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The '''proposed sale of [[NB Power]]''' was an attempted [[merger and acquisition|takeover]] of New Brunswick's [[Crown corporation|government-owned]] [[public utility]] assets by [[Hydro-Québec]], [[Canada]]'s largest utility. Announced on October 29, 2009 by [[premier]]s [[Shawn Graham]] and his Quebec counterpart, [[Jean Charest]], the deal ultimately collapsed in March 2010, after months of controversy.
The '''proposed sale of [[NB Power]]''' was an attempted [[merger and acquisition|takeover]] of New Brunswick's [[Crown corporation|government-owned]] [[public utility]] assets by [[Hydro-Québec]], [[Canada]]'s largest utility. Announced on October 29, 2009 by [[premier]]s [[Shawn Graham]] and his Quebec counterpart, [[Jean Charest]], the deal ultimately collapsed in March 2010, after months of controversy.



== Context==
== Context==
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== Memorandum of understanding ==
== Memorandum of understanding ==
On October 29, 2009, the premiers of New Brunswick and Quebec signed a [[memorandum of understanding]]<ref name="MOU">{{cite book|title=MOU between Quebec and New Brunswick |url=http://www.lowerratesnb.ca/downloads/MOU_EN.pdf|year=2009 |format=PDF|accessdate=2009-10-31}}</ref> to sell most assets of NB Power to [[Hydro-Québec]]. This agreement reached after a 9-month negotiation process undertaken at the request of New Brunswick,<ref>{{cite news|title=How accord was reached|first=Quentin |last=Casey |work=[[Telegraph-Journal]] |date=October 30, 2009 |url=http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/news/article/840842 |accessdate=2009-12-06}}</ref> would transfer most generation, transmission and distribution assets of the New Brunswick utility to a subsidiary of the Quebec-based Crown corporation, including the [[Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station]] and 7 hydroelectric plants, but would exclude fossil-fuel fired plants in Dalhousie, Belledune and Coleson Cove.<ref name=cbc/>
On October 29, 2009, the premiers of New Brunswick and Quebec signed a [[memorandum of understanding]]<ref name="MOU">{{cite book|title=MOU between Quebec and New Brunswick |url=http://www.lowerratesnb.ca/downloads/MOU_EN.pdf|year=2009 |format=PDF|accessdate=2009-10-31}}</ref> (MOU) to sell most assets of NB Power to [[Hydro-Québec]]. This agreement reached after a 9-month negotiation process undertaken at the request of New Brunswick,<ref>{{cite news|title=How accord was reached|first=Quentin |last=Casey |work=[[Telegraph-Journal]] |date=October 30, 2009 |url=http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/news/article/840842 |accessdate=2009-12-06}}</ref> would transfer most generation, transmission and distribution assets of the New Brunswick utility to a subsidiary of the Quebec-based Crown corporation, including the [[Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station]] and 7 hydroelectric plants, but would exclude fossil-fuel fired plants in Dalhousie, Belledune and Coleson Cove.<ref name=cbc/>


