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'The people of New Brunswick are looking for a ruling on the ownership of NB Power and whether the premier of the province of New Brunswick has exceeded his jurisdiction.'
Fredericton (29 Jan. 2010) - The Coalition of New Brunswickers - NB Power Not for Sale wants to take the New Brunswick government to court to stop the planned $3.2-billion sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec.
The group, which believes the sale is illegal, began proceedings this week when it advised the province's attorney general of its intentions under the Proceedings Against the Crown Act.
"The coalition has requested the attorney general to waive the 60-day period so that the notice of application can be filed in the near future," the coalition says.
The sale is scheduled to be finalized by March 31.
The group says it has already been given an initial response that the province will wait out the two-month period on a technicality – claiming that it does not have authority to waive the waiting period.
"This serves as yet another instrument for the government to withhold information from the citizens of the province. We were hopeful that the government would make good their public commitment to be transparent on the file of the proposed sale of NB Power and/or certain assets of NB Power," the group adds.
"The people of New Brunswick are looking for a ruling on the ownership of NB Power and whether the premier of the province of New Brunswick has exceeded his jurisdiction in an attempt to dispose of the assets of NB Power."
The goal of the coalition is to have the deal declared null and void. Supporters of the coalition include the New Brunswick Union of Public and Private Employees (NBUPPE/NUPGE).
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More information:
• Vigil will protest the undemocratic sale of NB Power
• Website: nbpowernotforsale.org
• Amended $3.2-billion NB Power sale announced
• New Brunswickers protest sale of NB Power
• Public summit Dec. 9 to oppose NB Power sale
• New Brunswickers strongly oppose NB Power sale
• NBUPPE condemns controversial sale of NB Power