Board of Trade re-launches Port Shutdown Calculator

For Immediate Release

VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is re-launching a live Port Shutdown Calculator estimation tool to illustrate the significant impact of the labour disruption on Canada’s west coast ports. Bridgitte Anderson, President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade released the following statement:

This latest port shutdown will disrupt $800 million of goods daily. Every hour the ports remain closed fuels inflation, raising prices for businesses and consumers. Small businesses across Canada are anxiously awaiting their final shipments of holiday goods, and many are now worried they might not arrive on time.

As Canada’s largest gateway, approximately 25 percent of our total traded goods flow through the ports in Western Canada. This shutdown is the latest in a long line of highly damaging labour disputes that have hurt Canada’s economy and international reputation.

Through the Port Shutdown Calculator, we want to demonstrate the profound and escalating impact of this labour dispute. With $800 million in cargo disrupted daily—thousands of containers left waiting to be unloaded and facilities across Canada facing cut shifts or closures—every second counts.

We are calling for immediate action by the federal government to intervene and for the ILWU 514 leadership to bargain in good faith.

You can find the Port Shutdown Calculator tool here. 

• Estimates the value of goods disrupted or delayed from import/export due to the port shutdown
• Estimates the value of trade per day at $800M and divides that by 24 hours
• It does not estimate the economic impact of the disruption on the Canadian economy
  - As the strike continues, the economic impact will grow substantially due to plant shutdowns, a lack of inventory affecting sales or production, and myriad other impacts on the British Columbian and Canadian economy
  - Rail companies have publicly stated that each day of stoppage requires three to five days to catch up with the backlog

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About the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade:

Since its inception in 1887, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has been recognized as Western Canada's leading business association, engaging our members to inform public policy at all levels of government and empowering them to succeed and prosper in the global economy. With a Membership whose employees comprise one-third of B.C.'s workforce, we are the largest business association between Victoria and Toronto. We leverage this collective strength, facilitating networking opportunities, and providing professional development through unique programs. In addition, we operate one of the largest events platforms in the country, providing a stage for national and international thought leaders to enlighten B.C.'s business leaders.

Media contact:

Federico Cerani
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
604-640-5450 | media@boardoftrade.com