Archive for the ‘Quebec’ Category
Sinkhole claims St. Jude family of 4
Geologically unstable area sank into a hole destroying their home and taking their lives
St. Jude Quebec where a sink hole 1 km by .5 km destroyed a home
It’s hard to imagine but the ground sank beneath the home of Richard Préfontaine, Lyne Charbonneau and their daughters, Anaïs and Amélie at 9:30 pm on Monday night wiping out their family.
It is not the first time the fine Leda clay soil of the St. Lawrence River valley has liquefied and taken homes and lives.
The family were in their newly renovated basement rec-room proudly watching the Montreal Canadians playoffs. The earth beneath their home gave way, moving the home off its foundation and killing the family.
Conservatives say Ghiz should negotiate lower electricity
Islanders are entitled to 4.5 cents per kilowatt hour says Mike Currie
Conservative Energy Critic Mike Currie
Opposition Energy Critic Mike Currie says Prince Edward Islanders are entitled to electricity rates similar to those negotiated Monday, between Hydro-Quebec and the state of Vermont.
“Quebec-Hydro is willing to sign a 26-year deal with Vermont at 4.5 cents per kilowatt hour. Our rate is around 14 cents per kilowatt hour and as a province of Canada, I would expect that we would receive nothing less than what Vermont has received.”
Currie noted that although the NP Power deal with Hydro-Quebec has been scrapped, that decision should not impact on Prince Edward Island’s current negotiations.
“Premier Ghiz has always stressed that he is only looking for a power purchase agreement from Quebec, as this province does not own any transmission capability.”
Currie said the Premier on several occasions has suggested that P.E.I.’s proximity to the Magdalen Islands could provide a “very strategic advantage” in negotiations with Hydro-
Quebec in terms of providing an energy corridor for Quebec to run a cable to the islands. Read the rest of this entry »
NB Power sale dead
Mark one for the citizens of New Brunswick who did not want to sell NB Power
NB Premier Shawn Graham, the deal was killed by unpopularity no matter what excuse Graham gives photo - Globe and Mail
CBC News – New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham confirmed in the legislature Wednesday morning that his government will not sell NB Power’s generation assets to Hydro-Québec.
The New Brunswick government had planned to sell NB Power’s generation assets to Hydro-Québec for $3.2 billion.
“That is why it is with so much regret that I am announcing this morning that we are no longer proceeding with discussions to finalize the energy agreement with Hydro-Québec,” Graham told the legislature.
“I continue to believe that the agreement proposed in October and the amendments inspired by New Brunswickers that we brought forward in January were in the best interests of our province.
“However, over the past several weeks as we worked to take that agreement and turn it into a full legal document, Hydro-Québec has asked for changes to the agreement that would have unacceptably taken away some of the value and increased some of the risks for New Brunswickers.” Read the rest of this entry »
Musings on politics, power & patronage
With Christmas upon us it is a good time to clear up a few odds and ends from the to do list on my desk.
Paul MacNeill, Eastern Graphic publisher
By Paul MacNeill, Eastern Graphic
Saw a poll recently that purportedly shows 70 per cent of New Brunswickers oppose the sale of New Brunswick Power to Hydro Quebec.
Seems reasonable. Shawn Graham has sold the future of his province for $5 billion. In 10, 20, 30 or 100 years time the agreement will make Newfoundland’s infamous Lower Churchill deal with Quebec look like the greatest thing since sliced bread.
The problem for Graham is he lied in the last election, saying he would never sell New Brunswick Power. Now he’s giving it away for basically the cost of the corporation’s debt, plus five years of rate control.
It is a great deal in the short term, and a terrible deal in the long run.
Ghiz hand-picked Hydro-Québec team doesn’t include utilities
Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart is a better choice to bring home the bacon for PEI
With story from CBC
Premier Robert Ghiz’s hand-picked, blue ribbon team of negotiators with Hydro-Québec don’t include anyone from the utilities or the Minister of Energy. Does this indicate Ghiz lack of confidence in the negotiations or the people in the industry?
The Town of Summerside runs its own utility and has 12% of the Island market. They are not at the table in Quebec. “We have about 12 per cent of the Island electricity here in Summerside,” said Mayor Basil Stewart. “With all these negotiations going on on the side, I think it’s important that we be at the table. And so we’re asking the province to make sure that we’re on the know on what takes place.” CBC
Ghiz announces major negotiations with Hydro-Québec
Premier Robert Ghiz announced the Province of PEI is in serious negotiations with the Province of Quebec and Hydro-Québec. The goal is to acquire new hydro energy at lower costs for Islanders.
No details just the announcement they are working on something new.
“Like many negotiations, there is no certainty of any income,” Premier Ghiz said. “The only certainty is in knowing failure to pursue new approaches is to accept the status quo and we all know the status quo is unacceptable.”
