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Ol' Sleuth is getting right down to it today, beginning of course with NB Power. . .

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Well, well, well, New Brunswick has itself a rip-roarin' good ol' fashioned political controversy with the proposed sale of NB Power, and it is one that's beginning to make earlier controversies in recent times, such as the changes to French immersion, look like picnics. It isn't all bare-knuckled sound and fury, though, with at least some local politicians able to partake in a little good natured political teasing with the issue.

Take the comments of Moncton North MLA and Justice Minister Michael Murphy, for example. Murphy was attending the Dieppe Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this past week at the Ramada Inn, specifically to read the citation to honour harness racer Guy Gaudet. But Murphy's Irish wit bubbled to the surface and he couldn't resist commenting on the decor in the hotel's meeting room, which included miniature oil-fueled lamps on each table. Noting this, he assured Progressive Conservative MLA for Dieppe Centre-Lewisville Cy LeBlanc that the proposal to sell NB Power had nothing to do with the lamps being used rather than electric lighting!

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So what's the scoop behind the recent resignation of PC Party Executive Director Marie-Claude Blais, which takes effect at the end of this month? The news Blais is returning to her Moncton law practise was pretty much swamped by the NB Power-Hydro Quebec deal, but keen political watchers are wondering . . . Many think Blais is simply preparing for an election run. Some think she's looking for the federal Conservative nomination to take on incumbent Liberal MP Brian Murphy, having come much closer than many expected to defeating the MP's cousin and N.B. Justice Minister Michael Murphy in the 2006 provincial election.

Others, however, believe she is still looking for a seat in the provincial legislature, and instead of going after the Moncton North Murphy stronghold again will next fall set her sights on Tory-turned-Liberal Joan McAlpine-Stiles in Moncton West.

Yet others, while acknowledging that, like the Terminator, 'she'll be back,' think they see significance in the timing of the announcement, the day before the big NB Power sale announcement. Could it be Blais doesn't see eye-to-eye with the party leader on the biggest issue in New Brunswick politics in many decades? That would explain the timing, the PCs knowing the resignation would receive minimal notice. Some PCs are speculating that while Blais strongly dislikes the deal, she has an equally strong dislike of David Alward's playing into anti-Quebec and anti-French sentiment via suggesting the energy hub is moving from Saint John to Saint Jean, PQ and control of electric power is going to l'Assemblée Nationale in Quebec City. There is plenty for critics of the deal to latch onto without taking the opportunistic language low road, however veiled. It is, after all, love it or hate it, a business deal. . . money doesn't care what language anyone speaks.

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Still speaking of power deals and power. . . where in the world is former Tory premier Bernard Lord? We've heard from the only other still living popularly elected New Brunswick premier, Frank McKenna, so where's his successor? What's he think? Why so quiet rather than lending some political weight to PC leader David Alward's campaign against the deal? Or could it be that Mr. Lord, who was the premier who himself broke NB Power into five corporations and announced he'd be more than happy to sell the utility's assets, actually thinks this is a good deal? Sleuth doesn't know for sure, but he does find it curious the usually accessible Mr. Lord has been mighty elusive lately . . . more than one reporter and media outlet has indeed been attempting to find him for comment, including the T&T. So, is he just a really busy man these days or should we read something into it?

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There is lots of activity in the Metro Moncton Catholic community these days as the Diocese tries to figure out how to raise funds to make necessary repairs to one of Moncton's most noticeable landmarks, Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, which reportedly needs millions of dollars of work over the coming years to preserve it and keep it functional. It's money the Diocese doesn't have, although it does have enough to take care of an immediate problem regarding a leaky roof. The big question is going to be how to find the funds, which, obviously, are a lot more than anyone is liable to raise with a bake sale. . . or even a whole whack of bake sales! But it's early yet and the faithful are just getting organized and examining their options. No need to panic.

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Sleuth Quip: Your gumshoe sees Mount Allison University is again atop the annual Maclean's university listings. What's that old joke? How many Mt. A students does it take to change a lightbulb? Three thousand, one hundred: One to change the bulb and 3,099 to pose for the Maclean's photo!

* Heard any good rumours or gossip? Sleuth wants to know. Send all your best to Sleuth via e-mail at sleuth@timestranscript.com or fax him at 859-4904. He'll report back here next Saturday.