According to the memorandum of understanding, Hydro-Quebec would not assume any liabilities with respect to the Point Lepreau refurbishment project.<ref name=wnn>{{cite news|title=Hydro-Quebec to acquire NB Power assets |work=World Nuclear News |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-Hydro_Quebec_to_acquire_NB_Power_assets-3010094.html |date=2009-10-30 |accessdate=2009-10-30}}</ref> The deal also includes provisions to reduce industrial power rates at the levels offered by Hydro-Québec to similar customers and a 5-year rate freeze on residential and commercial rates.
According to the memorandum of understanding, Hydro-Quebec would not assume any liabilities with respect to the Point Lepreau refurbishment project.<ref name=wnn>{{cite news|title=Hydro-Quebec to acquire NB Power assets |work=World Nuclear News |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-Hydro_Quebec_to_acquire_NB_Power_assets-3010094.html |date=2009-10-30 |accessdate=2009-10-30}}</ref> The deal also includes provisions to reduce industrial power rates at the levels offered by Hydro-Québec to similar customers and a 5-year rate freeze on residential and commercial rates.
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The controversial deal was subject to review and approval by the [[New Brunswick Legislative Assembly]].<ref name=cbc>{{cite news|title=Quebec, N.B. strike $4.8B deal for NB Power|work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2009/10/29/nb-power-sale.html |date=2009-10-29 |accessdate=2009-10-29}}</ref> The leaders of both opposition parties in New Brunswick, [[David Alward]] of the Progressive Conservatives, and [[Roger Duguay]] of the [[New Democratic Party of New Brunswick|New Democrats]], opposed the deal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Énergie Nouveau-Brunswick: le protocole d'entente signé |work=[[Le Soleil]] |date=October 29, 2009 |first=Michel |last=Corbeil|url=http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/affaires/actualite-economique/200910/29/01-916393-energie-nouveau-brunswick-le-protocole-dentente-signe.php|accessdate=2009-10-29 |language=French}}</ref>. It was formally abandoned in early 2010 after public protest and the intervention of various other Atlantic Canadian Premiers and First Nations.
The controversial deal was subject to review and approval by the [[New Brunswick Legislative Assembly]].<ref name=cbc>{{cite news|title=Quebec, N.B. strike $4.8B deal for NB Power|work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2009/10/29/nb-power-sale.html |date=2009-10-29 |accessdate=2009-10-29}}</ref> The leaders of both opposition parties in New Brunswick, [[David Alward]] of the Progressive Conservatives, and [[Roger Duguay]] of the [[New Democratic Party of New Brunswick|New Democrats]], opposed the deal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Énergie Nouveau-Brunswick: le protocole d'entente signé |work=[[Le Soleil]] |date=October 29, 2009 |first=Michel |last=Corbeil|url=http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/affaires/actualite-economique/200910/29/01-916393-energie-nouveau-brunswick-le-protocole-dentente-signe.php|accessdate=2009-10-29 |language=French}}</ref>. It was formally abandoned in early 2010 after public protest and the intervention of various other Atlantic Canadian Premiers and First Nations.



== Initial reactions ==
== Initial reactions ==
=== Positions of other provinces ===
=== Positions of other provinces ===


Newfoundland and Labrador Premier [[Danny Williams]] was first to loudly protest the ceding of transmission lines to Quebec's effective jurisdiction, as he was involved in a longstanding dispute over the development of [[Churchill Falls]] and reliable access to [[NERC]] [[OATT]] governed transmission lines to sell hydro power to the US. Despite assurances by the Graham government, Williams took the position that just as Quebec and its regulatory agencies had permitted Hydro-Quebec to interpret the OATT rules in such a way as to monopolize and block transmission via Quebec, it would similarly be possible to block his only other land transmission route via NB.
[[Newfoundland and Labrador]] Premier [[Danny Williams]] was first to loudly protest the ceding of transmission lines to Quebec's effective jurisdiction, as he was involved in a longstanding dispute over the development of [[Churchill Falls]] and reliable access to [[North American Electric Reliability Corporation|NERC]] [[Open Access Transmission Tariff]] (OATT) governed transmission lines to sell [[hydroelectricity|hydropower]] to the [[United States]]. Despite assurances by the Graham government, Williams took the position that just as Quebec and its regulatory agencies had permitted Hydro-Quebec to interpret the OATT rules in such a way as to monopolize and block transmission via Quebec, it would similarly be possible to block his only other land transmission route via New Brunswick.


PEI, wholly dependent on connections to NB's transmission grid, also objected as it removed their longstanding option of receiving competing bids from Quebec or NB and further cast doubt on their ability to cooperate with NS or NL independently of NB or Quebec.
[[Prince Edward Island]], wholly dependent on connections to NB's transmission grid, also objected as it removed their longstanding option of receiving competing bids from Quebec or NB and further cast doubt on their ability to cooperate with Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador independently of New Brunswick or Quebec.


Nova Scotia objected on grounds that it had always supported a Maritime regional or Atlantic regional power transmission system subject to a single common set of rules, and that conflicts between NL and Quebec over NB or otherwise threatened to subject the entire region to American rules administered via NERC especially re OATT tariffs.
[[Nova Scotia]] objected on grounds that it had always supported a Maritime regional or Atlantic regional power transmission system subject to a single common set of rules, and that conflicts between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec over New Brunswicik or otherwise threatened to subject the entire region to American rules administered via NERC especially with regards to OATT tariffs.


