Governments of Canada and BC Announce Joint Supply Chain Recovery Working Group

November 26, 2021

The devastating floods in British Columbia have not only jeopardized and displaced the lives of countless Canadians but have also affected Canada’s supply chain. Ensuring that essential goods reach Canadian households in a timely fashion, and that food, medicines and other critical supplies are accessible to all who need them, is of the utmost priority.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Bill Blair, and the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure for the Province of British Columbia, the Honourable Rob Fleming, announced the creation of a joint Federal / Provincial Supply Chain Recovery Working Group to restore the flow of goods through the province. The group is already at work and will be working through the weekend.

Those invited to participate in the Federal / Provincial Supply Chain Recovery Working Group include several Government of Canada departments, Government of British Columbia ministries, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the Vancouver International Airport Authority, the BC Marine Terminal Operators Association, the BC Trucking Association, the Retail Council of Canada, the Canadian Fuels Association, representatives from British Columbia’s tow boat industry, the Gateway Council of BC, the BC Chamber of Shipping, CN Rail, and CP Rail, among others.

This Working Group is a first step in what will be an ongoing effort by all orders of government to ensure that the supply chain is re-established in a way that gets Canadians the goods they need and help mitigate against future incidents.

The Working Group is developing options for contingency transport and logistics for essential goods and materials. As infrastructure gradually reopens, the Working Group will prioritize and advise on the best routes and use of limited capacity for the movement of goods across all transportation modes, while balancing community needs and national economic interest. Furthermore, together they will consider options for diverting traffic or establishing new logistics chains in the province.  

Transport Canada is actively engaging and working with the Province of BC, along with the Port of Vancouver, terminal, railway, air, towing and trucking sectors, to support the response to the flooding in B.C. Of paramount concern is supporting those who are displaced or being evacuated as a result of the landslides.

Both the Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia commend those working in truly difficult or hazardous circumstances who are evacuating people, saving lives, and restoring Canada’s transportation network in a timely fashion.

Quick facts

• Canada’s total international trade in goods and services in 2020 totaled $1.3 trillion.
• Beyond the preservation of life, all participants in the supply chain are collaborating to ensure the movement of essential goods, including food and other critical supplies.
• The Supply Chain Recovery Working Group is working to ensure critical supplies and goods can begin to flow again, and that the supply chain is rebuilt as quickly and as resiliently as possible.

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