WATCH: Carney touts Port expansion; pledges to work with First Nations, protect whales

Prime Minister Carney toured the Port of Vancouver in Delta on Thursday, touting his government’s plans to expand the port.

"We're looking, through the Major Projects Office, at expanding this port," Carney said. "The federal government is looking to invest about $10 billion, more than $10 billion, to help expand the Port, to grow our exports away from the United States by more than 50%."

While Carney did not make any specific announcement, Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport Dan Albas said the visit amounted to a reannouncement of existing plans.

“More photo ops that simply reannounce what was already announced — a referral to the Major Projects Office, as was done just weeks ago — does not put a shovel in the ground, nor does it show Canadians that we are building major economic projects at speeds not seen in generations,” Albas said.

Carney also emphasized that Ottawa is working with local First Nations on its plans.

"We're working with the Musqueam Nation," Carney said. "We're working with the Tsawwassen First Nation. We're working with the Squamish First Nation, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. This is unceded territory and traditional lands. There are treaty rights from the First Nations, and we need to work in a way that is building inclusively with Indigenous partners, sharing in the economic benefits."

Carney also seemed to address recent attacks alleging that his government was disregarding the environment in its expansion plans, which includes a new oil pipeline to the Port.

"The federal government has been investing hundreds of millions of dollars to protect our whales, including the southern resident killer whales just off there," Carney said. "Hundreds of millions of dollars coming to with a part of the Pacific salmon strategy. Three and a half billion dollars for broader ocean protection strategy."

Carney's public itinerary did not note other events while in Vancouver, although he did visit Liberal North Vancouver—Capilano by-election candidate Braeden Caley for an apparent campaign event on Wednesday night.