 |
|
|
PHOTO & SLIDESHOW GALLERIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Last updated at 8:27 AM on 27/10/09 |
Situation critical 
Atlantic premiers express concerns
FREDERICTON
KEVIN BISSETT
The Canadian Press
Negotiations that could see key assets of New Brunswick's public utility company sold to Hydro-Quebec are at a crucial stage, the government of Premier Shawn Graham said Monday as two other Atlantic premiers expressed concerns about a possible deal.
The New Brunswick government has been under pressure in recent days to reveal details of their discussions with Quebec amid fears that the province could give up control of NB Power, a Crown corporation.
"These talks are now at a critical stage," provincial Energy Minister Jack Keir said.
"I absolutely understand the fear of the unknown here. ... If there is a deal at the end of the day, it will be rolled out, be very transparent, and it will be the most important debate we have in the history of New Brunswick in the legislature."
NB Power was created by New Brunswick's legislature in 1920, and during the 2006 provincial election campaign Graham vowed to maintain it as a publicly-owned utility.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams said he would fight any proposed deal by Hydro-Quebec to take over key power assets in New Brunswick.
Williams has long fought with Quebec over the 1969 contract to develop Churchill Falls in Labrador - a deal he says has given Quebec at least $19 billion in profits while his province has earned only about $1 billion.
Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter also waded into the debate Monday, saying he shares many of Williams' concerns.
"Anything that concentrates the power utilities in the hands of a single entity like (Hydro-Quebec) has potential ramifications for the energy corridor (to New England)," he said.
When asked whether the government was backing down on that commitment, Keir said he would not speculate on the outcome of the discussions.
But Keir said any deal with Quebec must ensure competitive power rates for all New Brunswickers, including small and medium-sized businesses, and address the utility's massive debt.
"NB Power has nearly a $4.8-billion debt that your kids and grandkids aren't going to be able to pay back," Keir said.
He said the deal must also allow New Brunswick to press ahead with a plan to position itself as a conduit for neighbouring provinces to export their power to the northeastern United States.
An energy analyst with Toronto-based watchdog group Energy Probe said Monday New Brunswick would lose power over its energy future if it sells assets and transmission capacity to Quebec.
"I don't know how you effectively regulate Hydro-Quebec with a public utilities commission in New Brunswick," said Norm Rubin.
"I can't imagine New Brunswick being influential once this deal is signed."
But Keir said New Brunswickers shouldn't be concerned.
"We're not going to make a deal here with anybody, whoever it might be, unless we're absolutely convinced this is a great deal for New Brunswickers and that we don't lose that control that people are worried about," Keir said.
Provincial Conservative Opposition Leader David Alward called for an immediate recall of the legislature to form a non-partisan committee to study the issue.
"This is too important an issue for the New Brunswick government to present as a done deal," Alward told reporters.
"We could lose control of our energy supply for the first time in our history."
|
27/10/09
© 2009 
|
Comments: |
|
This Conversation is Moderated. What is moderation?
|
| What does moderation mean? |
 |
The Telegram is committed to encouraging intelligent discourse among our readers and to creating a forum where diverse views and opinions on a wide range of topics can be aired. The forum you are in now is a result of our continuing efforts to facilitate a dynamic online conversation among our readers.
This is a moderated conversation. Once a reader follows the steps to register and submit his or her comment it goes to a moderator for the website. Once it has been approved, your comment will be displayed on the website. A comment may be edited or deleted for reasons of content or language.
All readers wishing to join a conversation must first sign in and agree to the Terms of Usage, which explain the rules of acceptable content.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taxpayer from NL writes: NB has already lost control of its energy supply. Upwards of 70% of NB power comes from the Motherland Quebec...via, of course, the upper Churchill.This is all moot really, due to the fact that QH has already purchased all excess capacity on the NB grid.
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 9:13 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
Tim Just about had enough from NL writes: Charest says to Harper let me raid the the whole electrical grid east of Quebec and I'll keep the peace in Quebec and boost your numbers for the next election. Independence from Canada, can it come fast enough?
