Go East, Not West (at least for a power bill decrease)

The last post showed how NB Power could look west to Ontario to see how they could decrease, (and not increase by 9.6%!!) their residential charge.

It turns out they didn't even have to leave Atlantic Canada. Newfoundland Hydro also reduced their rates this year.

Here comes the Hydro Hammer

NB Power, the utility that never saw a rate increase it didn't like, has just applied for a 9.6% increase.

Our Ontario cousins, meanwhile, benefit from a regulator-approved decrease in their electric bill.

Someone tell David Hay to start shopping for electric power in Ontario. New Brunswickers could use the discount.

A Fine Nor-Easter

The winds are howling, and Saint John is currently enveloped by a wicked storm.

No word on any blown rooftops, but I suspect the harsh climate will dampen attendance at tonight's anti-council uprising being planned for Exhibition Park.

Who knew that Mother Nature favoured Saint John's incumbents?

UPDATE: The populist rabble drew 300 curious voters, and Ivan Court continued to run for mayor by showing up in front of the first empty mic stand he saw..

let's bust this damned thing

Those of you with way too much knowledge of Canadian history would recognize the title of this post as a catchphrase from one of Laurier's more prominent Toronto financial supporters, who was prepared to rather abruptly put an end to the Laurier era simply because he was against the Liberal leader's support for reciprocity.

Of course, the Liberal turncoat/bagman had help in his campaign against one of the more successful Liberal administrations in history. A chief actor in this reversal of fortune was Conservative leader Robert Borden, who essentially entered into a non-compete agreement with Quebec nationalists in advance of the 1911 federal election. This entente with Henri Bourassa et al. was termed an unholy alliance, but proved to be quite effective politics. Laurier, one of the giants of Canadian history, was effectively torn to political shreds by opponents with little in common except a shared desire to see someone else in charge of the Canadian government.

Those of you who fret about the agreement between Stephane Dion and Elizabeth May might do well to remember who won the 1911 vote.

bravo! un vrai chef...

Stephane Dion, on the appointment of separatist Daniel Paille:

“I am well aware that there are talented people in the Parti Québécois and the Bloc Québécois, people with whom I have much in common...Nevertheless, I maintain that part of their talent and potential to contribute to their fellow citizens is negated by their separatist ideology. As far as I am concerned, you need to believe in a country if you are to contribute your utmost to it.”

Arguably, the most lucid remarks he's made since becoming Liberal leader. Kudos to his latest speechwriter.

My Father-In-Law Will Be Thrilled

Apparently, the Province of New Brunswick has honoured its Charter For Change commitment, and just made it easier for long-term hunters to luck out on the annual moose draw.

Now, if only there was a decent recipe for moose stew...

Maybe Saint John should simply join Sherbrooke...

Much has been made in recent weeks of the enormous amount of federal budget $$ being directed toward Quebec, but there has been little discussion of what the budget didn't include: a restoration of the federal government's Commercial Heritage Properties Incentive Fund.

The lowest block of properties on Saint John's historic King Street was the sort of project the fund helped restore.

Oh well. Never mind that rehabilitating older buildings can revitalize historic downtowns, while creating a greener, more efficient urban environment. Ignore the relatively small federal contribution needed as a catalyst for development. And definitely do not read this New York Times article.

Instead, spend billions more on an equalization scheme that leaves virtually no one happy a few short weeks later, except for maybe Mario Dumont.

Nice. Perhaps, when the feds spend millions celebrating the anniversary of Champlain's settlement of Quebec, someone should ask how much the feds spent to commemorate his earlier naming of the River St. John...