Alward on energy: Hollow Liberal ‘consultations’ bad, hollow Tory ‘consultations’ good!

“Alward is repeating Liberal mistakes - it shows how much we need fresh leadership”, says NDP Leader Duguay

April 21, 2010

FREDERICTON- Today’s energy announcement by David Alward shows his Conservatives are not ready to govern, and that all they have to offer are the same failed processes used by the Graham Liberals.

The Liberals planned ‘consultations’ on the scuttled sale of NB Power, but made it clear they would not change their plans for the sale. Now the Conservatives say they will hold ‘consultations’ on New Brunswick’s energy future, but David Alward will release energy policies before they finish.

New Democrat Party leader Roger Duguay said, “Mr. Alward, New Brunswick is looking for sensible, pragmatic leadership, not for a repeat of disastrous Liberal policies. Listen to people - don’t pretend to listen when you’ve already made up your mind. This is an election gimmick, and not a very good one: you’ve already admitted you will release energy policies before your ‘consultations’ finish – you’re doing exactly what the Liberals did.”

NDP Campaign Director Dominic Cardy said, “David Alward had it right when he said the Liberals’ consultations on the sale of NB Power were a meaningless ‘communications exercise’. So why is he repeating their mistake? Why can’t the Conservatives come up with a policy for the people to judge on September 27? The Conservatives offer fake policies, meetings, task forces, and maybe even a referendum. Everything but a plan. You’re not running for president of a high school student union, Mr. Alward. New Brunswick’s struggling middle class families need a real plan for a province facing real problems.”

The NDP released its NB Power policy in March, 2010, combining a mix of private and public power generation, maintaining public ownership of the transmission and distribution infrastructure, and a focus on tax incentives for the development of green jobs and technologies.

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For more information please contact Dominic Cardy, NB NDP Campaign Director, at 506 238 5550.