Thanks so much for your wonderful series of articles contextualizing the NB Power saga. I’ve been living away from New Brunswick since I graduated from STU in 2006, but my wife and I still care very deeply about what goes in our home province, and have been at a bit of loss when people have asked us what we think about the (so-called) “NB Power Deal.”

I think that your series of articles represents precisely the kind of journalism that is almost prerequisite for intelligent deliberation in a democratic political order–especially when the deliberation involves such a complex (and in some cases technical) issue. I’m sorry to hear that others do not agree. Thanks for providing us with an example of journalism that actually moves beyond “reporting” and gives the rest of us an example of citizenship.

Best,

Matt Dinan

http://coastlinejournal.com/2009/12/14/a-bittersweet-review/

Have to give Yvette credit, though. That has to be the politest “up yours!” I’ve ever read.

Greg Gross, editor
“I’m Black and I Travel!

http://censurergeneral.blogspot.com/2009/11/alternatives-to-nb-power-theft-on.html

I’ve been following this blog for some time – back when the Irvings fired one of your students and thought it was hard-hitting and poignant initially.

Going into this power debate though – it seems like more of a kleptocratic cheering section – why shouldn’t the people have a say about all this?

Why don’t you explain why you think it’s a good deal, rather than play up faults in the initial counterarguments?

For 5 billion dollars, you’d think it was worth a little debate.

The merits of the deal aren’t affected by where a lawyer’s office is or whether McKenna was involved or not. It’s good or bad because it is good or bad.

The alternative, as excruciating as it may seem for Irving bloggers and Twittering frantics, is NOT TO SELL the power corporation to another province.

If Quebec is willing to go into hock to buy the thing up – it’s gotta be worth more than they’re paying. The result of the buyout will certainly be detrimental to our infrastructure (hint: they’re buying it so we can’t do a deal with NFLD).

What kind of a government would try to pull this obviously crooked deal in the midst of a world-wide crisis?

Oh yeah – the kind who doubles their own pensions in the middle of a flood, with the cameras off. NB media are either all owned or blocked (see Charles Leblanc) to keep this and other charades going.

Luckily the public are not swayed by the lies anymore – and no multimillion advertising blitz is likely to change things – call it the rice-and-beans / political skepticism phenomenon, and I for one welcome it back not a minute too soon.

Good rational thinking like this is unfortunately very scarce right now. With any luck at all, sanity will prevail, and some real movement towards a viable long-term strategy (sale or otherwise) will result.

You wouldn’t consider chairing (refereeing) that all party committee would you?

Great blog.