Fredericton chamber is surveying its members about selling NB Power to Hydro-Quebec
Published Friday November 6th, 2009
The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is surveying its members for opinions on the controversial multi-billion dollar deal to sell NB Power to Hydro-Quebec.
Chamber president Lee Winchester said the survey will be completed by Nov. 12 and used to formulate the chamber's position on the deal.
"The whole intention of the survey is to get some feedback from our members before we actually make an opinion on the deal," he said Thursday. "As a chamber we don't have an opinion on it yet."
Last Thursday Premier Shawn Graham and Quebec Premier Jean Charest signed a memorandum of understanding to sell most of the assets of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec for nearly $10 billion.
In return NB Power's $4.75-billion debt will be eliminated, residential rate payers will get a five-year rate freeze and industry will get a rate cut of up to 30 per cent.
The chamber survey was issued Thursday, said Winchester. The survey results will go to the chamber board and if the board approves, then the survey results will be made public, he said.
The chamber survey asked a series of questions including:
* do members support eliminating all of NB Power's debt by the sale?
* do the rate savings proposed warrant the sale of NB Power?
* are members concerned about the impact of the sale on Fredericton where NB Power has its headquarters?
* will lower energy rates help the province attract new industry?
* can the province maintain its energy sovereignty?
* and overall do they support the sale of NB Power?
Winchester said chamber members have been calling the chamber office seeking more information about the deal.
He said a lot of chamber members don't fully understand the details of the memorandum of understanding.
"We are trying to give some more education on the whole issue and what it really means," said Winchester. "There are a lot of questions out there."
The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest in Atlantic Canada and he said it normally gets a good response to its surveys.
Winchester said he has not made up his mind about the deal.
"I am mixed," he said. "I see a lot of advantages in terms of what the deal can do for New Brunswick."
But he said he wants to know more about what happens after the five-year rate freeze for residential customers.
"Right now I am keeping an open mind," said Winchester.
New Brunswick Finance Minister Greg Byrne, who represents the riding of Fredericton-Lincoln, said he was pleased to hear about the chamber survey.
"We certainly welcome all feedback," he said Thursday. "I think the work the chamber is doing in polling their members is important and will provide valuable information for us."
Byrne said the chamber is once again showing leadership with its initiative.
He said he will be speaking to the chamber members about the deal to sell NB Power at a lunch on Nov. 16.
"It is important to get all the facts out so that people can have an informed opinion on the issue," said Byrne.
He said the survey will show what questions and issues the government needs to address in providing necessary information in the weeks and months ahead.
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