On August 10th, the Toronto Daily Star reminded readers that it was the eight "Anniversary" of the explosion at the Sunshine Propane plant at Wilson and Keele - a blast that was heard ten kilometers away. 12,000 residents had to flee in what was described as a 'chaotic evacuation'. Over one hundred fire fighters battled the blaze. A fire fighter and a plant manager were killed. Dozens were injured and many houses were ruined. Investigators found Sunshine used to swap propane loads from truck-to-truck, instead of emptying it into a buried storage tank, then, having a second truck load up. This saved the company several minutes a load, and, in business, time equals money and to hell with the potential for danger.
The company and its two directors were convicted of nine charges relating to Environmental Damage and also, for not following Provincial Safety Orders. Six thousand residents near the plant won a $23 million lawsuit to compensate for their losses.
What was never said, was, that the plant, where there was an ever-present potential for danger, was in a working class neighbourhood. Can you imagine a propane plant next door to Buckingham Palace or the White House?
John Ayers.
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