As all these objections were related to the transmission, distribution and open market operations of the grid, they disappeared in the second deal which regarded only generating assets.
As all these objections were related to the transmission, distribution and open market operations of the grid, they disappeared in the second deal which regarded only generating assets.
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== Public debate ==
== Public debate ==
The tentative agreement between the two governments was initially well received by newspapers, both in New Brunswick and Quebec, before polls showed it to be opposed by the vast majority of NB residents. New Brunswick's three English-language daily newspapers, owned by the Irving's Brunswick News group, welcomed the sale. The ''[[Telegraph-Journal]]'' saluted it as the "deal of century"<ref>{{cite news|title=The deal of the century|work=[[Telegraph-Journal]] |date=October 30, 2009|location=Saint John, N.B.|page=A8|url=http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/840850|accessdate=2009-11-03}}</ref> while Moncton's ''[[Times & Transcript]]'' argued that the sale lifted a "big burden".<ref>{{cite news|title=NB Power sale lifts big burden|work=[[Times & Transcript]]|date=October 30, 2009|location=Moncton|page=D10|url=http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/search/article/841066 |accessdate=2009-11-03}}</ref> The province sole French-language daily, ''[[L'Acadie Nouvelle]]'', supported the transaction in a nuanced piece, stressing the "political and financial impasse" facing the New Brunswick utility.<ref>{{cite news|title=L'audace du changement|first=Jean|last=Saint-Cyr|work=[[L'Acadie Nouvelle]]|date=October 30, 2009|location=Caraquet|url=http://an.capacadie.com/editoriaux/2009/10/29/laudace-du-changement|accessdate=2009-11-03|language=French}}</ref>. Deal critics noted that Irving interests controlled the New Brunswick press outlets that were in favour of the deal and other conflicts of interest were evident.
The tentative agreement between the two governments was initially well received by newspapers, both in New Brunswick and Quebec, before polls showed it to be opposed by the vast majority of New Brunswick residents. The province's three English-language daily newspapers, owned by the Irving's Brunswick News group, welcomed the sale. The ''[[Telegraph-Journal]]'' saluted it as the "deal of century"<ref>{{cite news|title=The deal of the century|work=[[Telegraph-Journal]] |date=October 30, 2009|location=Saint John, N.B.|page=A8|url=http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/840850|accessdate=2009-11-03}}</ref> while Moncton's ''[[Times & Transcript]]'' argued that the sale lifted a "big burden".<ref>{{cite news|title=NB Power sale lifts big burden|work=[[Times & Transcript]]|date=October 30, 2009|location=Moncton|page=D10|url=http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/search/article/841066 |accessdate=2009-11-03}}</ref> The province sole French-language daily, ''[[L'Acadie Nouvelle]]'', supported the transaction in a nuanced piece, stressing the "political and financial impasse" facing the New Brunswick utility.<ref>{{cite news|title=L'audace du changement|first=Jean|last=Saint-Cyr|work=[[L'Acadie Nouvelle]]|date=October 30, 2009|location=Caraquet|url=http://an.capacadie.com/editoriaux/2009/10/29/laudace-du-changement|accessdate=2009-11-03|language=French}}</ref>. Deal critics noted that Irving interests controlled the New Brunswick press outlets that were in favour of the deal and other conflicts of interest were evident.


In [[Montreal]], Sophie Cousineau of ''[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]'' called it a bold deal providing benefits to both provinces, but worried it would face steep opposition in New Brunswick<ref>{{cite news|title=Le mariage de l'audace|first=Sophie|last=Cousineau|work=[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]|date=October 30, 2009|location=Montréal|url=http://lapresseaffaires.cyberpresse.ca/opinions/chroniques/sophie-cousineau/200910/29/01-916309-le-mariage-de-laudace.php|accessdate=2009-11-03}}</ref> while Jean-Robert Sansfaçon of ''[[Le Devoir]]'' stated that the proposed deal provided an initial response to those in Quebec who have expressed concerns about recurring electricity surpluses caused by [[Hydro-Québec]]'s large dam construction program.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hydro-Québec tout à l'exportation|first=Jean-Robert|last=Sansfaçon|work=[[Le Devoir]]|date=October 31, 2009|location=Montréal|url=http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/274589/hydro-quebec-tout-a-l-exportation |accessdate=2010-01-07}}</ref>
In [[Montreal]], Sophie Cousineau of ''[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]'' called it a bold deal providing benefits to both provinces, but worried it would face steep opposition in New Brunswick<ref>{{cite news|title=Le mariage de l'audace|first=Sophie|last=Cousineau|work=[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]|date=October 30, 2009|location=Montréal|url=http://lapresseaffaires.cyberpresse.ca/opinions/chroniques/sophie-cousineau/200910/29/01-916309-le-mariage-de-laudace.php|accessdate=2009-11-03}}</ref> while Jean-Robert Sansfaçon of ''[[Le Devoir]]'' stated that the proposed deal provided an initial response to those in Quebec who have expressed concerns about recurring electricity surpluses caused by [[Hydro-Québec]]'s large dam construction program.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hydro-Québec tout à l'exportation|first=Jean-Robert|last=Sansfaçon|work=[[Le Devoir]]|date=October 31, 2009|location=Montréal|url=http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/274589/hydro-quebec-tout-a-l-exportation |accessdate=2010-01-07}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:30, 20 August 2010

