Metro Vancouver municipalities among the biggest beneficiaries of spending by Coal Alliance Mines

Metro Vancouver municipalities continue to be among the prime beneficiaries of billions of dollars spent by Coal Alliance terminals and steelmaking coal mines in B.C. — Photo courtesy Wikipedia Commons

Vancouver, British Columbia – The Metro Vancouver municipalities of Delta, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby continue to be among the prime beneficiaries of the billions of dollars that Coal Alliance terminals and B.C. steelmaking coal mines spend on goods and services across British Columbia.

Latest figures from Coal Alliance mines and terminals show $5.16 billion were spent on local products and services across the province from 2010 to 2014, creating well-paying jobs and supporting local businesses. This includes approximately $973.4 million in Delta, $461.2 million in Vancouver, $191.9 million in Surrey, $141.3 million in North Vancouver and $130.4 million in Burnaby. These figures represent spending by Coal Alliance member terminals and mines only, and not the entire B.C. coal industry.

“The coal industry contributes billions of dollars in spending and creates tens of thousands of jobs. However many municipalities and their residents might be surprised by the scale of spending in Metro Vancouver, far from the mines themselves,” said Alan Fryer, spokesperson for the Coal Alliance. “Although many residents may not realize it, these figures show that Vancouver itself is among the biggest beneficiaries of BC’s coal export industry—even though it is not home to a coal terminal—and the revenue that it generates helps pay for many of the services we all rely on.”

The coal industry as a whole is recognized as a major driver of the provincial economy, contributing $3.2 billion annually.

Much of the spending that’s done is with small and medium-sized businesses on various equipment, materials and services for daily operations – everything from environmental consultants to catering from the local coffee shop.

The top 10 Metro Vancouver communities benefiting from Coal Alliance spending are:

1. Delta — $973.4 million
2. Vancouver — $461.2 million
3. Surrey — $191.9 million
4. North Vancouver — $141.3 million
5. Burnaby — $130.4 million
6. Langley — $65.8 million
7. Richmond — $61.8 million
8. Port Coquitlam — $31.0 million
9. Coquitlam — $23.8 million
10. Port Moody — $21.4 million