Canada’s decision to expand container port is ‘death sentence’ for marine life

Environmentalists decry move but natural resources minister says doubling of Vancouver terminal's size is needed to meet demand

Canada's federal government has approved a controversial container terminal expansion in Vancouver that would double the port's current size but could have damaging effects for maritime species already on the brink of extinction, environmental groups warn.

The country's natural resources minister announced support for the Port of Vancouver's plan - which would effectively double the size of the Roberts Bank Terminal - framing the decision as a way of preventing future backlog.