Bird proposes multi-use inland port for Prince George, touting hundreds of jobs and new economic opportunities

“When I made the proposal [Monday] to mayor and council and the Intergovernmental committee, the intention was to sort of put the proposal out into the public,” Bird said.

She noted that significant federal funding has been earmarked for defence and emergency preparedness projects.

“Carney’s government has committed $63 billion towards defence infrastructure and emergency management type systems and supports,” Bird said. “This proposal would actually fall within those funding envelopes.”

Bird emphasized that the concept is not entirely new, but rather a consolidation of existing ideas that have been discussed by regional stakeholders.

“This isn’t my work,” she said. “This is work that the regional district, the City of Prince George, Prince George Fire and Prince George Airport have been doing for years.”

“I’ve just taken those ideas and amalgamated them into a single project that just happens to align with the availability of federal funding that is looking for infrastructure and defence projects.”

According to Bird, Prince George’s rail network, highway connections and airport position the city well to serve as a transportation and logistics hub for northern British Columbia and beyond. Bird says the project could have a significant economic impact on the region, particularly as communities continue to grapple with challenges facing the forestry sector.

“The construction jobs would probably triple the number of permanent jobs,” she said.

Once operational, Bird estimates the project could support between 500 and 700 permanent jobs.

“Realistically, we could probably look at between five and seven hundred permanent, well-paying jobs here in the region,” she said.

Bird argues those positions could help offset employment losses tied to the forestry downturn.

“The jobs available are almost one-to-one for jobs that we have lost in the forestry sector,” she said.

She added that a Canadian Forces logistics base would provide long-term economic stability by bringing a steady flow of personnel and investment into the region.

“Canadian Forces bases are, you know, you constantly have people moving in and out of your region,” Bird said. “It prepares and it stabilizes the economic stability in this region for generations to come.”

A key component of the proposal is the creation of a national emergency and fire response training school that could operate alongside a military logistics facility. Bird said the concept could include training opportunities for military reservists, expanded emergency management capabilities and a cargo facility capable of handling customs processing.

“If we built a national emergency and fire response school and it was partnered or shared a fence line with a Canadian Forces logistics base that had the capacity to train reservists, we had a cargo hangar at the airport that was capable of doing customs processing, it does a number of things,” she said.

She argues the combined project would support industries already operating throughout northern B.C.

“The three aspects of the project combined directly support what we’re already doing up here in the North, which is industry and resource development.”

Despite Bird’s optimism, the proposal remains in its infancy.

She acknowledged that major infrastructure projects often face scrutiny over costs, environmental impacts and timelines, but said the immediate goal is to begin discussions among stakeholders and governments.

“My presentation [Monday] was just the initiating step,” she said. “It was just the initial step.”

Bird says the next phase will involve conversations with local governments, the Province of British Columbia and the federal government to determine whether the concept can move forward.

“Now we go back out to stakeholders. Now we start conversations with the provincial government. Now we start conversations with the federal government, and we start to look at it in a lot more detail.”

No timeline, cost estimates or formal commitments from senior levels of government have been announced. With municipal elections approaching, Bird hopes the proposal becomes part of the public discussion about the region’s future and economic development.

“People in Prince George and across our region are looking for things that are going to bring this region hope,” she said.

Bird believes the project arrives at the right time and could help shape long-term growth in northern B.C.

“The only way you get things in general is the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” she said. “We need to talk about it. We need to promote it. We need to advocate for it. And that’s what my job is as a local MLA.”

by Adam Berls

Bird proposes multi-use inland port for Prince George, touting hundreds of jobs and new economic opportunities

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