The proposed sale of NB Power was an attempted takeover of New Brunswick's government-owned public utility assets by Hydro-Québec, Canada's largest utility. Announced on October 29, 2009 by premiers Shawn Graham and his Quebec counterpart, Jean Charest, the deal ultimately collapsed in March 2010, after months of controversy.

Context

Template:...

Memorandum of understanding

On October 29, 2009, the premiers of New Brunswick and Quebec signed a memorandum of understanding[1] (MOU) to sell most assets of NB Power to Hydro-Québec. This agreement reached after a 9-month negotiation process undertaken at the request of New Brunswick,[2] would transfer most generation, transmission and distribution assets of the New Brunswick utility to a subsidiary of the Quebec-based Crown corporation, including the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station and 7 hydroelectric plants, but would exclude fossil-fuel fired plants in Dalhousie, Belledune and Coleson Cove.[3]

According to the memorandum of understanding, Hydro-Quebec would not assume any liabilities with respect to the Point Lepreau refurbishment project.[4] The deal also includes provisions to reduce industrial power rates at the levels offered by Hydro-Québec to similar customers and a 5-year rate freeze on residential and commercial rates.

An economic analysis[5] commissioned by the Graham government to Washington's NERA Economic Consulting estimated that the tentative deal would save New Brunswick ratepayers C$5.6 billion over a 30-year period compared to the status quo. The study also showed that residential, commercial and wholesale customers would reap 60% of the savings, but the savings would happen later than the discounts granted upfront to large industrial customers.[6]

The controversial deal was subject to review and approval by the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly.[3] The leaders of both opposition parties in New Brunswick, David Alward of the Progressive Conservatives, and Roger Duguay of the New Democrats, opposed the deal.[7]. It was formally abandoned in early 2010 after public protest and the intervention of various other Atlantic Canadian Premiers and First Nations.

Initial reactions

Positions of other provinces

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams was first to loudly protest the ceding of transmission lines to Quebec's effective jurisdiction, as he was involved in a longstanding dispute over the development of Churchill Falls and reliable access to NERC Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) governed transmission lines to sell hydropower to the United States. Despite assurances by the Graham government, Williams took the position that just as Quebec and its regulatory agencies had permitted Hydro-Quebec to interpret the OATT rules in such a way as to monopolize and block transmission via Quebec, it would similarly be possible to block his only other land transmission route via New Brunswick.

Prince Edward Island, wholly dependent on connections to NB's transmission grid, also objected as it removed their longstanding option of receiving competing bids from Quebec or NB and further cast doubt on their ability to cooperate with Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador independently of New Brunswick or Quebec.

Nova Scotia objected on grounds that it had always supported a Maritime regional or Atlantic regional power transmission system subject to a single common set of rules, and that conflicts between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec over New Brunswicik or otherwise threatened to subject the entire region to American rules administered via NERC especially with regards to OATT tariffs.

As all these objections were related to the transmission, distribution and open market operations of the grid, they disappeared in the second deal which regarded only generating assets.

First Nations

More problematic for the sale was the status of deals with First Nations, notably Tobique, on whose reserve lands the dams had been constructed in the 1950s without a formal written contract. The longstanding arrangement had been that Tobique reserve itself and its residents would not pay any electric power bills whatsoever, forever, and this had been respected at least through 2000. However, after the reorganization of NB Power, there was at least one attempt to bill Tobique residents for power use, indicating that the longstanding arrangement was being unilaterally breached by NB Power's successor corporations. The proposed sales of the dam to Hydro Quebec either under the original deal (to sell all of NB Power) or the second deal (to sell only some generating assets including Tobique) also constituted material breaches of these arrangements, leaving Tobique at least in an unassailable bargaining position to set new terms for access to the river and rights of way used to transmit power from it.

