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MEMBERTOU, N.S. — Former prime minister Jean Chrétien was acting as chief cheerleader Tuesday for the development of a proposed container terminal in the port of Sydney.

Speaking at the Think Export N.O.W. Conference in Membertou, Chrétien, who was hired as an international adviser with Sydney Harbour Investment Partners (SHIP), which is marketing the port to potential investors, said he’s “been dealing with this problem since 18 months” and has become very involved in the project.

He gave the project a “90 per cent” chance of success.

“But sometimes you don’t succeed. I don’t want to make promises without being absolutely sure.”

The former PM joined SHIP partners Albert Barbusci and Barry Sheehy due to his deep connections within China. During his 10 years in office between 1993 and 2003, Chrétien led several Team Canada trade missions with premiers and business leaders to the corridors of power in Beijing.

Chrétien joined a Cape Breton delegation to China in December that included Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke, First Nations chiefs Leroy Denny of Eskasoni and Terry Paul of Membertou, and Business Minister Geoff MacLellan.

No specifics of the meetings have been made public until Chrétien made a comment in a scrum with reporters Tuesday regarding whether the trip was ultimately successful.

“We managed to get Chinese money for the project so we’re advancing quite fast. I’m very hopeful,” he said.

“We’ve made a deal with CCCC – the big construction company – and we’re going there. But it’s a lot of work. You have to talk to a lot of people and I’m happy to do that because I’m only 84 after all, so I have to keep myself busy.”

China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Ltd. has signed on to design and build the proposed container terminal, if it goes ahead. Last year, Ports America came on board as operator for the proposed port development and would work with the other project partners on its design and marketing and then the running of the port.

In response to Chrétien’s comments, Barbusci said in a brief phone interview that the former prime minister was only reiterating what’s been known for some time, the fact CCCC is supporting the build of a container terminal.

“(Chrétien) says commitments are there from CCCC and even within CCCC there are different subsidiaries, if you will, divisions, so that’s all in a very detailed map,” Barbusci said.

“What (Chrétien) is saying is very true that the money is committed. We don’t have an issue. We still have a rail piece to conclude and there are a couple of other pieces that have to come together but the financial model is sound. It’s always been sound.”

A significant criticism of Clarke and the players involved with the port file including Sydney Harbour Investment Partners has been around a lack of transparency, including in-camera meetings and keeping details away from members of council.

The mayor has said SHIP is working under non-disclosure agreements and have to follow the rules of the business world.

Both members of the public and members of CBRM council have raised concerns about the level of transparency.

Chrétien repeated familiar talking points on Sydney’s port as “the greatest facility available on the east side of the Atlantic,” in terms of water depth, location near shipping routes and easy access to a rail network.

Major upgrades are going to be required to the short-line railway owned by Genesee and Wyoming, which is not currently in operation because it was losing money, in order to accommodate any Sydney port development.

A consultant's report released last month indicated it would cost an estimated $103 million to bring the rail line up to a standard able to accommodate traffic from a possible container terminal development.

“If we have a port we will need the adequate railway. That’s the consequence of a port. There will be so much traffic there that don’t worry about a railway,” Chrétien said.

“It’s all in my judgment under control. Why? Because if you have the need there would be the railway. Today, they don’t repair the railway because there’s not the need for that.”

He said he plans to meet with Premier Stephen McNeil today to discuss the Sydney port file. He also believes the provincial government should invest in the container terminal proposal.

“I hope so,” he said.

chris.shannon@cbpost.com

Twitter: @cbpost_chris