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 10:28 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
bayman from nl writes: Maybe Danny should enter into private negotiations with NB Power.With all the greed of Hydro Quebec. I'm sure that we could offer a sweeter deal to run our power through that province to the New England market. Usually if you deal directly with a manufacturer you cut out the middle man and get a better deal. Heck, they can have a portion of what Hydro Quebec is stealing from us now. It s not only Hydro Quebec that you have to worry about, there are also those who want to separate from Canada. If this happens, the power will have to cross borders of a foreign country before it gets to the USA. or even before it gets to NB. What problems is this going to cause?? Probably a much higher costing electricity in NB and in the USA. And for a province to have to deal with a foreign country for electricity made in Canada is kind of crazy.
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 10:29 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Another Dave from NL writes: Gee, I dunno, maybe the gov't of NL should buy the NB power utility. Offer a lower cost of power to NB residents and WHAMO! You got the support of the people of NB!
Win Win people!
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 11:26 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
don from Newfoundland and Labrador writes: Despite Danny Williams bluff and bluster it looks like Hydro-Quebec will outfox him one way or another! While Dictator Danny fiddled, the ultra rich Irving family signed deals with the state of Maine to provide energy from New Brunswick. Hydro-Quebec bought all the existing surplus capacity on NB Power hydro electric lines and grid. The Governor of Maine has announced that he will not permit a submarine cable from Nova Scotia to land on the shores of Maine, thereby preventing Dictator Danny from transporting Newfoundland power to the USA through Nova Scotia. The Government of Canada would not let Dictator Danny run a hydro power line through Gros Morne National Park. Hydro-Quebec won't sign a water management agreement with the little dictator. What a mess! As long as Danny Williams remains as Premier of Newfoundland Labrador there will NEVER be a power corridor through which Newfoundland and Labrador can ship its hydro-electricity to the rest of Canada and the USA without having to go through Hydro-Quebec owned facilities and at Hydro-Quebec's terms! Dictator Danny's arrogance, threats and hard ball tactics have finally come home to roost on him. I suspect that Dictator Danny is going to get a taste of his own medicine soon. Expropriating other peoples hard earned property for your own greedy and nefarious purposes has a tendency to get people very angry and willing to retaliate. The kind of cupidity demonstrated by Dictator Danny has very negative consequences. I think this fight with Hydro-Quebec got a very big boost when Dictator Danny expropriated Abitibi a Quebec based and American owned pulp and paper company which had hydro-electric power plants which the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador coveted and wanted to acquire to add capacity to its own hydro electric grid run by NALCOR/Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. That was an ill-considered and very provocative move. The result is that some very powerful people are very angry at Dictator Danny and there will be a price to be paid for his arrogance. Unfortunately, it is the ordinary citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador who will end up paying that price in increased electricity rates and lost economic opportunity. Good job Danny!!!
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 12:00 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
STOP THE RACKET from NL writes: Quebec and New Brunswick dont have an elected dicator like we do so thats why they were able to sit down and negotiate a deal that was good for all involved. Everything we do has to be done Dannys way or no way and it all has to be his idea everyone else is wrong. The childish ego maniac at his best. Do all of us a favour Danny and get out of this Racket and let someone take over who actually cares about us more than they care about always being right and always the centre of attention. Tom Marshall would be a great premier. Then again Danny has Jerome Kennedy in training to take over the dictatorship. Danny and Jerome just like the Castro brothers in Cuba.
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 12:26 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
Just Wonderin' from NF writes: How can Quebec take over 40% of another Province's debt load while claiming to be the largest have not Province in Canada, taking around half of the money set aside for equalization. Talk about getting welfare while winning the lottery. If they have ten billion to spend during a recession, then get out of our tax pockets.
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 1:19 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Jon from NL writes: Stop the Racket: What is this deal you refer to in your first sentence of your last post? And how is it good for all involved? Do you know something that nobody else knows?
Do you even know what you are talking about or just using this as another place to dump your stupid comments?
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 3:22 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Taxpayer from NL writes: Wow, so the poor 'ol desperate Liberals have resorted to completely manufacturing lies now in their attempt to discredit our premier, and to further add to an already complex issue.
Again Don, I'll ask where you found this info. Do you have inside info that the rest of us can't find? Where are these statements that Gov. Baldacci made. I can't seem to find them anywhere. I also can't turn up anything on the Irvings selling power onto the grid. NB doesn't even have enough power for their own needs during peak times, let alone sell it onto the grid.
I also think that the Premier made an excellent decision to expropriate the hydro facillity in GFW. Do you really think that if we handed everthing over to the Quebecois that they would give us a pss on the lower churchill. If you said yes, then you sir are a moron.
