The Westmorland Chemical Park was an industrial park in Dorchester Cape, New Brunswick, Canada. The main facility was an ammonium nitrate production plant that operated from late 1965 until its closure in late 1968.

The park was announced in 1964 by the government of New Brunswick under Premier Louis Robichaud and was one of several major public works projects that aimed to increase industrial development in the province. The location of Dorchester Cape was chosen in part to benefit Westmorland County, a Liberal Association stronghold that was one of the most economically depressed areas of the province. Additionally, its location along the Bay of Fundy would allow for oceanic shipping and receiving at the plant via a floating dock. While the government would initially operate the plant, it would eventually sell it to a private company. While the initial project called for an ammonium nitrate plant, it was hoped that this investment would spur further development in the area. Groundbreaking occurred on October 31, 1964.

Prior to its opening, New Brunswick industrialist K. C. Irving criticized the project as being economically untenable and questioned the viability of shipping via the Bay of Fundy, which experiences some of the highest tidal ranges in the world. However, in November 1965, the plant, which was operated by the Fundy Chemical Corporation, received its first shipment of ammonia and production commenced. Within several months, however, the plant struggled to sell its product and by May 1966 it had completely shut down production. Production resumed later that year, but in early 1967, the floating dock was severely damaged, causing any shipments to be delivered via rail. By mid-1967, the government had begun to plan bankruptcy proceedings against the company, which was in default on government loans. Eventually, the government took over operations at the plant, but officially closed it in October 1968.

Following the plant's closure, Robichaud spoke publicly about its failure, calling it "a mistake" and "a blunder". Ultimately, equipment from the plant was sold to various companies, with Irving purchasing the floating dock. In total, the provincial government had invested about $10 million ($ million in ) into the project in the form of land purchases, construction, and loans to various companies. By 1984, the area had been largely abandoned and overgrown, though a steel drainage pipe plant that had been built during the park's construction still remained in operation as of 2019.

Background

Premier Robichaud and Operation Prosper

In 1960, Louis Robichaud, a member of the New Brunswick Liberal Association, became the premier of New Brunswick and initiated a series of policies aimed at reforming the province's economy and society. Among other things, this included a reform to the province's higher education system and an increase in investment in transportation infrastructure. In the 1963 New Brunswick general election held that April, Robichaud and the Liberals maintained power in a snap election based primarily on a campaign that focused on job growth, with an emphasis on promoting industrialization. As premier, Robichaud oversaw the establishment of the New Brunswick Development Corporation (NBDC), with chemical engineer Frederick J. Gormley appointed as its general manager in May 1963. In addition to running the corporation, which would oversee government projects, Gormley would also serve as an advisor to both Premier Robichaud and the Executive Council of New Brunswick.

Beginning in late 1963, Robichaud's government initiated "Operation Prosper", a term Gormley adopted to refer to the NBDC's initiatives. Over the next several years, Robichaud oversaw several major public works projects in the province, including the construction of the Mactaquac Dam along the Saint John River, the Centennial Bridge over the Miramichi River, a mine in Bathurst, a thermal power plant in Dalhousie, a pulp mill in South Nelson, and an oil refinery in Saint John. Around this same time, Canadian Industries Limited announced plans to open a new chemical plant in Dalhousie, and the provincial government also oversaw the creation of several industrial parks, including in Charlotte County and Greater Saint John. According to economist Herb Emery, these efforts also had the partial aim of helping to develop the southern part of the province, which lacked the natural resource base present in northern New Brunswick.

Announcement and planning On June 11, 1964, Finance Minister Lestock Graham DesBrisay announced plans for the construction of a fertilizer production plant in Westmorland County. Per DesBrisay, the project would serve as Eastern Canada's first industrial park for the manufacturing of chemical products. It would be located at Dorchester Cape, approximately south of Moncton, situated in a marshy area that jutted into the Bay of Fundy. The exact location had been determined by Gormley, who visited the site prior to its announcement. In total, the site covered .

Per author Hal Fredericks, the first stage of the project called for a $4.5 million ($ million in ) plant that was expected to produce 190 tons of ammonium nitrate and 150 tons of nitric acid daily. Of this cost, a third was provided for by the Atlantic Development Board. The plant would receive its primary raw material, ammonia, from a W. R. Grace & Co. plant in Trinidad. Grace also signed on to oversee the facility's sales and supply management. Later chemicals planned to be produced at the complex included acetylene, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, lime, plastics, soda ash, sodium sulfate, and urea. While the government would create the plant and serve as its initial owners, it planned to eventually transfer ownership to the private sector. Additionally, there were plans for the later construction of a $3 million ($ million in ) flint glass plant.

