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June 20, 2008 Proposed changes include development at Long Wharf, purchase of Lantic Sugar site
SAINT JOHN, NB – The Saint John Port Authority announced today it has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with Irving Oil Limited that would see development of a new building complex
on the Long Wharf property in Saint John’s inner harbour. The development would provide space for
a new Irving Oil building and would also enhance public access to the city’s waterfront via Harbour
Passage with the addition of new walking trails and park space. Irving Oil would also contribute to the
redevelopment of the Fort La Tour National Historic site as part of the site’s landscaping and public
space.
The Saint John Port Authority would retain ownership of Long Wharf’s water frontage, and both
Irving Oil and the Port Authority would work closely together to develop the site for both cruise ship
passengers and public use. The Long Wharf site would continue to be used as a secondary berth for
cruise ships visiting Saint John.
Under an agreement worth approximately $10 million, Irving Oil would lease the Long Wharf property
from the Saint John Port Authority. Contained within this leased land would be a parcel of land that
would be owned by Irving Oil and would be the location of the new building. This agreement is
dependent on the City of Saint John agreeing to sell the former Lantic Sugar site to Irving Oil, at fair
market value, for the purposes of immediately transferring ownership to the Saint John Port Authority.
“Today, we are securing the future of the working port”, stated Stephen Campbell, Chairman of the
Board for the Saint John Port Authority. “The sugar refinery site will be incorporated into the Lower
Cove terminal and connect this facility with the Potash Terminal, providing contiguous marine facilities
for present and future marine cargo operations in this area. This will protect the integrity of the working
port, now and in the future.”
“The MOU calls for the exchange of the sugar refinery site for a comparable portion of Long Wharf to
accommodate an exciting project, which will enhance both our cruise business and the waterfront area
of the City,” observed Captain Al Soppitt, President and CEO of the Saint John Port Authority. “With this
exchange, we will be retaining the marginal berth area as our secondary cruise terminal, and we know
Irving Oil’s development on Long Wharf would be done to the highest standards, should it proceed.
With approval of this project, cargo operations on the East side will in future be concentrated at Lower
Cove and the newly acquired Lantic Sugar site.”
“Our company has been encouraged by a number of organizations in the community to remain in the
uptown area and consider development on the waterfront,” says Blaine Higgs, Director of Logistics
for Irving Oil. “The Saint John Port Authority has helped make this idea a reality by showing vision
and a willingness to work together on a solution that meets the needs of the whole community. The
community’s encouragement, along with the Port’s vision and Saint John’s continued growth as a
great place to live and work, has led to this exciting announcement. We look forward to receiving the
community’s input and working with them to develop plans for the waterfront that would be enhanced
and made accessible to the public as part of this development.”
The agreement is subject to federal government approvals and is conditional upon the Saint John Port
Authority and Irving Oil reaching a final agreement on property layout and detailed design. Construction
on the Long Wharf property would begin when all approvals are received. The proposed project
would take two to three years to build and would create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs during
construction.
Irving Oil’s proposed development would be constructed under the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, reflecting Irving Oil’s commitment to
environmental responsibility and sustainability. The LEED system is a rigorous standard for the design,
construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.
The Port of Saint John, New Brunswick’s largest and most diverse marine gateway, is a bulk and break
bulk port with the capacity to handle containers and is the second busiest port of call for cruise ships
operating in Atlantic Canada.
The Port is a commercially viable, self-sufficient business enterprise and a cornerstone of the local
economy. It is a critical component of the region’s transportation infrastructure essential to many of New
Brunswick’s major industries engaged in international trade and provides deep-water, ice-free access to
shipping year round.
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Media Contact:
Bill Eaton
Public Relations
Saint John Port Authority
(506)636-4674
beaton@sjport.com
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