New Brunswick being run by "shadow government", letter to the editor

PV reader underlines value of social networking for grassroots organizing against sale of NB Power.

To Whom It May Concern:

Toronto Star columnist Chantal Hebert observed that the proposed sale of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec was the most unreported story of 2009. I have been working with a Facebook group whose original creator notified seven friends of the "deal" to sell New Brunswick’s crown asset on October 29. That group creator had 10,000 friends 10 days later.

We are now nearly 30,000 and a partner in the large Coalition of New Brunswickers: NB Power Not for Sale, which includes in excess of some 30 groups. Estimates of public opinion show more than 80 percent of the citizens of the province are not in favour of the sale of the crown asset, or any portion of it, unless (and until) there is a government in place with policies respecting economics, environment, energy and electoral reform.

We feel we are being run by a "Shadow Government" and we have asked Corporate Watch and Democracy Watch to pay close attention — particularly on the involvement of the infamous "public relations" firm Hill & Knowlton.

As you are no doubt aware, the government revised its "deal", and has moved forward the closing date from March 31 to not later than May 21. We will now be subject to an expensive public relations program for two and a half months in a pretense to consult and inform the public, as we have been targeted by proponents of the sale and some media as emotional, silly, ignorant, bigoted, racist and suspected of intending violence.

One of our greatest obstacles is the monopoly media environment we have inherited in this province.

For background information please have a look at the Coalition web site, our sister site, and our Facebook group.

Thank you,
Greg Cook
Saint John, NB

Posted: March 02, 2010

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