LETTER – Indigenous-owned inland port would generate long-term benefits

The following letter is on the Kamloops City council’s agenda for consideration Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.

June 16, 2026
Transport Canada
Trade Diversification Corridors Fund (Stream 2)
Re: Letter of Support— 7Mile District Inland Rail Staging and Storage-in—Transit (SIT) Project — Stream 2 Application

On behalf of Tk’emlups te Secwépemc (TteS), I am writing to express our support for the 7Mile District Inland Rail Staging and Storage-in Transit (SIT) Project (“7Mile Rail”) being advanced by Sc.wén’wen Land Development Corporation (SLDC) through an application to Transport Canada’s Trade Diversification Corridors Fund (Stream 2).

The 7Mile Rail project is an Indigenous—led transportation infrastructure initiative that will establish a rail—served inland staging and bufferng facility in Kamloops, British Columbia. The project has been developed in response to growing capacity constraints within the Vancouver Gateway trade corridor and is intended to improve the resilience, reliability, and efficiency of rail movements while creating long—term economic opportunities for Tkemlups te Secwe’pemc and the broader region.

This application to the Trade Diversification Corridors Fund (Stream 2) represents a critical step toward advancing the 7Mile Rail project into its final development and implementation phases. Funding will support the completion of key activities required to advance the project toward construction, including finalizing commercial commitments, engagement, technical and operational refinement, regulatory advancement, and investment attraction. This work builds upon the substantial planning and validation activities already completed and is intended to position the project for a final investment decision and subsequent construction.

Tkemlups te Secwépemc recognizes that the Vancouver Gateway trade corridor is experiencing increasing structural congestion, resulting in reduced system recovery capacity and increased exposure to delays across Canada’s export supply chain. Inland staging infrastructure such as 7Mile Rail represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen corridor performance by providing buffering capacity upstream of constrained rail segments, improving network resilience, supporting trade diversification, and enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of Canada’s transportation system.

The 7Mile District concept aligns with our priorities of:
– Advancing Indigenous-led infrastructure and economic participation;
– Supporting innovation in supply chain resilience and trade corridor efficiency; and
– Contributing to long-term regional and national economic compeititiveness through improved transportation systems.

We also acknowledge the foundational work completed to date, including corridor analysis and demand assessment, which supports the justification for continued advancement of the 7Mile Rail project. The findings demonstrate the potential value of inland staging infrastructure as a means of improving supply chain resilience and trade corridor performance, while reinforcing the importance of a disciplined, phased approach to project development.

We support SLDC’s application to the Trade Diversification Corridors Fund and encourage consideration of the 7Mile Rail project as a critical Indigenous-led infrastructure initiative that has the potential to strengthen Canada’s Pacific trade corridor, improve supply chain resilience, and generate long-term economic benefits for the region and for Tkemlups te Secwépemc.

Yours truly,
Tkemlups te Secwépemc
Kukwpi7 Rosanne Casimir (Chief)
On behalf of Tkwenem7iple7 (Council)