Robichaud was enthusiastic about the project. He believed that the plant would allow for farmers in New Brunswick to purchase fertilizer at a reasonable price, which would lead to more fertilizer usage and a higher crop yield. Robichaud also thought that the complex could attract other related businesses to the area, spurring further economic growth. Residents in the region had petitioned Robichaud's government for a job creation program that would help to revitalize the area around Moncton, and according to historian Della M. M. Stanley, the project was viewed by the government as a way of helping Westmorland County, which was historically a Liberal stronghold. The area was also one of the most economically depressed in the province, with the Dorchester Penitentiary serving as one of the only large economic bases. Planners expected the plant to employ about one hundred people permanently and about three hundred additional people on a part-time basis. The location was also considered favorable given its close proximity to the National Transcontinental Railway and the Trans-Canada Highway, and Dorchester Cape's location on the Bay of Fundy would allow for transportation via ship.

Concerns However, Dorchester Cape's location posed several problems for developers. The Bay of Fundy experiences the highest tidal range in the world, and at Dorchester Cape, the water level could fluctuate by , presenting difficulties for transportation by sea. Additionally, the waters around the cape had an abundant amount of sediment due to its location at the confluence of both the Memramcook River and the Petitcodiac River with the bay. In June 1964, Fenco, a Montreal-based engineering firm, published their analysis of the site, where they concluded that the location was inadequate for anchorage of vessels greater than 5,000 tons. To address these issues, Gormley proposed that a floating dock be installed at the site, with designs from another Montreal-based firm, Canadian Bechtel.

Businessman K. C. Irving was also opposed to the plant, as he believed that it would directly compete against a fertilizer plant that he was developing in Belledune. Irving was also incredulous about the floating dock idea and concerned about the feasibility of transportation via the Bay of Fundy. During a meeting in Fredericton with Robichaud and DesBrisay, Irving discussed his opposition to the project, later telling a biographer that Robichaud had become irate with him, saying, "He got red in the face. He banged on the table. He was mad as a porcupine. He just raved on and on." While Robichaud denied Irving's account of the events, he nonetheless rejected Irving's concerns, as he believed that the project could be feasible and that Irving's opposition was primarily driven by his desire to control the fertilizer industry. Ultimately, the fertilizer plant would be one of several issues that arose between the premier and Irving during Robichaud's second term in office.

Construction On October 31, 1964, Robichaud presided over the groundbreaking for the fertilizer plant, during which he expressed his belief that the government had a responsibility in helping private industry to benefit the people. Construction of the plant was performed by the Montreal-based Lummus Company of Canada Limited. Additionally, despite his objections to the project, Irving constructed the floating dock for the site, which weighed 7,000 tons. Production of the dock took place in nearby Chartersville and was underway by August 1965. On November 12 of that year, the dock was moved to Dorchester Cape via the Petitcodiac River and moored to the site. Officials named the dock the "Port of Moncton", hoping to capitalize on Moncton's greater name recognition compared to Dorchester Cape.

Construction of the initial plant proceeded smoothly, prompting the government of New Brunswick to sell the location sooner than initially planned. In March 1965, the NBDC announced that they had sold the land and partially completed facility to the Fundy Chemical Corporation, a subsidiary of the Border Chemical Company of Winnipeg, for about $5.3 million ($ million in ). On April 30, Fundy Chemical's president announced that the plant would be in operation by November 1. By September 1965, over 500 workers were employed in the project, which had a monthly payroll of about $225,000 ($ million in ). Of these workers, about 350 were residents of Westmorland County.

In total, the provincial government had invested about $10 million ($ million in ) into the project, which had included the purchase of the land, the construction of the dock, and several loans made to companies that were involved. Over $8 million ($ million in ) had been paid by the government to Lummus Company and the park's architects, which was over twice the initially planned amount. The government was planning on a further $60 million ($ million in ) in investments from the private sector in the project.

Additional planned facilities Aside from Fundy Chemical, several other companies expressed interest in the park. In early 1965, the company Havelock Lime Works announced that they intended to build a calcium factory at the site, with limestone to be shipped to the facility via a rail line funded by the NBDC. Construction of this plant was scheduled to begin in May 1965 and cost $750,000 ($ million in ). In October 1965, Atlantic Industries announced plans to build a $400,000 ($ million in ) plant to manufacture steel drainage pipes. This plant would commence operations in April 1966. Around October 1966, local newspapers reported on plans for the construction of two new plants that would produce sulphuric acid and urea.

In operation

Initial shipment