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MARTY KLINKENBERG
Telegraph-Journal

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FREDERICTON - The government on Thursday denied an attempt by the Opposition to delay the proposed sale of NB Power to Hydro-Québec.

The Liberals voted against a motion that asked Premier Shawn Graham to call an election on the issue, winning 26-20. Today, they are expected to defeat a bill tabled by Tory leader David Alward on Wednesday that would have turned the controversial deal into a referendum issue.

"Am I disappointed the motion was defeated? Of course," Alward said Thursday night. "Did I expect t they would vote that way? Absolutely."

Alward said he made the motion to send a message to voters and to turn the heat up on the provincial government.

"As this deal gets closer to being signed, every time members of the Liberal caucus have to vote, it is going to get more difficult for them," Alward said. "They will be certainly feeling uncomfortable."

Alward introduced the motion calling on the premier of lieutenant-governor to call an election following a question period that got so heated at times that Speaker Roy Boudreau issued warnings to both sides.

Before question period even began, MLA Mike Olscamp of Tantramar challenged the Liberals to call an election - saying the issue of the sale of NB Power was important enough to warrant it.

In May, Graham had said he would hold an early election "if an issue of such importance came along."

"The issue is here," Olscamp said. "Why is he saying now that it is his right as premier to go through with this deal?

"The people of New Brunswick have been very clear: They do not want this asset sold, and if the premier continues down this road he and his party will suffer the consequences.

"What we can't figure out is why all of the members on that side of the house want to contribute to the total destruction of the Liberal Party in the next election."

Graham and Energy Minister Jack Keir battled with the Tories during question period, saying the proposed deal would cut power rates and, through job creation, help boost the province's economic fortunes.

Saint John MLA Abel LeBlanc, a former union negotiator who has often butted heads with Irving-owned companies, later addressed the house about his thoughts on the deal and the Irving family.

Critics are complaining that the proposed pact is overly generous to large industrial users because it would provide them with significantly lower power rates while residential customers would see their rates frozen for the first five years.

LeBlanc told the house that he has been deluged with calls from angry voters and that he has not reached a decision over the deal.

But LeBlanc also said that he trusts his colleagues and trusts the premier, who has assured him the sale was not "Irving-driven,"

Asking all members of the legislature to keep an open mind, he said, "To be quite honest, when I get phone calls, I'm up in the air. I've got a lot of questions that I feel need to be answered, but until I am in a position to form an opinion on it, I am dependent on what I have heard."

Noting that the Irving companies employ 30,000 people in New Brunswick, LeBlanc said, "I am looking at this situation and wondering who deserves a break.

"The Irvings employ my neighbours and my constituents. They employ people who are just getting a kick-start in life."

LeBlanc said that, if the sale does go through, he will look at it though the eyes of organized labour, and hope that employees of companies whose power rates are significantly decreased will receive some of those savings back at the bargaining table.

"I am subject to the possibility that I could lose my seat in an election over this, but maybe I won't," LeBlanc said.

The Tories still hope to see voters decide on the proposed sale, which would see $4.8 billion in debt wiped away in favour of lower power rates, in a referendum.

The bill Alward introduced on Wednesday is likely to be voted on today. The Liberals have a majority, which means some government members would have to support the Tories if it is to pass.

Anything is possible, but Alward doesn't expect that to happen. So for the mean time, he and his caucus plan to turn up the heat on the Liberals.

Alward said he will remind voters that the premier's campaign platform in 2008 included a promise that he would not sell NB Power.

"He said it would remain a Crown Corporation for the equal benefit of every New Brunswicker," Alward said. "That message, with the way this deal was cut, is what is troubling many New Brunswickers, including me."