NB Power Board Stacked

December 1, 2009

According to a half-page article on page A8 of the December 1 issue of the Times & Transcript, Moncton West MLA Joan MacAlpine-Stiles says she is still in the process of studying the MOU and hasn’t yet read it all the way through. The MOU is dated October 29, 2009, and has been available with only four clicks of a mouse at the gnb.ca web site. How long is it going to take her to read a 14-page document?


I thought about writing a letter to MLA Joan MacAlpine-Stiles but I’m positive it would be an exercise in futility. If she hasn’t had time to read the MOU in 32 days, I’m quite sure she wouldn’t have time to read a letter from me. I hope she has time to read the Transcript though because this issue is vitally important to the future of New Brunswick

It doesn’t take any studying to understand that the MOU is a complete giveaway of our publicly owned electrical utility. It only takes about 10 minutes to read it through, including the time spent shaking your head in disbelief, disappointment and complete and utter disgust at the audacity and arrogance the Graham government has displayed by offering this deal to Hydro Quebec without first having some input from the taxpayers.

I stopped by MLA Mike Murphy’s office to join the crowd of protestors on Monday morning. I would like to thank MLA Murphy for taking the time to at least allow people to voice their concerns. The hot Tim’s offered by his Executive Assistant Colin Carruthers was also very much appreciated on this cold November morning.

So now it looks to me like the Premier is stacking the Board of Directors of NB Power in his favour by making 5 new appointments Monday, including Norm Betts. Good ole Norm, a former PC MLA, since he lost his seat in 2003 has been on the Board of Directors of Tembec Inc., a Quebec-based paper company. It’s easy to see what opinions Norm will bring to the table when it comes to industrial electricity rates and whether or not NB Power should be sold to Hydro Quebec. I’m confident that a bit more Googling will inevitably turn up similarly dubious ties to the other four recent appointees to the Board of NB Power.

Folks, I’ve come to the conclusion that this left-right political paradigm is nothing but a charade, a smoke screen. It doesn’t matter if you have a Conservative or Liberal Party background. It’s all designed to keep us thinking we can make a difference when in actual fact, the bureaucrats are running the whole show behind the scenes.

It’s now time for the taxpayers of New Brunswick to wake up to what’s happening, stand up, study the political issues, take a stand, and try to turn this goliath around. Otherwise, we’ll be left to our own demise. Just saying no and expecting them to “get it” will not cut the MOU mustard. We’re in desperate need for a Party for the people in this province. We can no longer be…in “dis-grace”.

Gary T. Bastarache