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Dave MacLean
Telegraph-Journal

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Victor Boudreau says he's very much aware of the challenges facing northern New Brunswick and the minister of Business New Brunswick wants his department's front-line workers to get a first-hand look at the troubled region as they try to develop programs and services to help bolster the struggling economy.

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Jordana Huber / Canwest News Service

Business New Brunswick Minister Victor Boudreau says he understands the concerns of Dalhousie residents who are worried about the impact of job losses at the community’s NB Power generating station if the proposed deal to sell most of the Crown corporation’s assets to Hydro-Québec is approved.

Boudreau says his department has been consulting with northern stakeholders as it prepares to hire an assistant deputy minister responsible for the region and draft policies to help the area.

"We are also organizing all of our investment officers here at BNB - they're going to be touring the north, they're going to be visiting all six (community economic development agencies) in northern New Brunswick, to get better familiarized with what's available, what the assets are, what industries they want to promote - to get a better on-the-ground knowledge of what there is to offer in northern New Brunswick," Boudreau said. "We'll be piling them into a bus and touring the northern half of the province."

Boudreau said he understands the concerns of Dalhousie residents who are worried about the impact of job losses at the community's NB Power generating station if the proposed deal to sell most of the Crown corporation's assets to Hydro-Québec is approved.

"There's no question the greater Dalhousie community is being hit as a result of the power deal," the minister said. "That's why the premier has made it very clear that every department has to look at what can be done for that area, trying to fast-track projects, to make sure that we do what we can for that community."

Boudreau said the consultation process will continue over the next few weeks.

"I've been doing consultations on behalf of BNB. I've been meeting all around the province, but obviously when I'm in the north there's more focus on the agency and the role that it plays," he said.

"Within a few weeks, we hope to be in a position to announce who the assistant deputy minister will be for the new agency in Bathurst. Shortly after that, if all goes as planned, we'll be releasing the action plan for the north, which will be the main tool that will guide the new agency and the agency itself will be established in January, along with all the other recommendations that will come from BNB in terms of programs and incentives. It's all going to be rolled out between now and January."

Boudreau said he and BNB deputy minister Bill Levesque have been talking with business leaders and economic development groups in an effort to determine the best course of action for the region.

"We've met with about a dozen groups so far - and in all we'll have met between 35 and 40 stakeholders by Christmas. We have a pretty aggressive agenda in the coming weeks."

Conservative leader David Alward, whose party opposes the NB Power deal, said he fears the government isn't paying enough attention to the concerns of northern communities.

"The decision on NB Power will have a huge negative effect on the north," Alward said. "I spoke to the mayors of Bathurst and Belledune and others who feel left behind. They have a lot of questions and concerns about the long-term impact (the proposed deal) would have on the north.

"One of the things I thought was especially absent from (Tuesday's) speech from the throne ... was any mention of the relationship with municipalities and what is taking place. We know what the impact of the closure of thve Dalhousie plant will mean for the municipality and the lost tax revenues, adding a similar situation exists with Belledune and its port."

Alward said the NB Power deal shows the government is ignoring the wishes of New Brunswickers.

"This is another example of what's going on with NB Power - this government doesn't include the people who are most affected in the decisions. How can they have a vision for the north when they're leaving municipal leaders, business leaders and community leaders out of the process of finding solutions for the north."