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 3:49 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
STOP THE RACKET from NL writes: Jon when it comes to stupid comments you win hands down. To answer your question. Yes I do know. Someday you too shall be enlightened and not just light headed like you are now.
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 5:23 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Bones II from nl writes: don and RACKET: I hope you both like the taste of words because you will eat yours, lol.
Racket knows about enough to fill a small thimble on this issue and don knows even less, lol.
Racket: NL doesn't have an elected dictator either. Look it up for yourself if you don't want to believe me. How can you even use that word and Williams in the same context? Do you know what it means? Can you explain how Williams fits the definition by any stretch? How would you have dealt with Hydro Quebec or, better yet, the federal government? Read a book and learn, my little green friend, lol.
don: I don't even know where to start, you're so off base in you statements and observations. For one thing, Hydro Quebec is outfoxing the NB government and the people they represent, not Williams. You see, Williams was clever enough to talk about this and put it in the headlines, hence the attention it's getting here. Upper Churchill was a deal that was done behind closed doors with a knife to the throat of the NL government of the time, and they had NO CHOICE but to sign off on it due to financial conditions.
Who cares about the governor of main? How long you think he'll be there? lol If you can't wait for Williams to be gone, then I can't wait for the governor of Maine to be gone, lol........see how childish we are now?
Let me remind you of something else; since NL was invented, they have NEVER HAD a power corridor through ANYWHERE in order to ship hydro energy to the US or Canada. You speak as if we've lost something when we've never had it in the first place, lol, not only that, we don't have anything to ship on it. We could have bought spare capacity and left it idle until extra resource was available to fill it, but that would have given you haters something to complain about on the other end, wouldn't it? Look at bully dan now, so greedy he's buying up grid capacity so nobody else can use it.....I can hear ya now, lol. My friend, you are beyond ret@rded, lol.
As long as we have Danny Williams as premier, we will have a strong leader with a genuine interest in his home province and it's people. He is what every politician before him only wishes they could be, but just cannot. His position is firm, his goals are sound, his road is long, and he will have the support of the majority for as long as he continues moving forward. It puzzles me greatly why the Liberal and the NDP members in the province are not speaking much about it, but then, we've seen that ball drop many a time before, haven't we? Dictator Danny's arrogance, threats, and hardball tactics, as one hater likes to call them, are a direct result of decades of slaps in the face by both the federal, and the french bullies up along. Haters don't seem to ever think we've been wronged, lol, what gives? Quebec Hydro has built a small empire from Churchill resources and are hoping to do it all over again by whittling away at a cash strapped province. The feds are doing the same thing with fishing quotas for resources under duress.
New Brunswickers, beware, NL has been there, done it, and has the t-shirt. You will pay with your futures - to Quebec Hydro.
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 7:09 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
don from Newfoundland and Labrador writes: Taxpayer from NL, in answer to your question, I do have inside information. In March 2009, Irving Oil Ltd., Premier Shawn Graham of New Brunswick and Governor John Baldacci of Maine signed an agreement which will result in the creation of an energy corridor between New Brunswick and Maine which would include a 1200-1500 megawatt transmission line and natural gas pipeline. While Dictator Danny is fiddling around or issuing empty threats, all of of his competitors are working on numerous projects that will make the Lower Churchill hydro-electric project look like a 25 watt light bulb. Take my word for it Dictator Danny's decision to expropriate Abitibi's hydro-electric assets has created a lot of animosity in powerful circles that is being turned into action against Newfoundland and Labrador. The current problems were also precipitated by the fact that Quebec-Hydro was forced to allow Newfoundland and Labrador to wheel power through their grid to the USA because the NAFTA agreement permits this to occur and because there was surplus power available to sell from Labrador. However, the next time Dictator Danny sells power to the USA it will be on Hydro-Quebec's terms and conditions or the power will go nowhere. History, geography and politics have conspired to undermine every effort we have made for 40 years to obtain a fair deal for Labrador power. Dictator Danny's arrogance and cupidity is going to be the straw that breaks the camels back this time!
|
| Posted 27/10/2009 at 10:46 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
NOTE
The management of this site emphasizes that it is in no way liable for persons, physical or legal, who are hosted here. Moreover, the managers of this site may not be held liable for errors and omissions that may slip into the information displayed in these reader comments. Everyone who submits a comment should read, understand and agree to the Terms of Usage for this section.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
