Fees and dues at the Port of Vancouver

As an arms-length federal agency that stewards the lands and waters of the Port of Vancouver, we are mandated to facilitate Canada’s trade objectives, ensuring goods are moved safely, while protecting the environment and considering local communities. As part of this role, we lease lands to the terminal operators who move cargo through the port.

Unlike many other ports around the world, our revenues come from tenant rents and port user fees rather than tax dollars. As is the case for all Canada Port Authorities, our fees are mandated under the Canada Marine Act to be fair and reasonable, and designed to ensure the port is competitive and the port authority is financially self-sufficient.

The following fee schedule is applicable to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s jurisdiction:

Port of Vancouver fee document – effective January 1, 2023

For the past decade, funding from the federal government’s Asia Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative and the port authority has resulted in significant development of common-use infrastructure in and around the Port of Vancouver. Recognizing that many of the port’s industry stakeholders would benefit from these improvements, the port authority developed a cost-recovery model—the Gateway Infrastructure Fee—in consultation with stakeholders, including shipping associations and port operators. The fee enables the port authority to recover its pre-funding on behalf of industry from port users who are able to increase their operations as a result of the related projects.

The Gateway Infrastructure Program Advisory Committee was established in 2010. The committee is composed of individuals representing terminal operators, tenants, shippers, shipping lines, industry groups and the port. The committee provides feedback on the Gateway Infrastructure Fee, recommends options to communicate with port stakeholders about the fee, and reports back to the stakeholders they represent.

Overview – Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative
Terms of reference – Gateway Infrastructure Program Advisory Committee Terms of Reference [PDF]
Consultation Summary Report – Gateway Infrastructure Program [PDF]
Consideration Memo – Gateway Infrastructure Program [PDF]
2021 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]
2020 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]
2019 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]
2018 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]
2017 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]
2016 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]
2015 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]
2014 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]
2013 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]
2012 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]
2011 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]

A new wave of common-use infrastructure projects is now underway to further improve the overall fluidity of the gateway, with support from the federal government’s National Trade Corridors Fund.

The port authority has undertaken consultation with industry regarding potential projects and the cost-recovery mechanism and structure.

Phase 1: Priority gateway infrastructure projects (completed March 2017)
The first phase took place in March 2017, when the port authority asked industry stakeholders to provide feedback on 13 projects that were under consideration to receive pre-funding. The port authority received 19 feedback submissions, which helped determine which projects to advance for federal funding in both 2017 and 2019. The following report summarizing feedback received during Phase 1 was distributed to industry stakeholders in July 2017:

Phase 2: Cost recovery mechanism options consultation (completed November–December 2017)
In November and December 2017, the port authority consulted with industry stakeholders regarding proposed cost-recovery structure options. These consultations included distribution of a discussion guide and feedback form, opportunity for feedback submissions, three meetings in Vancouver, one meeting in Toronto and one webinar. The following report summarizing feedback received during Phase 2 was distributed to industry stakeholders in April 2018:

Additional communication – December 2020
On December 9, 2020, we provided the following information to customers and industry stakeholders regarding the selection of a cost recovery mechanism:

Phase 3: Information and Feedback Period Regarding Draft Fee Language (completed March 15 to April 7, 2021)
In Phase 3, we provided an opportunity for industry stakeholders to review and provide feedback on draft language to be included in the fee document. The following report summarizing feedback received during Phase 3 was distributed to industry stakeholders on April 30, 2021:

Further opportunities for input
There will be one further opportunity for industry input regarding this fee prior to its implementation:

Fee Announcement and 60-Day Comment Period
Prior to implementation of the cost-recovery mechanism on January 1, 2022, there will be a comment period of at least 60 days, as required by the Canada Marine Act.

Additional communications – February 2022
Additional materials

 

Our fees are amended regularly to reflect changes in port use, in accordance with Section 49 of the Canada Marine Act. We provide no less than 60 days’ notice when a new fee or a revision to existing wharfage, berthage, or harbour dues is proposed. Other fees or terms may be amended or revoked without prior notice.

April 6, 2023 – Notice: Proposed 2024 cruise fee amendments [PDF]
October 20, 2022 – Notice: Proposed 2023 Non-Road Diesel Emissions fee amendments [PDF]
October 20, 2022 – Draft: Proposed 2023 fee document [PDF]
October 14, 2022 – Notice: Proposed 2023 fee amendments [PDF]
May 13, 2022 – Notice: Proposed 2023 cruise fee amendments [PDF]
April 25, 2022 – Notice of postponement: Gateway Infrastructure Fee 2022 [PDF]
February 15, 2022 –  Notice: Gateway Infrastructure Fee 2022 – fee implementation [PDF]
December 20, 2021 – Notice of postponement: Gateway Infrastructure Fee 2022 [PDF]
October 15, 2021 – Notice: Proposed 2022 fee amendments [PDF]
October 15, 2021 – Draft: Proposed 2022 fee document [PDF]
June 11, 2021 – Notice: Proposed 2021 Truck Exception Application Fee [PDF]
October 16, 2020 – Draft: Proposed 2021 fee document [PDF]
October 16, 2020 – Notice: Proposed 2021 fee amendments [PDF]
June 12, 2020 – Notice: Proposed 2020 Harbour Dues fee amendment [PDF]
January 1, 2020 – Port of Vancouver fee document [PDF]
November 1, 2019 – Draft: Proposed 2020 fee amendments [PDF]
November 1, 2019 – Notice: Proposed 2020 fee amendments [PDF]
January 14, 2019 – Notice: Proposed new Tsawwassen Container Examination fee [PDF]
January 1, 2019 – Port of Vancouver fee document [PDF]
November 1, 2018 – Draft: Proposed 2019 fee amendments [PDF]
November 1, 2018 – Notice: Proposed 2019 fee amendments [PDF]
February 14, 2018 – Notice: Proposed 2018 incentive rate increase [PDF]
January 1, 2018 – Port of Vancouver 2018 fee document [PDF]
October 31, 2017 – Draft: Proposed 2018 fee amendments [PDF]
October 27, 2017 – Notice: Proposed 2018 fee amendments [PDF]
July 1, 2017 – Port of Vancouver 2017 fee document: amended [PDF]
– revised July 1, 2017 to amend section 3.4.6 Terminal Efficiency Fees
March 1, 2017 – Notice: Proposed project permit fee amendment [PDF]
January 1, 2017 – Port of Vancouver 2017 fee document [PDF]
October 28, 2016 – Notice: Proposed 2017 fee amendments [PDF]

October 28, 2016 – Draft: Port of Vancouver 2017 fee document [PDF]

January 1, 2016 – Port of Vancouver 2016 fee document [PDF]

October 30, 2015 – Draft: Port of Vancouver 2016 fee document [PDF]

January 1, 2015 – Port of Vancouver 2015 fee document [PDF]

October 31, 2014 – Letter: Proposed 2015 fee amendments [PDF]

October 31, 2014 – Advertisement: Proposed 2015 fee amendments [PDF]

January 1, 2014 – Port of Vancouver 2014 fee document [PDF]

May 9, 2014 – Letter: Proposed 2014 fee amendments [PDF]

May 9, 2014 – Advertisement: Proposed 2014 fee amendments [PDF]

April 1, 2014 – Notice: Passenger fee amendment [PDF]

November 1, 2013 – Letter: Proposed 2014 fee amendments [PDF]

November 1, 2013 – Advertisement: Proposed 2014 fee amendments [PDF]