Hiring of Montreal-based lawyer to represent NB in power deal puzzling, says Alward

FREDERICTON – Progressive Conservative Opposition Leader David Alward says he is puzzled by the fact that the Graham government hired a Montreal-based lawyer to represent the interests of New Brunswickers at the bargaining table when brokering the NB Power/Hydro-Québec deal.



Brian M. Levitt is co-chair of Osler law firm and works out of their Montreal office.



“I can’t imagine that there was no lawyer in New Brunswick available to represent his or her province at the bargaining table, said Alward. “The Premier seems to have no faith whatsoever in the people of this province.”



Alward says this decision raises several questions about the Premier’s judgment.



“Simply put, the Graham government is adding insult to injury by hiring a Québec-based lawyer to oversee a New Brunswick-Québec deal,” said Alward. “While we don’t question the lawyer’s professionalism, many would wonder if the Québec lawyer would have New Brunswick’s best interests at heart.”



Alward has stated publicly several times that he and the entire PC caucus believe that this is a bad deal for New Brunswick because it gives up control over our energy to a jurisdiction that the people of New Brunswick do not elect. Furthermore, said Alward, this deal, that was made behind closed doors, does nothing to help small and medium-sized businesses and working families in New Brunswick while giving huge power rate cuts to industry and big business.



MEDIA CONTACTS: Tyler Campbell, 506-453-3484, Tyler.Campbell@gnb.ca or Marcelle Saulnier, 506-453-5441, Marcelle.Saulnier@gnb.ca, Communications, Office of the Official Opposition.