British Columbia

 

Regional Opportunities

These characteristics provide the basis upon which many opportunities are evolving for the Corridor.


  • Container facility for Prince Rupert and/or Kitimat
  • Development of offshore oil and gas (removal of moratorium)
  • Development of fish-farming opportunities (removal of moratorium)
  • Connector road from Fort Nelson to Rainbow Lake to enhance oil/gas and tourism
  • Value-added wood products
  • Natural gas pipeline connections from Fort Liard area
  • Expanded aboriginal, wilderness and eco-tourism opportunities

The Northwest Transportation and Trade Corridor Capability Report, by highlighting these characteristics, illustrates the prominent opportunities associated with the Corridor's transportation, tourism, and industrial and economic development. Further, the report's review of the Corridor's comparative advantages, helps form the basis upon which a strategy can be prepared for the Corridor to complete effectively with southern corridors and ports.

Northern British Columbia is rich in natural resources. Development of these resources has historically been, and continues to be, the main driver of economic growth. The main export-oriented sectors are: forestry, oil and gas, coal and minerals, fisheries and agriculture and tourism.

There are significant regional differences. While forestry is important throughout the North, the contribution of other sectors varies. For example, fishing is important in Prince Rupert, mining in the Stikine, oil and gas in the northeast and agriculture in the Peace country.

Key Linkages

  • Highway - Over 2,800 kilometers of primary and secondary highways (Highways: 2, 5, 16, 29, 33, 37, 39, 49, 97 and 77)

  • Railway - 2 major railways - CN's east-west mainline and BC Rail's north-south line

  • Airports - 29 airports including 10 float plane bases and 2 helipads

  • Ports - 3 main shipping ports (Prince Rupert, Kitimat and Stewart), 7 coastal trade or community access ports, and 4 inland ports

  • Ferry Service - BC Ferry service (Prince Rupert, Port Hardy, Queen Charlotte Islands and BC mid-coast), Ministry of Transportation and Highways inland ferry service (Skeena near Terrace and Francois Lake), Finley Navigation Limited barge/ferry service (Williston Lake)

Major Industries

  • Forestry (logging, saw milling, wood processing, pulp and paper, value-added mills)
  • Mining (coal and metallic minerals)
  • Oil and gas (exploration, production, pipelines)
  • Agriculture (cattle farms, grain and seeds)
  • Fishing (commercial and recreational)
  • Tourism (parks, summer and winter activities)
  • Other (manufacturing, construction, transportation)
  • Petrochemicals (ethanol, ammonia)
  • Aluminum smelting

New Opportunities

  • Value-added forestry and agriculture
  • Petrochemicals (methanol, ammonia)
  • Oil and gas (offshore and northeast)
  • Tourism (Aboriginal, wilderness and eco-tourism)
  • Further development and use of Northwest Transportation Corridor
  • Value added aluminum manufacturing
  • Community Forest Pilot Projects