The Maritime provinces need to unite to form a regional energy plan, according to a policy expert at the University of Moncton.

Donald Savoie, holder of the Canada research chair in public administration and governance at the university, said that the collapse of the NB Power-Hydro Québec deal has left the utility in disarray and that the solution lies in unity between New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

"At some point a light bulb is going to go on and say we better get these three little dories together and see where we go," he said.

Savoie says a Maritime union was considered a viable option in the 1980s, but the idea fizzled out.

He said in the wake of the collapsed New Brunswick-Quebec deal, it's now the time to reconsider the union.

Cost concerns

Savoie said many people are concerned about what will happen to power rates in New Brunswick now that Hydro-Québec is not buying NB Power's assets.

The proposed deal to sell NB Power's generation assets to Hydro-Québec fell apart over Quebec's concerns about unanticipated costs, according to the two provincial premiers.

New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham announced in the legislative assembly Wednesday that the deal to sell NB Power's generation assets to Hydro-Québec for $3.2 billion was dead.

Savoie said he's disturbed by the entire energy picture in the province and that he's not alone.

"Large employers need an answer, need a way ahead, need some hope that things are going to get better, need a sense that we're going to find a solution here, need a sense that this time we're not going to mess it up," he said.

Savoie said the province's energy sector and its entire economic state needs someone with a "Midas touch."

He doesn't think Graham has it and he says the opposition parties don't have the resources to turn things around, either.

Savoie said the solution is to unite the Maritimes.