Sunrise propane still in business

CBC News has learned that Sunrise Propane Inc. is still in the propane business, nearly a year after the company's depot near Keele Street and Wilson Avenue exploded.

Industry officials have told CBC News that Sunrise buys and sells propane,hiring other companies to transport the fuel.

Sunrise Propane's permits to operate all three of its sites were revoked a few days after the explosion shook people from their beds in Downsview last Aug. 10.

Parminder Singh Saini, 25, died when the propane facility exploded.Toronto firefighter Bob Leek, 55, suffered a heart attack and also died at the scene.

The agency that regulates Ontario's propane industry says the permits have not been reinstated.

Instead of storing propane at his own sites, CBC News has learned that Sunrise owner Sean Ben-Moshe now acts as a middleman.He buys propane in bulk and hires other firms to distribute it to his clients at service stations around Toronto.

One company doing the transport is PrimeMax Energy, which is located south of Kitchener.

"Well, they needed a supplier. They didn't have any delivery fleet, any of them left anymore, so somebody had to do it," said PrimeMax president Jim Taylor.

Taylor said he has no qualms about working with Sunrise.

"They're just acting as a broker as far as we're concerned. They're not touching the product."

"I guess if they were shut down totally, they wouldn't have a chance to make any bottom line to pay whatever it is that they're owing. So we're keeping them going in that regard," Taylor said.

Other people in the industry are leery of Sunrise.

Area resident 'speechless'

Hugh Sutherland, who runs Caledon Propane, says he doesn't "understand how they can still be in the business, but it's a concern if they are."

People who lived through the explosion are angry that Ben-Moshe is still making a profit from propane.

Vicki Arciero, whose house is just around the corner from the explosion site, was incensed.

"Something like this went and happened and obviously he doesn't give a damn, he's still doing it. I'm speechless," she said.

The CBC has made repeated requests for an interview with Ben-Moshe. He has never responded.

Earlier this week, it was learned the Ontario Ministry of Labour has laid two charges against the owners for failing to protect the health and safety of its employees.

If convicted, Sunrise could be fined a maximum of $500,000 on each charge.