HydroQuebec/NBPower/Danny Williams chess game: Check!
- Thread starter TenPenny
- Start date
Hydro Quebec should not be seen as so essential, I think, because, whatever the complexities needed for a project, the word of the contracting parties remains more important than the expertise of one contracting party. At the very basic level, it is impossible to learn a thing if you don't trust anyone.
Hydro Quebec was one of the pioneers in long distance 735kv power lines, this was in the era that brought about SNC, Lavlain, Fenco-Shawinigan, and other world class engineering companies based in Canada. Similar to how the Hoover dam was the one project that pretty much created Bechtel.
If there is one thing to remember about our digital age is that an original expertise is very easy to copy.
Sure TenPenny, those are wonderful results out of Hydro Quebec. And I'd be the first to acknowledge the great gifts to engineering that came out of that time. But again I have to reiterate, how would Hydro Quebec possibly achieve those results without the greatest gift of all...NL's Churchill Falls. Handed to them on a silver platter by Smallwood under great duress from Quebec and the federal government. It should have stayed on a piece of paper Jack. The end result to NL would be the same.
NB beware! Don't blink!
NB beware! Don't blink!
Smallwood had an amazing track record of giving away the province in search of prosperity, and failing.
While he had great dreams, the problem was that Newfoundland was still under the rule of the six families that ran the place as feudal lords.
Yup, that he did TP. He also had a fascination with Fidel Castro and his political leanings. Mr. Smallwood was not a hero by any stretch. He liked the limelight, he was not politically astute and his incessant rants were mind numbing to say the least.
And yes, I acknowledge the province was under the powerful influence of merchant families who saw fit to run the place like it was their own personal backyard.
And yes, I acknowledge the province was under the powerful influence of merchant families who saw fit to run the place like it was their own personal backyard.
Whew. Graham must have had a revelation. Much better to eat crow than proceed with that deal.
N.B. Premier Shawn Graham calls off $3.2-billion NB Power sale to Hydro-Quebec - Yahoo! Canada News
If there's any political gain to be had I'm sure he'll be all over it.
What's the word on the ground in NB? Is that a collective sigh of relief I hear coming from the east?
What's the word on the ground in NB? Is that a collective sigh of relief I hear coming from the east?
No sigh of relief.
Some are happy, but first off, we'll get a 3% rate increase immediately (was scheduled for either Mar 1 or Mar 30th, can't remember which).
We'll also be waiting to see which pulp mills close; Fraser Papers is emerging from bankruptcy, it'll be hard for them to make money with power rates the way they are.
I can't see any of the Irving mills closing, because that's not how the family operates (they have a strong commitment to the community, and will do whatever they can to keep them going.
Because of the utter incompetence of AECL, the refurbishment of Pt Lepreau will cost us a bundle, hopefully AECL will come good for what they've messed up.
All in all, we keep NBPower, and it will cost each of us a bundle. I guess we'll have to charge Danny a pretty penny to ship his power through the Province.
Thanks for the update TP.
So basically you're back to the status quo and you still retain your rights over the hydro lines. Danny will be happy to pay whatever is fair.
So basically you're back to the status quo and you still retain your rights over the hydro lines. Danny will be happy to pay whatever is fair.
Didn't take him long to comment.
Danny Williams applauds collapse of NB Power sale to Hydro-Quebec - Yahoo! Canada News
Danny Williams applauds collapse of NB Power sale to Hydro-Quebec - Yahoo! Canada News
Dexter was talking today about following up with Graham about a regional power grid. This plays well for Newfoundland too. And PEI is in talks with Hydro Quebec to purchase some hydro power to hopefully drive PEI rates down, as well as the emissions.
Lots of talk today about this...
Lots of talk today about this...
It's time for the Atlantic region to band together on this issue anyway, and many others as well. This failed deal with Quebec should give them the incentive they need to push ahead. I wonder how much input the New England states had in the decision to scrap the deal. They were not impressed with Quebec having a monoply on the tranmission lines leading to their region.