Opposition critic Mike Currie expressed some doubt the province would rescue anything from the sale of NB Power.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest is expected to make a further statement today. Charest has already said he expects to purchase all of PEI and Nova Scotia’s electrical providers.
“But I do wish them luck Certainly the cost of electricity here has gone up 42 per cent in the last two years since you came into government. Certainly Islanders are in need of a break.”
Related story – Ghiz panics offers to give Maritime Electric to Hydro-Québec
The reality is Ghiz has to do something although he is scrambling to catch up.
Ghiz panics offers to give Maritime Electric to Hydro-Québec
PEI's Premier Robert Ghiz, in a box with no way out, his face says it all photo: Guardian
When the Parti Québécois returns to power the political impact of this deal will hit home
The capitulation of PEI to Quebec is faster than anticipated.
Yesterday we predicted PEI and the rest of the Atlantic region had lost their autonomy to Quebec in the Hydro-Québec deal for NB Power. End of the Maritime illusion
Who could have predicted Ghiz has so little courage he rolls over and wants to quit when the game is just beginning? No doubt Quebec Premier Charest is using the advantage of momentum in the deal with NB Power to influence PEI and even Nova Scotia.
The psychology in mergers and acquisitions is that the purchaser has all the field advantage to pick up other smaller player while the game is in play. Next month or next year the hysteria will calm down and it might be harder to get Ghiz to the table.
Fire sale of NB Power demonstrates danger of debt
Point Lepreau photo: NB Power
New Brunswick’s Premier Shawn Graham is selling NB Power to Hydro Quebec for fire sale prices because he is desperate. What will PEI sell when it gets desperate?
The problem isn’t of Graham’s doing. More than 20 years of mis-management and poor decision making at NB Power has created a massive $11 billion debt. Graham just doesn’t have the courage to hang tough and solve it.
The Point Lepreau nuclear plant refurbishment is going badly. Already at $1.4 billion, CBC reported that the project is stalled again with the meter running at $40 million a month in additional costs. CBC
PEI’s Premier Ghiz in the dark on NB Power sale
PEI's Premier Robert Ghiz, is this the face of a man in control? photo: CBC
Ghiz plays Pollyanna in multi-billion dollar energy game
PEI’s Premier Robert Ghiz is in the dark on the outcome of Hydro-Québec’s purchase of NB Power. PEI is out of the loop having discarded it’s low-energy price deal with New Brunswick under the Binns Tories.
“So at the end of the day, we know hydro that’s produced in Quebec is cheap, renewable power and if now we’re able to receive more of that here in the Maritime region, that could be a good thing.” CBC
Ghiz realizes but doesn’t want to articulate that Hydro-Québec has cheap energy for the people of Quebec but not for its customers outside Quebec.
NB Power being sold to Quebec in fire sale
Consumer electricity rates frozen, commercial rates reduced 20%
From a CBC story – updated
New Brunswick Premier Shayne Graham andHydro-Québec officials are set to announce the takeover of NB Power by the energy giant. Newfoundland warns PEI and NS the deal looks good but will bite them in the end.
The $10 billion price tag includes hydro and nuclear generating plants, transmission and distribution but excludes older fossil fuel plants.
Transcontinental losses mount and more troubles may be coming at Guardian
Transcontinental TCL.A TSX
NJN Network, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, June 23, 2009 with story from Transcontinental and TD Newcrest Securities
The restructuring announced by Transcontinental Media, parent of the Charlottetown Guardian, earlier this year is expected to save $75 million this fiscal year has but cost the company $28 million in additional expenses already. Even at $100 million in cost reductions, it only amounts to 4% of last years revenues of $2.4 billion and is likely not enough. Read the rest of this entry »
Little girl lost part 4 – Brander’s last stand
Tale of Two Theresa's - new 16:9 format
Guardian Publisher Don Brander pays the fiddler in Montreal
a Satire by Stephen Pate, NJN Network, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, May 27 2009
Now little girl lost she takes herself too seriously She brags of her misery, she likes to live dangerously And when bringing my name up She speaks of a farewell kick to me She sure go a lot of gall To be so useless and all Muttering small talk at the wall While I’m in the hall Bob Dylan Visions of Johanna revised Read the rest of this entry »
Little girl lost part 3 – Newspapers like the Charlottetown Guardian are dying
Tale of Two Theresa's - our new 16:9 format for feature stories
Newspapers are money and power hungry when they need to be humble
Satire by Stephen Pate, NJN Network, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, May 26 2009
Now little girl lost she takes herself too seriously
She brags of her misery, she likes to live dangerously
And when bringing my name up
She speaks of a farewell kick to me
She sure go a lot of gall
To be so useless and all
Muttering small talk at the wall
While I’m in the hall
Bob Dylan Visions of Johanna revised Read the rest of this entry »
