. It is an integrated system: a road system, a rail system, a port system all working with our air systems."
He also said the federal and provincial reviews were also part of a holistic system. Much of the overarching jurisdiction for rail, air and water travel was federal but the highways are largely provincial as is the work and flow of transactions done by those using all those systems together.
Everyone is responsible and everyone can benefit.