Other First Nations had similar deals, for instance St. Mary's near Fredericton has a similar arrangement which is demonstrated and reaffirmed spectacularly each year by a Christmas light display that people from many miles around come to view all season. Despite the right to waste an effectively infinite amount of power, St. Mary's has in recent years moved mostly to LED Christmas lights and other energy-efficient displays and there have been proposals to compensate it for power it has a right to use but is not using, in line with other energy demand management deals elsewhere in North America. A few First Nations have NB Power generating assets on their lands without any benefit to their residents whatsoever, and this has also been a point of debate.

The Tobique traditional council issued its own injunction against any cooperation with the sale of the dam, and the elected band council was prepared to go to court to prevent any transfer of the disputed asset or to back any blockade of rights of way or any effort by the First Nation to reclaim the dam itself. This was forestalled by the collapse of the deal.

Public debate

The tentative agreement between the two governments was initially well received by newspapers, both in New Brunswick and Quebec, before polls showed it to be opposed by the vast majority of New Brunswick residents. The province's three English-language daily newspapers, owned by the Irving's Brunswick News group, welcomed the sale. The Telegraph-Journal saluted it as the "deal of century"[8] while Moncton's Times & Transcript argued that the sale lifted a "big burden".[9] The province sole French-language daily, L'Acadie Nouvelle, supported the transaction in a nuanced piece, stressing the "political and financial impasse" facing the New Brunswick utility.[10]. Deal critics noted that Irving interests controlled the New Brunswick press outlets that were in favour of the deal and other conflicts of interest were evident.

In Montreal, Sophie Cousineau of La Presse called it a bold deal providing benefits to both provinces, but worried it would face steep opposition in New Brunswick[11] while Jean-Robert Sansfaçon of Le Devoir stated that the proposed deal provided an initial response to those in Quebec who have expressed concerns about recurring electricity surpluses caused by Hydro-Québec's large dam construction program.[12]

The October 29 memorandum of understanding fostered a spirited public debate in New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada. While the business community's formal representatives were publicly quoted as largely in favor of the agreement,[13][14][15][16][17] reactions to the MOU have been hostile. In addition to opposition leaders, Newfoundland and Labrador's Danny Williams,[18] a trade association representing independent power generators in New England,[19] Local 37 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the union representing 2,200 NB Power employees[20] and wind energy supporters[21] have condemned the agreement as detrimental to the interests of New Brunswick. However, in a notable reversal, Maine Governor John Baldacci altered his stance, now saying the sale is "a positive step forward" in early 2010.[22]

Opponents in the general public used social media to show their displeasure and contest the various arguments for the deal. On Facebook, 14,000 people joined a group in opposition to the sale within five days of the announcement.[23] A demonstration organized by the group and trade unions drew approximately 600 people outside the Legislative Assembly building on November 17, 2009.[24] A Leger Marketing opinion poll conducted on behalf of Quebecor Media newspapers in November 2009 in New Brunswick and Quebec showed that 60% of New Brunswickers polled opposed the deal, while 22% supported it. The situation is reversed in Quebec, where the deal gets the support of 55% of Quebecers. Only 14% of those who were polled in Hydro-Québec home province opposed it.[25][26]

Second agreement: Power generating assets only

After two months of controversies, New Brunswick and Quebec reprentatives signed a second agreement, reducing the scope of the sale. The Globe and Mail and Radio-Canada both reported on January 18, 2010 that the sale would involve the hydroelectric and nuclear power plant[27][28], which would be bought by Hydro-Quebec for C$3.4 billion. The government of New Brunswick would still own the transmission and distribution divisions and NB Power would enter into a long-term power purchase agreement with Hydro-Québec. The PPA would allow NB Power to deliver the rate freeze for residential and general customers. However, the industrial rates rollback would be smaller than under the original MOU.[29]

Deal falls through

On March 24, 2010, Premier Graham announced the deal had fallen through, due to Hydro-Québec's concern over unanticipated risks and costs of some aspects such as dam security and water levels.[30]. Reporters also emphasized the public debate and First Nations claims in reports though government was silent on these.

