Tories step up attacks on pact
Published Wednesday November 25th, 2009
FREDERICTON - Bolstered by a poll that suddenly shows them holding a 12-point lead over the Liberals, the re-energized Tories stepped up their attacks on Tuesday, hammering away at the government's proposed plan to sell most of NB Power to Hydro-Québec.
Three Tories came to the legislative chambers carrying petitions from citizens opposed to the memorandum of understanding Shawn Graham signed with fellow premier Jean Charest of Quebec, and all but a scant few minutes of a discordant Question Period was devoted to the $4.8-billion transaction.
The government was under siege even before their daily 30-minute sparring session began, with Opposition MLAs Carl Urquhart, Dale Graham and Bev Harrison rising to present petitions to which each had added his own name.
"The government is having a tough time selling this deal to New Brunswickers, partially because of their track record and partially because of their unwillingness to release all of the information," Carl Urquhart, MLA for York, said. "We know the truth will come out, and when it does this government will have nowhere else to hide."
Assailed by the Conservatives and criticized by the auditor general for a lack of details, the deal would wipe out 40 per cent of the province's debt in exchange for most of NB Power's assets and for power rates that would be significantly lower for big industry and frozen for residential customers.
"This government continues to push for a measly rate freeze for residential customers and a massive rate cut for industrial users," Trevor Holder, the MLA for Saint John Portland, said. "There is a reason 60 per cent of New Brunswickers think it's a bad deal."
Only 22 per cent of the respondents in a poll released Monday by Quebec firm Leger Marketing favoured the pact, and six of every 10 people consulted by the firm were against it.
In addition, the survey also showed the Liberals trailing the Conservatives by 45 to 33 per cent, a significant decline from a September poll by Corporate Research Associates where the Liberals led among decided voters by 41 to 35 per cent.
The Leger poll, which was conducted last week, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points and is considered accurate 19 times out of 20.
"The decision has caused the government to go down in opinion polls," Madeleine Dubé, the MLA for Edmundston-Saint-Basile, said while addressing the house. "People are starting to have enough."
The bickering continued during Question Period, during which the premier lashed out at David Alward, criticizing the Opposition leader for not coming forth with his own plan to reduce the province's mounting debt and lower power rates.
The premier also said that the government's proposed plan falls directly in line with a platform statement posted on the Tories' website.
"Make no mistake about it," Graham said, "the Leader of the Opposition cannot debate the merits of this deal because he has yet to propose an alternative.
"That is the debate that should be happening in this House today "¦ and it is unfortunate that he is not up to that task."
Alward countered, blasting Graham for cherry picking members of a panel formed to study the deal, and for making the decision without consulting voters.
"Perhaps the premier actually believes his own rhetoric, but it is clear that the people of New Brunswick have no time for it or for him," Alward said.
"Our party has a clear position: This deal is unacceptable," Claude Landry, the Conservative MLA for Tracadie-Sheila, said. "The public has never been so opposed to an issue.
"Our party will do whatever it can to see the deal does not go ahead."
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Here is an alternative, all electricity users should get exactly the same deal when this publicly owned utility is sold.
I think the opposition leader has already proposed an alternative. He said he would not sell NB Power. It appears 78% of NBers like that proposal.
And we're not divesting ourselves of any assets. We're dumping liabilities with this deal.
I use my real name without attempting to obfuscate my identity. Nor am I a shill for him as you clearly are for the Lieberals - get off their talking points and address the real facts. Answer this: do you think it right to hide the direct benefit to the Irving companies from the people of New Brunswick? How do YOU justify this?
Your (Lieberal Party) attempts to deflect the real issues and somehow make this about Alward are so transparent they are laughable.
They did propose an alternative Shawn and it's in this very article.
"Our party will do whatever it can to see the deal does not go ahead."
I'd call that a very acceptable alternative.
Sad that people have to be paid to say good things about this sale.