Secrecy killed NB Power deal: Duceppe

Bloc Qubcois Leader Gilles Duceppe says it was secrecy and not anti-Quebec sentiment that killed the deal to sell parts of NB Power to Hydro-Qubec.

Duceppe, who visited Fredericton on Tuesday as part of a cross-Canada tour to get Canadians' opinions on Quebec sovereignty, said the New Brunswick and Quebec governments should not have negotiated their proposed power agreement behind closed doors.

His visit comes just weeks after the collapse of New Brunswick's $3.2-billion deal to sell parts of NB Power to Hydro-Qubec.

Premier Shawn Graham speculated in January that opposition to the deal was being driven by a"higher sentiment of anti-Quebec attitudes that exist" in rural New Brunswick.

Graham later apologized for that but after the deal fell apart, the Parti Qubcois said "Quebec-bashing" had killed it.

Duceppe told reporters in Fredericton that anti-Quebec sentiment was there during the debate over the power deal but he said that wasn't the fatal blow.

He said Quebeckers would have been equally angry if New Brunswick had been buying their power utility.

'Take the time'

Duceppe said the problem with the deal was secrecy.

"When it touches identities, national identities or provincial identities, don't make deals behind closed doors. Discuss it before. Take the time. Take the time," Duceppe said.

When the deal fell apart in March, Quebec Premier Jean Charest said his province pulled out of the proposal after its power utility found unanticipated risks and costs related to the Mactaquac Dam and the Point Lepreau nuclear reactor.

Graham said the New Brunswick government was not willing to renegotiate the agreement.

Duceppe also said, contrary to what opponents of the deal claimed, an independent Quebec would have honoured the agreement had it survived.

If the power agreement went ahead, residential ratepayers would have had their electricity rates frozen for five years and large industrial companies would have seen a 22 per cent cut in their rates.

Graham said last week that he is still committed to offering Quebec-level power rates for big industry.