BROKE folk: Say no to dredging Burrard Inlet!
Ruth Walmsley
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed dredging in Burrard Inlet.
I have lived and raised a family in North Burnaby for the past 40 years, and care deeply about the health of our watershed. The risks posed by dredging of the inlet and increasing the amount of bitumen being shipped from Westridge Terminal are unacceptable to me. We need to restore the health of Burrard Inlet for the things that really matter: preserving biodiversity, and a healthy ecosystem for present and future generations.
Expanding infrastructure to facilitate higher volumes of fossil fuel exports contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions at a time when urgent climate action is needed. The proposed dredging appears closely tied to increased tanker traffic associated with the Trans Mountain expansion project, which has already cost taxpayers more than $34 billion. Further increasing oil shipping through Burrard Inlet raises the risk of spills in a sensitive and culturally significant marine ecosystem.
I am also concerned that the scope of the project assessment does not adequately address the cumulative impacts of increased marine shipping and associated industrial activity in the inlet. Any environmental review should fully consider these broader impacts, including spill risk, habitat disturbance, and long-term ecological consequences.
Given these concerns, I urge the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to pause or reconsider the dredging proposal and fully evaluate alternatives that do not increase fossil fuel shipping through Burrard Inlet.
Sincerely,
Ruth Walmsley
V5C 2E8
Begin forwarded message:From: "Flossie Baker, Sierra Club BC" <soc...@sierraclub.bc.ca>Subject: Say no to dredging Burrard Inlet!Date: March 10, 2026 at 1:00:15 PM PDTReply-To: soc...@sierraclub.bc.ca
Hi Ruth,
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has applied to dredge Burrard Inlet to facilitate higher volumes of fossil fuel exports from the Trans Mountain Expansion project. This proposal could have devastating impacts like increased spill risk, habitat disturbance, and long-term ecological consequences.
Continuing to expand fossil fuel use, infrastructure and exports also contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions at a time when urgent climate action is needed.
Engaging in the Vancouver Port Authority’s public consultation on the proposed dredging of Burrard Inlet is one of the most direct ways residents can raise concerns about the project.
The consultation is now open and will run until March 22, 2026.
Please take five minutes to email the Vancouver Port Authority directly and share your concerns.
Email: p...@portvancouver.com
Below is some template language you can use. If you’re able, please add a sentence or two about why you personally care about Burrard Inlet—individualized messages carry much more weight.
********
Template email:
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed dredging in Burrard Inlet.
[Add 1–2 personal sentences here about why Burrard Inlet matters to you—whether because of the environment, biodiversity, recreation, community, or future generations.]
Expanding infrastructure to facilitate higher volumes of fossil fuel exports contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions at a time when urgent climate action is needed. The proposed dredging appears closely tied to increased tanker traffic associated with the Trans Mountain expansion project, which has already cost taxpayers more than $34 billion. Further increasing oil shipping through Burrard Inlet raises the risk of spills in a sensitive and culturally significant marine ecosystem.
I am also concerned that the scope of the project assessment does not adequately address the cumulative impacts of increased marine shipping and associated industrial activity in the inlet. Any environmental review should fully consider these broader impacts, including spill risk, habitat disturbance, and long-term ecological consequences.
Given these concerns, I urge the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to pause or reconsider the dredging proposal and fully evaluate alternatives that do not increase fossil fuel shipping through Burrard Inlet.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Postal Code]********
If you do send an email, please reply and let me know. This will help us track community participation in the consultation.
Onwards,
Flossie Baker
Lead Organizer, Sierra Club BC
Featured photo by Mary Paquet, poster artwork by Ocean Hyland
Registered charitable number: 11914 9797 RR0001
