B.C. floods pile up port fees for small businesses
The rains continue to affect supply chains in British Columbia. Both CN Rail and CP Rail have temporarily halted operations on their main lines from Vancouver to inspect and stabilize the tracks. That's putting pressure on an already strained supply system as things back up at Vancouver's ports, which in turn is putting the squeeze on small business owners.
There was already a backlog due to the pandemic. Containers are stacking up and warehouses are filling up, making it difficult for some companies to get their containers out of the port. A lighting company in Montreal reached out to CTV News Vancouver to complain about the thousands of dollars in port storage fees they are facing due to the current issues.
"There's no room to put these containers anywhere. There's no warehouses, we have tried, I even tried to go down, even right down to Calgary to have them delivered to Calgary. Nobody has any room," said Jennifer MacKenzie, director of purchasing at Illumination Lighting.
Illumination Lighting says it currently has three containers ready for pickup with GCT Global Container Terminals, which operates in the Vancouver and Delta ports. The containers cleared customs earlier this month. GCT gives a grace period of five days to pick them up. However, MacKenzie says it has not been possible because of supply chain issues. She says they are now facing nearly $7,000 in storage fees.
"We need help. Somebody has to step up and say enough's enough," she said.
MacKenzie sent a letter to the minister responsible for Transport Canada and while she did not get a direct response, on Nov. 24, the government announced it would contribute $4.1 million to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to provide land to store the containers. That would take the pressure off the terminals.
A 40-acre parcel is being prepared with the Fraser Richmond Industrial Lands to handle the containers. CTV News has learned some of the land should be available in about six weeks.
In the meantime, MacKenzie would like to see some forgiveness on the storage fees Illumination Lighting is facing.
CTV News asked the terminal operator if they would do that.
"The last place that should become a warehouse is the terminal. Waiving the storage fee would have the opposite effect of clearing the terminal. It would become a giant storage warehouse pretty quickly," said Marko Dekovic, VP of public affairs for GCT.
However, he says GCT has empathy for businesses that are struggling but says the supply chain is only as good as the weakest link and that it has a duty to keep things moving along, emphasizing that despite challenging issues, GCT currently has the most fluid supply flow compared to other places in North America.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.