Why is Saint John home to Canada’s largest oil refinery?

Canada’s largest oil refinery is located in Saint John primarily because the city serves as a major industrial and transportation hub for New Brunswick. The refinery has experienced significant growth in response to rising energy demand throughout North America.12

Saint John’s strategic location on the Bay of Fundy provides a year-round ice-free harbor, which has historically supported the city's development as a center for shipping and industry. This infrastructure allows for the efficient transport and export of goods, facilitating the refinery's operations. Additionally, the industrial landscape of the region was heavily shaped by the business empire of Kenneth Colin Irving, who founded the Irving Oil Co. in the 1920s and integrated various transportation and supply chain assets to support his oil operations.314