Minister says power pact would yield savings
Published Thursday November 5th, 2009
FREDERICTON - Energy Minister Jack Keir is trying to clarify the benefits of the proposed energy deal between New Brunswick and Quebec.
Keir says New Brunswick would save about $275 million in replacement fuel costs during the Point Lepreau refurbishment, if the energy agreement between New Brunswick and Quebec goes through.
"I think it's important to get the facts out there, that folks understand not only what the opportunities are with (this agreement), but what the status quo means," Keir told reporters in Fredericton Wednesday.
If the project remains 18 months behind schedule, the cost of replacement power for that period will be $400 million.
But if the energy agreement is signed by the end of March 2010, Keir says New Brunswickers will only be responsible for $125 million of that, with the rest to be paid by Quebec.
Keir has called on the federal government to assume the cost overrun because the work is being done by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., a federal Crown corporation.
The refit of the reactor was supposed to have been complete by the end of September.
Opposition leader David Alward told reporters later Tuesday that Keir was merely repeating what was already in the agreement.
"A bad deal is a bad deal," he said.
- with files from The Canadian Press
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We understand the situation a little more than you'd like us to Mr Keir.
A 30% drop for big indutrial user rates and only a temporary rate freeze for the rest of us.
Why else would you be spending a million dollars trying to pull the wool over our eyes?
The government never had to start a PR campaign to give us GST cheques or a familly allowance did they? They only do it when they're trying to screw us.