Ignatieff dodges NB Power issue
Published Saturday November 14th, 2009
Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff avoided contact with this province's political third rail Friday by declining to comment on the controversial deal to sell NB Power to Hydro-Quebec.
But he said it's important that the deal is debated.
"That is a provincial matter," Ignatieff said during a media scrum in Fredericton on Friday afternoon.
"Shawn Graham doesn't get asked about Afghanistan, and I don't get asked about a provincial matter ... That's how our system works and it is good that we respect provincial jurisdictions on this matter."
The federal Liberal leader was in the capital to give a speech at the biannual meeting of the New Brunswick Liberal party Friday night.
The provincial Liberal government is proposing to sell most of the assets of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec for $4.75 billion.
That will eliminate NB Power's debt. It's also been promised that the deal will bring $5 billion worth of rate relief to industry, small businesses and homeowners. But many questions have been raised about the deal.
Ignatieff said that in general Canadians believe inter-provincial power sharing and developments are good for the country.
"But it is important to get the details right and it is important that it be done democratically," he said. "It is important that New Brunswickers get to have their say ... It is important the assembly have its say and it's important that all the details come out."
Ignatieff was also asked about the Canadian mission in Afghanistan.
The federal riding of Fredericton contains Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, the largest military base in the country. Recently, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for NATO countries to send more troops to Afghanistan. But Ignatieff was cool to the idea Friday.
"My sense is that we've got a good contingent there now," he said.
"We've made a contribution ... We've been there for a decade and now Canada needs to focus on what we're going to do after 2011."
Ignatieff said the Liberal party position is that the combat mission in Kandahar must end in 2011.
"The issue then becomes what can Canada usefully and safety do after 2011," he said. "That is a debate that needs to be held."
Canada's allies are debating the same issue, he said.
"Canadians feel very strongly that they want to have a credible, attainable, doable mission there," said Ignatieff.
That means the public wants to understand any objective set after 2011, he said.
Pam Campbell, Liberal candidate in the federal riding of Fredericton, said it was exciting and energizing to have Ignatieff at the meeting.
As for Afghanistan, Campbell said, Canada has been part of rebuilding that country.
"That is really important," she said.
More than 700 party faithful were expected to attend the New Brunswick Liberal Party's biannual meeting Friday night and today.
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The shareholders of New Brunswick need to be given an opportunity to decide the future of NB power because it is, in large part, their future. It is the future of future generations. A debate will determine if the elected politicians have failed to look after our best interests. It will also determine if democracy is alive and well in New Brunswick.
I have written an article against this sale on donotshit.me called NB POWERLESS, which talks about the need for a vision for the future of NB. One that goes beyond selling raw resources and energy and with a future that attracts industry and prosperity.