The New Brunswick Tories are charging that the province's newest tourism contract was awarded to a friend of the Liberal government, raising questions of political patronage.

Revolution Strategy of Saint John is partnering with DDB Canada to design a new tourism campaign for the province. Derek Riedle, a former communications manager for the Liberals, owns Revolution.

The companies will be paid $4.5 million a year over the next three to five years for the work.

New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Leader David Alward said the optics are bad.

"The rumour mill has been rampant for some time that this was a done deal before this ever happened, that Revolution was the preferred business, and the other New Brunswick companies never had an opportunity," Alward said Friday.

"I think it’s important that the premier really be transparent, tell it the way it is, and go from there."

Tourism Minister Stuart Jamieson denied any political bias in the selection.

"There was an evaluation team that had no political input whatsoever. It was done by people from the department who are involved with marketing firms and have dealt with marketing firms for many years now," he said.

Jamieson said Revolution had the strongest presentation of the finalists in the bidding process.

Details of the tourism campaign are still being negotiated.