References

  1. ^ MOU between Quebec and New Brunswick (PDF). 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  2. ^ Casey, Quentin (October 30, 2009). "How accord was reached". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  3. ^ a b "Quebec, N.B. strike $4.8B deal for NB Power". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-10-29. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  4. ^ "Hydro-Quebec to acquire NB Power assets". World Nuclear News. 2009-10-30. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  5. ^ Eugene T. Meehan (November 2009). "Assessment of the Rate Impacts of the Memorandum of Understanding Between New Brunswick and Quebec Regarding NB Power". NERA Economic Consulting. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |archive-url= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  6. ^ Bundale, Brent (November 19, 2009). "Report shows power savings". Telegraph-Journal. Saint John, N.B. p. A1. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  7. ^ Corbeil, Michel (October 29, 2009). "Énergie Nouveau-Brunswick: le protocole d'entente signé". Le Soleil (in French). Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  8. ^ "The deal of the century". Telegraph-Journal. Saint John, N.B. October 30, 2009. p. A8. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  9. ^ "NB Power sale lifts big burden". Times & Transcript. Moncton. October 30, 2009. p. D10. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  10. ^ Saint-Cyr, Jean (October 30, 2009). "L'audace du changement". L'Acadie Nouvelle (in French). Caraquet. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  11. ^ Cousineau, Sophie (October 30, 2009). "Le mariage de l'audace". La Presse. Montréal. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  12. ^ Sansfaçon, Jean-Robert (October 31, 2009). "Hydro-Québec tout à l'exportation". Le Devoir. Montréal. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  13. ^ Canadian Press (November 14, 2009). "Irving offers backing to NB Power sale principals". Chronicle-Herald. Halifax. Retrieved 15 novembre 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ Penty, Rebecca (October 31, 2009). "'Unequivocal' support". Telegraph-Journal. Saint John, N.B. p. C1. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  15. ^ Weston, Greg (November 10, 2009). "NB Power deal boosts industry: Keir". Times & Transcript. Moncton. p. A3. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  16. ^ Bundale, Brett (November 12, 2009). "Savings offer security: Savoie". Telegraph-Journal. Saint John, N.B. p. B1. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  17. ^ Conseil du patronat du Québec (October 29, 2009). "Le conseil du patronat salue la transaction historique entre Hydro-Québec et Énergie NB Power" (in French). Montreal. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  18. ^ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (29 octobre 2009). "Williams lashes out at Quebec-N.B. power deal". CBC News. Retrieved 2009-11-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Penty, Rebecca (November 7, 2009). "New England's power utilities disconcerted". Telegraph-Journal. Saint John, N.B. p. C1. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  20. ^ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (November 13, 2009). "NB Power union slams Hydro-Quebec deal". CBC News. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  21. ^ Baril, Hélène (November 12, 2009). "Vente d'Énergie NB à Hydro: l'opposition s'accroît". La Presse (in French). Montreal. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  22. ^ Penty, Rebecca (January 5, 2010). "Power pact 'positive': Baldacci". Telegraph-Journal. Saint John, N.B. p. B1. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  23. ^ Shipley, David (November 3, 2009). "Anti-NB Power Sale Facebook Group Grows to over 14,000 members". Times & Transcript. Moncton. Retrieved 2009-11-3. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  24. ^ Pollack, John (November 18, 2009). "Hundreds of demonstrators protest NB Power sale agreement at Legislature". Telegraph-Journal. Saint John, N.B. p. A3. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  25. ^ Léger Marketing (November 22, 2009). "Rapport d'étude: réaction des Néo-Brunswickois à la vente d'Énergie Nouveau-Brunswick à Hydro-Québec" (PDF) (in French). Montreal. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  26. ^ Doucet, Danny (November 23, 2009). "Énergie Nouveau-Brunswick: Hydro-Québec en train de perdre l'opinion publique". Le Journal de Montréal. Montreal. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  27. ^ Shawn McCarthy (2010-01-18). "In revised deal, NB Power to retain some assets - The Globe and Mail". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  28. ^ Radio-Canada. "Énergie NB : Une vente de moindre ampleur". Radio-Canada (in French). Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  29. ^ Morris, Chris (2010-01-19). "Power deal reworked". Telegraph-Journal. Saint John, N.B. pp. A1. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  30. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/03/24/nb-nbpower-graham-1027.html

See also