30 presenters to discuss sale of land to Irving

Thirty presenters are scheduled to appear before Saint John council on Monday night before the city makes a decision on whether to sell land to Irving Oil Ltd. to establish the company's new world headquarters on Long Wharf.

Irving Oil has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saint John Port Authority for a $10-million deal under which the company would lease Long Wharf and buy a piece of property for the construction of a $30-million building.

The deal is contingent on the sale of the former Lantic Sugar refinery site. The city must sell Irving the property, which would then be given to the port authority in exchange for the land the world headquarters would be built on at Long Wharf.

Thirty presenters, which include individuals and representatives of groups, have registered to speak at a public hearing on the proposed deal.

If council agrees to sell the land it will have the right to set the price, said Saint John Mayor Ivan Court.

Approximately 24 presenters are expected to speak in favour of the land deal while six, including the International Longshoremen's Association, are expected to speak against it.

"If there's some adjustments that can be made so that both sides can come out with a win, great, that's what we look for," Court said. "We always try to make sure that we make the right decisions for all the citizens of Saint John."

Longshoremen representatives have been arguing that once Long Wharf is leased to Irving Oil, the city will no longer have the option to increase port business.

Only one ship can be tied at the old sugar refinery site while three can be tied at Long Wharf, said Abel LeBlanc, a local MLA and a former Longshoreman.

"I believe Long Wharf should be part of a working port, not a part of a high rise building put up by the Irving interests," LeBlanc said.

But businesses in the uptown have been pushing for the headquarters to be built on the wharf.

About 1,000 people are expected to work in the building when it is completed and businesses have argued it would drive those people into the uptown to shop, dine and do business.

"Our new beginning is really the energy sector and to have a world headquarters right in the downtown, is really an opportunity that we can't let pass," said Mike Barry, chair of the city's board of trade.

Council is expected to make its decision on the land sale on Aug. 18.