Agencies want Irving to invest in social programs

Some social agencies in Saint John want Irving Oil to pay the extra social costs associated with a second oil refinery.

A representative from Irving Oil explained to the packed annual general meeting of the Human Development Council how finding housing for 5,000 construction workers is going to be one of the key social issues connected to the proposed second refinery. Some people at the Thursday meeting raised other issues that could come out of the new facility.

"Past experience has shown that we'll see an increase of violence against women, we'll see an increase in domestic violence, we'll see an increase in sexual assault, prostitution, drug trade, all of those things," said Brenda Murphy of the Urban Core Support Network. "We do need to have those conversations and we do need to start now."

Julie Dingwell of AIDS Saint John said she wanted to know if there would be an investment by Irving into non-profit agencies that will provide services to the 5,000 new workers.

"When I hear about a $5 billion $7 billion investment, I think, well, where is the investment in our social economy?" Dingwall said.

Rev. Bill Thomas says the Irvings should be investing in these agencies now.

"If they were willing to start investing in organizations like AIDS Saint John, Urban Core Support Network, Human Development Council, putting some real money into those organizations now, so that they would be ready to meet those needs when they arise."

Murphy says this is a good first step but there is still a long way to go, and the company needs to have more meetings and bring more groups to the table.

Representatives of Irving Oil would not speak to the media, but the consultant hired by the company said those concerns will be raised with the company.