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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
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Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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 Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:42 pm Post subject: Sale of NB Power to Hydro-Québec |
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Anyone out there following this deal? I'd be curious to hear some thoughts from those closer to the story, in Atlantic Canada or Québec.
Apparently the debate/deal is being closely watched in Ottawa...
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TS.
Delicious schadenfreude
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 14585
Location: Toronto, ON
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| Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 4:41 am Post subject: |
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It used to be all over the news out here. It has quieted down some, but it looks like pressure has built to at least get better terms out of Hydro Quebec. The Premier of Nova Scotia has also been talking about laying transmission lines across the Bay of Fundy to Maine to enable Nova Scotia to export power to the US without having to go through NB and therefore Hydro Quebec. From the reporting I've heard, Newfoundland wants in on that as well, since that government is still bitter over the Churchill Falls deal.
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| TS. wrote: | | From the reporting I've heard, Newfoundland wants in on that as well, since that government is still bitter over the Churchill Falls deal. |
I'd say they have good reason to feel that way.
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TS.
Delicious schadenfreude
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 14585
Location: Toronto, ON
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| Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 6:06 am Post subject: |
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Oh I didn't mean to deny that they do.
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"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear." - Thomas Jefferson |
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Tehanu
More or less, more or less
Joined: 12 Apr 2006
Posts: 17647
Location: Seceded from the Ford Nation
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| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 2:26 am Post subject: |
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I was reading an article the other day that a NB cabinet minister, Michael Murphy, had resigned and it's being speculated that it's related to this deal ... but I haven't been following the details. Who's in New Brunswick? Caissa?
Here's an article from today ...
| Quote: | Former Justice Minister Michael Murphy's sudden departure from provincial politics could open the Liberal government up to attacks that the party is cracking under pressure from the proposed NB Power deal, according to a political scientist.
Murphy announced on Monday that he was leaving the cabinet and in five weeks he would retire as the MLA for Moncton North, about seven months before the Sept. 27 election.
Tom Bateman, a political scientist at St. Thomas University, said Murphy's explanation that he wanted more time to spend with his family is often used by politicians who don't want to admit the real reason they are stepping down.
Bateman said critics of the NB Power deal are already drawing conclusions of their own of why Murphy is really stepping away from political life.
... Bateman said the premier has to make sure all of his remaining MLAs are on board with the deal and then he has to live up to Murphy's promise.
"The premier has to perform on that to make sure that what we have right now will be improved," Bateman said.
"I think that's the message of Mike Murphy's carefully chosen words not to express support for the MOU as it is but to support the government's position and to signal there's more to come from the premier's office." |
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:37 am Post subject: |
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Whoopsies... a backlash from New Brunswick voters has Premier Shawn Graham back-pedaling furiously on the Hydro-Québec deal:
http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/watch/ -- 21:00 minute mark
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Tehanu
More or less, more or less
Joined: 12 Apr 2006
Posts: 17647
Location: Seceded from the Ford Nation
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| Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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Another NB cabinet minister falls victim for daring to express hesitation on the power deal ... in this case for suggesting the issue be taken to referendum. And five other caucus members are now publicly opposing the deal. The cracks are widening. Are they going to be fired too?
| Quote: | Premier Shawn Graham says he had "no choice" but to ask Tourism and Parks Minister Stuart Jamieson to resign from cabinet for suggesting the proposed deal between NB Power and Hydro-Québec be put to a referendum.
"Mr. Jamieson has broken cabinet solidarity and leaves me no choice but to ask him to step aside," Graham said in a written statement, posted late Friday on the government's website.
... Opposition Leader David Alward said he's not surprised by Jamieson's resignation. He believes there will be more to come over the controversial deal to sell parts of NB Power to Hydro-Québec.
... Jamieson was one of five members of the Liberal caucus who said they could note vote to support the original NB Power deal, announced in the fall.
... On Jan. 18, just two days before the new deal was announced, CBC News learned that three Liberal cabinet ministers and two other Liberal MLAs had informed the premier they would not vote for the contentious NB Power deal. |
CBC. |
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
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Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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Booted cabinet minister calls for NB Power referendum
| Quote: | A New Brunswick MLA who was kicked out of cabinet for opposing the NB Power deal with Hydro-Québec says he is leaving the Liberal caucus to fight for a referendum on the issue.
Stuart Jamieson, the former tourism minister, said he was asked to quit last Friday because he wanted the government to hold a referendum on the sale of some of NB Power's energy assets to Quebec. The $3.2-billion sale would see Hydro-Québec acquire most of the province's power-generation assets, but New Brunswick would maintain control of its transmission lines.
"A lot of Liberals have talked to me about this and feel that there is problems throughout the province with the undertaking that the government is involved in," Jamieson told reporters Tuesday.
The MLA for Saint John-Fundy said he remains a loyal member of the party and is concerned the Liberals might lose the next election if there isn't a referendum on the energy deal.
"My fear is that the people of New Brunswick will not even consider the agreement unless they become part of it," Jamieson said. "My fear is that the Conservatives will become the government by default without one ounce of policy or direction, which was proven when they were in the government and is still evident today."
