Ridley Terminal Inc.’s expansion plans will be at least temporarily delayed if opposition parties, as expected, kill the federal Conservative government’s budget.
The Crown corporation that runs the Prince Rupert port would be allowed to borrow from capital markets to expand the terminal if the budget passes.
Business Council of B.C. spokesman Jock Finlayson told Business in Vancouver March 23 that the resource industries in the province, particularly mining companies, are concerned about capacity constraints at Ridley Terminal.
He said B.C.’s resource industry expects increasing demand for its products from growing economies in Asia, particularly China.
“We need to have the gateway infrastructure to handle the shipments,” Finlayson said.
“If this [budget] is going to enable Ridley to expand the infrastructure it has there, then we’re going to be supportive of that.”
No Ridley representative was available for comment at press time.