By Colledge Transportation Consulting, Economic Development Research Group and WESTAC, 2007

Major changes in international trade opportunities for northern British Columbia were created by development of a container port serve at Prince Rupert and CN container rail service between that port and Prince George, BC, with continuing service to the rest of Canada. To examine how these changes can create economic development opportunities for Northern British Columbia, the Northwest Trade and Manufacturing Opportunities Study was born.

The study received funding from Canada’s Department of Western Economic Diversification, the Province of British Columbia, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association, CN Rail, the Port of Prince Rupert, Prince George Airport Authority, Alcan, and Initiatives Prince George. The team of College Transportation Consulting and EDR Group was selected to conduct the study under contract to the Northern Development Initiative. 

The product of this effort was a comprehensive assessment of options, policies and strategic market opportunities to attract business and manufacturing opportunities to the Northwest Transportation Corridor -- a vital northern transportation route aligned with the Yellowhead Highway and CN Rail line that runs from Edmonton west to Prince Rupert and north from Prince George to Fort St. John along Highway 97.