He said he would vote against the deal unless there is a referendum. |
more @ link
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"The dignity of an animal is measured by his capacity to revolt in the face of oppression." -- Mikhail Bakunin |
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
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Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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N&L fighting for access to Quebec hydro lines
| Quote: | Quebec's provincial energy board is hearing final arguments Thursday in a high-stakes case that may have repercussions for a proposed Newfoundland and Labrador hydro-electric energy project.
The board will decide whether Hydro-Québec is providing fair access to its transmission lines.
Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial energy company, Nalcor, says it needs access to that system to move power from its $6.5-billion Lower Churchill project in central Labrador to markets across North America.
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which licences Quebec to sell power in the United States, requires that Hydro-Québec provide fair and open access to available space on its lines. Nalcor alleges that Hydro-Québec is not providing open access to its transmission lines. Hydro-Québec is arguing that there is no space available and that it would cost $3 billion to upgrade its system to handle the Lower Churchill's power. |
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"The dignity of an animal is measured by his capacity to revolt in the face of oppression." -- Mikhail Bakunin |
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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Hydro Deal hothead: NB Liberal gives rival the finger, offers to "go outside" with the entire legislature if they don't like it
| Quote: | Abel LeBlanc, a Liberal member of the New Brunswick legislative assembly, was thrown out of the room yesterday after he gave a rival politician the finger, called her a liar, and then asked the entire parliament to "go outside" (presumably for some sort of fisticuffs).
The quote below gives you a taste of the outburst, but you owe it to yourself to download the audio, which I've edited out of the CBC As it Happens Podcast and uploaded to the Internet Archive for your enjoyment. Remix gold. Ringtone city. Listen to this rage. Just listen to it.
| Quote: | Robichaud complained again, but LeBlanc refused to apologize.
"I'll not apologize in this house for that young lady over there," he said, before accusing Blaney of telling lies about Saint John-Fundy MLA Stuart Jamieson.
Jamieson was asked to step down as tourism minister on Friday for suggesting the controversial deal between NB Power and Hydro-Québec should go to a referendum.
LeBlanc did not elaborate on the alleged lies before extending his middle finger again at another Tory MLA and shaking his fist.
"I'm gonna tell you, Dale [Graham, Tory MLA for Carleton], I'll walk outside with any one of yas here," LeBlanc said. "Don't ever laugh at me. Yes, I gave you that. And I'll give you that again. And I'll give you this if you want to go outside. You're a punk!" |
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LeBlanc ended up with a three-day suspension
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"The dignity of an animal is measured by his capacity to revolt in the face of oppression." -- Mikhail Bakunin |
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Senor Magoo
He's got a big one
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 8700
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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So was he hitting the sauce out in the parking lot beforehand? Or did he just skip the maturity phase of adulthood?
My favourite part: "Don't ever laugh at me!"
Oops, sorry. I'm totally laughing at you, along with much of the country.
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fork
Utensil
Joined: 26 Apr 2006
Posts: 1283
Location: Left . . . of the plate
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| Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Senor Magoo wrote: | | So was he hitting the sauce out in the parking lot beforehand? Or did he just skip the maturity phase of adulthood? |
No, he's a feisty longshoreman. It's what feisty longshoremen do.
Seeing as his first target was Blaney, a woman, I wouldn't rule out the possibility that that might have sent him over the edge. That otherwise he would have been able to maintain his composure. |
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
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Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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N.B. Premier Shawn Graham calls off $3.2-billion NB Power sale to Hydro-Quebec
| Quote: | New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham says he is no longer proceeding with the controversial $3.2-billion sale of NB Power assets to Hydro-Quebec.
Graham says changes sought by Quebec in recent weeks made the deal unacceptable for New Brunswick. He delivered the unexpected announcement in the legislature today. |
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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New N.B. party provokes fear of split vote
| Quote: | A new political party in New Brunswick is causing anxiety about a possible split vote in provincial elections later this year.
The Peoples Alliance expects to get official recognition by the end of the month, allowing it to be listed on the ballot in a general election in September.
The party says its aim is to reform politics by giving MLAs free votes on all issues.
"We feel that the people of the province need to have power back into their hands," said interim leader Kris Austin.
Austin, pastor at the Community Christian Church in Minto, N.B., says the new party is a response to the anger stoked by a proposed NB Power deal with Hydro-Québec, which angered many New Brunswickers before it was abandoned earlier this year.
"We have seen, basically, our system of government become more closed-door, there's too much secrecy," Austin said.
But some critics are concerned the party will help the Liberals.
"It's better to work within the parties because as we split the parties, we split the vote," said Max White, who has experience with new parties. White was an MLA for the Confederation of Regions party, which held official status in the legislature between 1991 and 1995.
White said COR split the vote and helped the Liberals win in 1995, something he now regrets.
Members of the Liberal Party say the formation of the new party reflects badly on the Progressive Conservatives and their leader, David Alward. |
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"The dignity of an animal is measured by his capacity to revolt in the face of oppression." -- Mikhail Bakunin |
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