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Chemtrade seeks to continue liquid chlorine production NICK LABA
nlaba@nsnews.com
Western Canada’s largest producer of chlorine is seeking to extend its ability to produce the highrisk chemical at its facility on the North Vancouver waterfront.
Due to concerns from the surrounding community when the facility’s lease was last renegotiated, Chemtrade Logistics Inc.’s current agreement would halt the company’s liquid chlorine operations by July 2030. Then the lease is set to fully expire in 2032, when the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority will have the option to buy back the land Chemtrade owns. To address this potential blow to its business, the multinational chemicals firm has entered into negotiations with the Port, which has authority over the lease. The North Shore News has also learned of an extensive lobbying effort, in which Chemtrade has approached elected officials at multiple levels of government to ask for support in renegotiating its lease. But despite the public safety implications a potential renegotiation could have on adjacent neighbourhoods, the matter has not yet been brought to the public’s attention. There’s also potential conflict between the District of
Graham Gilley, chair of the Windsor Secondary PAC and former risk management director at Mulgrave School, says that his community hadn’t yet been made aware of Chemtrade’s lease negotiations with the Port of Vancouver. PAUL MCGRATH / NSN North Vancouver’s ambitions to build more housing in neighbouring areas and Chemtrade’s ability to further reduce risks of handling a highly corrosive substance to a level that could accommodate increased residential density. Community consultation has always been part of Chemtrade’s plan, said Amy Jonsson, senior manager of
corporate communications. “But multiple steps, and decisions, are required before we can begin public engagement,” she said. One of the steps that Chemtrade has taken so far is starting talks with the District of North Van, which has a long Continued on A20