A former Liberal candidate is calling on the New Brunswick government to hold a plebiscite on the deal to sell key NB Power assets to Hydro-Québec.

Bethany Dykstra, a Moncton-area dairy farmer who unsuccessfully ran for the Liberals in 2003, is adding her voice to those who are demanding a vote on the proposed power pact.

'We are shareholders of NB Power and in any kind of business, if the shareholders have assets, they are asked if they should sell them before they are sold.'—Bethany Dykstra, former Liberal candidate and dairy farmer

Dykstra said on Friday there is too much at stake to move forward on the deal without giving people a say.

"We are shareholders of NB Power and in any kind of business, if the shareholders have assets, they are asked if they should sell them before they are sold.

"It shouldn't be decided by 55 people. It shouldn't be decided by one cabinet or caucus ... We are owners of this. We have been told this many times before, we are a public utility."

Dykstra contends there are a lot of red flags in the deal, including the refurbishment of Point Lepreau — which is 16 months behind schedule with estimated cost overruns to top $1.6 billion. As well, the future of fossil fuel plants in the province and the uncertainty about what will happen with residential power rates after the proposed five-year freeze have to be considered.

"I think they should be sitting back to the table and looking at where the real problems lie," she said.

"Lepreau is one. Pull the plug on it if that's what it takes, but for us to give up our autonomy, to give up our right to even talk about how heating should be in our province, is very unsettling."

Dykstra has set up an email account and a phone number for people who support the idea of a plebiscite: nbpeoplefirst@hotmail.com, 506-372-4685. She says she's already getting a lot of responses.

The plebiscite question would be simple, she said.

People would be asked if they agreed with the sale of NB Power, and could answer yes or no.

Proposed deal

Under the proposed deal announced Oct. 29, Hydro-Québec would take over most of New Brunswick's generating stations for $4.8 billion, which represents the equivalent of NB Power's debt, Premier Shawn Graham has said.

Hydro-Québec would also freeze residential power rates in New Brunswick for five years. During the same period, large industrial rates would be lowered to the power prices offered to the same customers in Quebec, but they would not be frozen.

The sale needs legislative approval before it can go ahead. The Progressive Conservatives have demanded an election over the issue and have promised to stall the legislation if there is no immediate campaign.

The Liberal government has said if the deal is delayed past March 31, NB Power's planned three per cent rate hike will go forward, instead of the rate freeze promised in the Hydro-Québec agreement.