Published Tuesday November 24th, 2009

Brett Bundale Telegraph-Journal

FREDERICTON - A new public opinion poll shows 60 per cent of New Brunswickers are against the proposed sale of most of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec.

The opposition is in stark contrast to the 55 per cent of Quebecers who support the agreement, according to the poll conducted by Montreal-based Leger Marketing for Quebecor Media Inc.

The survey found that while 60 per cent of New Brunswickers are against the deal, 22 per cent say they have favourable views and 18 per cent didn't respond or said they were unsure how they viewed it.

"There were two main reasons people in New Brunswick gave for being against the deal," Leger Marketing spokesman Mathieu Gagne said Monday.

"As consumers there seemed to be a fear that the power needs of New Brunswickers won't be looked after and that decisions affecting them will be made outside of the province," he said. "The other main concern is the loss of NB Power's strategic assets."

The poll was conducted by Internet between Nov. 19 and 21, with 502 New Brunswickers age 18 and over responding. The survey has a statistical margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points, 19 times out 20.

A similar survey was conducted in Quebec, following the same sampling process and surveying 503 people. In those findings, 55 per cent of Quebecer's had favourable views on the deal, compared to 14 per cent against the deal and 31 per cent who didn't answer.

"Some of the people polled in Quebec said they recognized the opportunity of acquiring the assets of NB Power and its geographic advantage in accessing U.S. markets," Gagne said. "Others seemed to be unaware of the agreement or neutral."

The poll revealed that discontent in New Brunswick over the NB Power deal has given the Progressive Conservative Opposition a boost in public support.

When New Brunswickers were asked about their voting intentions in the survey, 45 per cent said they would support the Conservatives if a provincial election was held now.

Liberal support came in at 33 per cent, while the New Democrats held 19 per cent of public support. Other political parties or candidates netted four per cent in support.

As for the Graham government's satisfaction rate, 35 per cent of survey respondents said they're satisfied with the government's performance, while 57 per cent said they're not. Eight per cent of respondents said they were unsure if they're satisfied or not.

The survey also asked respondents in favour of the sale of most of NB Power's assets to Hydro-Quebec why they supported the deal. Nearly 50 per cent said they were supportive because they hoped such a transaction would significantly reduce the province's debt. Another 33 per cent said they were encouraged by the proposed five-year rate freeze.

When asked by reporters about the poll, Quebec Premier Jean Charest was careful in his response, saying only that the deal was good for New Brunswick.

"It's not for us to intervene in New Brunswick's internal affairs," Charest told a news conference. "What we are proposing is good for New Brunswick, it's good for New Brunswick consumers, it makes sense. New Brunswick will keep its sovereignty on its energy decisions."

- with files from CanadaEast News Service and The Canadian Press