Backroom fuel deal should be public, opponents say
Irving Oil Ltd., public interveners say disclosing deal would hurt future co-operation
CBC News
Posted: Mar 8, 2013 5:48 AM AT
Last Updated: Mar 8, 2013 8:57 AM AT
New Brunswickers have a right to see the details of a deal made between the province's public intervener and Irving Oil Ltd. on petroleum price increases, say opposition leaders.
Irving Oil Ltd. and the province's public intervener wants details of their deal on petroleum price increases kept private (CBC)Late last year, Irving Oil Ltd. applied to increase wholesale petroleum margins in New Brunswick by about $20 million a year. To avoid a full hearing before the Energy and Utilities Board, the company struck a deal on those increases with René Basque the government-appointed public intervener.
The EUB rejected the agreement the two sides reached, held a hearing and last week imposed increases that were much smaller than Irving applied for originally.
The EUB then announced its intention to release details on Thursday of the failed deal.
Both Irving Oil's lawyer Len Hoyt and Basque are asking the details be kept private, claiming their release will discourage future co-operation.
Request 'alarming'
But New Democratic Party Leader Dominic Cardy said the public has a right to see the deal, in part to judge Basque's performance.
"Mr. Basque has a responsibility as the public intervener to be representing the public, not working with industry interests," said Cardy.
NDP Leader Dominc Cardy said the public has a right to see the deal to judge the public intervener's performance. (CBC)"He needs to be told either release those documents or quit," he said.
Cardy's concerns are echoed by Green Party Leader David Coon.
"To think that the public intervener is requesting this backroom deal with the Irvings be kept secret is alarming," said Coon.
The Liberals are also calling for the Basqué-Irving compromise to be made public.
"The public intervener is paid to look after the interests of New Brunswickers. And this is an opportunity for him to prove to New Brunswickers that he's doing just that. He needs to release these documents and make it public," said Liberal MLA Chris Collins.
The EUB said it has not yet decided how to resolve the dispute.
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