First and foremost let me put my biases and relationships on the record. I am a proud Newfoundlander, have always been and will always be. Also a matter of public record is that my company has had a lengthy professional relationship with Nalcor, formerly NL Hydro.
Less well known though germane to today's fascinating, perplexing news developments is that I am also formerly a resident of the wonderful province of New Brunswick. Shawn Graham, the Premier, and I have met and he seems like a thoroughly decent man. One of his uncles had a long association with my beloved home.
A long rambling introduction to say I can't understand why, apparently, the Government of New Brunswick is prepared to sell its power assets to Hydro Quebec.
For a reported $10-billion influx, it appears New Brunswickers are prepared to give up the sovereignty power assets provide for immediate fiscal relief. They seem to be in search of a quick fix while forsaking the long-term control of their energy to another province. It is a strange political play, one that no doubt will determine Premier Graham's future. What will the wise people of New Brunswick think of this deal?
Some of us see an eerie parallel to deal done with Quebec by a Liberal Premier of Newfoundland named Joey Smallwood decades ago. Smallwood, in search of new revenues, came to an arrangement with Quebec over Churchill Falls. Both the bottom line and mythology agree on who won out - it was not Newfoundland.
Let us see what New Brunswick and Quebec formally announce today. Strap in tight everyone for what promises to be a voluble contentious debate with numerous dimensions.
