N.B. Power's Point Lepreau nuclear power generating station
Members of the New Brunswick legislature have unanimously voted in favour of an Opposition motion to press the federal government to pay for the cost overruns at the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant.
The refurbishment project of Atlantic Canada's only nuclear power plant is three years behind schedule and $1 billion over budget.
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. has run into numerous problems during the refurbishment - the first of its kind on a Candu-6 reactor.
Members of the provincial Tory government and the previous Liberal government have argued that taxpayers in New Brunswick shouldn't have to pay for the federal Crown corporation to climb the learning curve.
During debate on the motion Thursday, Opposition Leader Victor Boudreau said the province needs to secure a funding commitment during the federal election.
"The time is now, the time is not in a month or two," Mr. Boudreau said. "Prime Minister Harper is promising everything to everyone all around the country, but not in New Brunswick."
In particular, Mr. Boudreau pointed to the federal Conservative commitment to help with development of the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project which would see electricity moved through Nova Scotia.
"There has got to be some money for New Brunswick at the end of the day," he said.
Energy Minister Craig Leonard said he agrees Ottawa needs to pay and negotiations are going well. He said New Brunswick continues to push the federal government to provide full compensation for the cost overruns.
"The fact that the federal election is going on really doesn't enter into the strategy that we've had," he said. "We continue to discuss with the federal government before, during and after the election."
Mr. Leonard said he believes the motion and its unanimous support from both sides of the legislature should send a clear message to the federal government.
Meanwhile, NB Power issued an update on the refurbishment work Thursday.
It said crews have begun installing the 380 new calandria tubes in the heart of the reactor. Each calandria tube contains a pressure tube, which in turn holds the uranium fuel bundles used to power the reactor.
The first effort to install the new tubes failed.
Tiny scratches caused by wire brushes raised concerns that the joints might not remain reliable over the next 25 years.
When the refurbishment project started, the reactor was expected to be back in service in the fall of 2009.
NB Power expects to have the power plant back in operation by the fall of 2012.