Anti-NB Power Sale Facebook Group Grows to over 14,000 members
Wow.
In less than a week a Facebook group opposed to the sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec has grown to over 14,000 members. The group, No to Sale of NB Power was founded last Thursday and is acting as a hub for protest organizers.
The anti-deal groups are organizing a major protest at the Legislature on Nov. 17.
Meanwhile, a pro-group called Lower Rates NB, has just over 200 members. Many of the members - though not all - are MLAs or Liberal party members.
In the midst of this growing Facebook revolt, the government has announced a major PR campaign to sell the proposed deal with Hydro Quebec.
It will be interesting to see if the combination of government ads and print media coverage can sway opinion or if the Anti-Facebook group, combined with other social media such as Twitter and blogs, can organize enough people to continue to sway the debate and sink the deal.
It will also be interesting to see if either the Tories other NDP in the province can ride the anti-deal sentiment to electoral gains in September (or sooner if the province calls a snap election on this issue as Quebec did in the 60s when it nationalized Hydro Quebec)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing
Astroturfing
The goal of such a campaign is to disguise the efforts of a political or commercial entity as an independent public reaction to some political entity—a politician, political group, product, service or event. Astroturfers attempt to orchestrate the actions of apparently diverse and geographically distributed individuals, by both overt ("outreach", "awareness", etc.) and covert (disinformation) means. Astroturfing may be undertaken by an individual pushing a personal agenda or highly organized professional groups with financial backing from large corporations, unions, non-profits, or activist organizations. Very often the efforts are conducted by political consultants who also specialize in opposition research.
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Join the SAFE conversation at Lower Rates NB on facebook.
New Brunswicker's - it's OUR choice, don't be scammed by AstroTurfing, get informed, stay safe!
1. Hydro electric dams, power plants, electrical grids, transmissions line cost a lot. There’s no information available on how much it would cost to replace all these assets currently or even a complete list of how much there is, and how old it is.
2. What worries me most is not undervaluing our assets, but handing over control of our liabilities. Do we know that our dams will be rebuilt and maintained over the duration of their lifecycle, and then replaced at the end of their useful life to ensure safe and reliable light, heat, and energy? Do we want to get screwed like NFLD? What the state of infrastructure in Quebec? – A state of failure. Maybe this is seen as a nice way out? It’s a not well thought out, way out for sure.
3. We will be the priority for these standards when our resources are fuelling the US further down the line? How much will these systems be stressed for the quick buck? Do we want to hand over control of our power needs to a group operating in a province isn’t really sure if it belongs to Canada or not?
4. Perhaps in time we can sell power to the US markets via Maine border, and use this money to ensure we meet the fiscal sustainability required for communities? / We make the money instead of those we plan to sell to.
6. If we want to be a “have province” let not give our independent power generation abilities away, http://app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/pub/DetailPersonEng1.asp?RecordID=11580&OrgID1=3779&DeptID1=52 . Liberate New Brunswick, say no to this deal loud, and then say no thanks Sean, find another job, display your enthusiasm somewhere else where you can’t mess with too many New Brunswicker’s – please.
And if this deal was such a good deal for the peoples of NB why does the Premier refuse to show documents to support the numbers he has been quoting.
In the last few day i have report from reliable source that that show that big industrial will save 200 millions plus more then the ordinary jos.But yet the Premier claim the regular jos would get 60% of the benefit.Come out with the document to support your claim Mr Premier.
By the way the group on facebook "No to sale of nb power" is over 23,000 strong.
We all know the sale will go thru and there is nothing in the law to protect us.
S.G. was elected and states he is doing what is best for us. We the ppl disagree. But there it is. There is nothing we can do before it goes thru. He knows we do not want this and thats why it is being rammed thru.