Public Forum on NB Power Deal Held At U-N-B-S-J Overwhelmingly Against

There was a good turnout last night at the University for a public forum on the deal to sell parts of NB Power to Hydro Quebec with lots of questions. The K-C Irving Chair in Sustainable Development at the University of Moncton, Yves Gagnon tells CHSJ News the provincial government is putting the horse before the cart because it should first develop an energy strategy before selling off any assets.
Gagnon told the forum when the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant starts to make money, its ownership will be transferred to Hydro Quebec and he quotes Quebec Premier Jean Charest as saying the second deal is even better for his province. Gagnon argues the 41 large industrial customers in New Brunswick are going to be subsidised to the tune of 245 dollars by each ratepayer in the province. He also warns there's a debate going on in Quebec right now about whether its power rates are too low.