D7

Marie-Claude Blais

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Since the whole NB Power debate started, I have been very fortunate to be part of what I would call a changing moment in the history of New Brunswick. I have observed people from all walks of life being engaged in the future of our province. Contrary to what some would have us believe, this populist movement is about much more than the sale of NB Power and the politics of it. I believe that it is about the population wanting to be heard and engaged with their government in a true dialogue.

A poll this week by Leger marketing, the first one on the subject, determined that 60 per cent of the population of New Brunswick is opposed to the sale of NB Power. It will be very interesting when other polls confirm the same trend. Still, poll or no poll, lots of questions remain unanswered.

The people have the right to be informed about the details of this deal. The Shawn Graham government must provide direct answers to the electorate; it must stop hiding under glossy pamphlets and full page ads and engage New Brunswickers in real discussion.

So how do we push to get our questions answered? What real vehicle do we have to seek the details of this deal? Well, we have our elected officials; one would hope that they can explain this historical deal. They are, after all, accountable to us. When the deal was first signed Minister of Energy, Jack Keir came out and said that details and any questions on the sale of NB Power would be fully debated in the Legislative Assembly and that New Brunswickers would have their say and get answers to their questions. So why are the premier and his ministers, including Mr. Keir, so reluctant to answer questions asked in the house?

Why don't they want to know what New Brunswickers think about the sale of NB Power?

Throughout the past weeks, the Shawn Graham government has provided no further details of the deal. The Shawn Graham government's strategy seems to be to attack the Opposition and its leader, David Alward, to divert the responsibility of answering the questions of New Brunswickers. I sat in the gallery at the legislature this week and the premier seemed most preoccupied by obtaining the Progressive Conservative plan rather than explaining his own. It appears as though Shawn Graham believes that spin doctors can do a better job than he in promoting what he stands for. He seems to think that if he tries to turn the table on the Opposition he won't have to answer questions.

In the mean time the CEO of Hydro-Québec, Mr. Vandal, is touring the north shore. He admitted to media this week that people have credible fears because of the complexity of this deal. If the CEO of Hydro-Québec can admit that we have legitimate fears, then maybe the Shawn Graham government should stop denying it. Why is this government more preoccupied with spin than a true dialogue with New Brunswickers?

This week the Telegraph-Journal called upon the government to put its rationale on the table. It called upon ministers to give people the details they need to evaluate the proposal and engage in an informed debate. Ministers in the past week "touring the province" only had scripted answers and could not respond to the questions of New Brunswickers.

It has been made very clear that this is Shawn Graham's deal, so what due diligence has he done on it? People are right to ask for details about the due diligence process. People have the right to know what precautions the Shawn Graham government took before going to Hydro-Québec. Why would our premier not want us to be informed? Why the veil of secrecy? Let the public know the process!

The Shawn Graham government must remember that the people of New Brunswick elected all members of the legislature and when a member of the opposition stands up and demands an answer to a question, it is to the people of New Brunswick that the premier must answer.

In the United States, President Obama is trying to change the way Medicare is run. He has informed the public, he has held town hall meetings and Senate hearings. The media, the public, big business, nurses, doctors and a lot of stakeholders have had the opportunity and the audacity to challenge the process, to examine it, to put numbers to it. It is no easy task. It polarizes people, but in the end all are free to give their opinion and feel engaged. It is also important to note that Americans knew that President Obama would try to reform Medicare. He ran on it. It was part of his platform for change. Things here are quite different, wouldn't you say?

At this present time the premier must realize that this crisis has passed political positioning. This is not about Progressive Conservative against Liberals, this is about answering to the people of New Brunswick. This is about providing answers to the people through our elected officials and the premier has the obligation to show true leadership and answer honestly, truthfully and with transparency the questions being asked of him.

I am of the opinion that if the premier is as courageous as some have said, then why does he not provide New Brunswickers with real answers and real debate? I have talked to people who have said that it is not the deal per se that they condemn, but the way the Shawn Graham government has, time and time again, mismanaged our affairs.

The premier has to stop leading this province as if it were all about the bottom line and for the benefit of some. It has become apparent to a lot of New Brunswickers that Shawn Graham does not govern for the good of the people but for the good of only a few.

* Marie-Claude Blais, of Moncton, is a lawyer and is the executive-director of the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party. Her column appears in this space every second Saturday.