Methinks the plot just thickened rather nicely it appears the circus is getting even more interesting N'esy Pas?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/jeannot-volpe-blaine-higgs-progressive-conservatives-1.4725629

Jeannot Volpé not shy to rain criticism as PC hopeful mounts return to politics

PC Leader Blaine Higgs said he welcomes former cabinet minister Jeannot Volpé's outspokenness

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 28, 2018 4:00 AM AT

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/volpe-return-pc-election-1.4721594

Former Tory cabinet minister Jeannot Volpé announces return to politics

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/maritime-iron-belledune-plant-gallant-1.4721336

Proposed Belledune iron ore project already a recipient of taxpayer help

Maritime Iron got $625,000 from province over past 2 years for 'pre-feasibility' studies

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 25, 2018 6:31 PM AT

46 Comments

 Commenting is now closed for this story.

Ray Bungay

"Maritime Iron's website lists no other company operations other than the development of the Belledune project."

People the quote I took from this story, should set off red flags like the Atcon deal Shawn Graham did that cost us the the taxpayers $75 M. Too good to be true well because likely it is!

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David Amos

@Ray Bungay Methinks you need to know where to look if you wish to get to the bottom of things. FYI I just got off the phone with Martime Iron's lawyer in Toronto and he is expecting my email. He seemed liked an OK dude who at least took the time to listen to me just before he headed out to an important appointment. I suspect that Mr Gallant won't like that news N'esy Pas?

David Amos

@Ray Bungay Methinks this news is gonna make for an interesting circus debating this issue in the upcoming election N'esy Pas?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/volpe-return-pc-election-1.4721594

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David Amos

@Ray Bungay Methinks if folks happen to attend a debate or two in the upcoming election and see me on the stage perhaps they should ask me what I know about this topic N'esy Pas?

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David Amos

@Ray Bungay Methinks Mr Gallant and Mr Higgs will not appreciate CBC blocking that comment or my name ain't "Just Dave" N'esy Pas?

 
Richard Dunn

Come on September……...we need the adults to run the province again...….and soon!

David Amos

@Richard Dunn Who may they be?

Survey Says???

David Amos

@David Amos Methinks that not one soul in New Brunswick will argue with me today Perhaps that a good sign N'esy Pas?

 
Page is closed to commenting.
David Amos
@David Amos With that in mind perhaps I will argue with myself. Which Political Party leader should I run against and who would be the most fun to debate in public forums? 






 
Paul Bourgoin

New Brunswick Politicians are always dangling the golden carrot and at the of the day New Brunswick residents end up with a rotten carrot while industry with borrowed money skip the Province for greener pastures while our children Leave our New Brunswick!!

David Amos

@Paul Bourgoin True but I ask again what are you doing about it?

David Amos

@David Amos Methinks I should run for public office again perhaps you should throw your hat in the ring as well N'esy Pas?

 
Bob Smith

So the NB gov't paid 600k for a pre-feasability study, look to pay out more for a company whose interest in the project has been in talk only and no money invested. Can anyone imagine trying this approach with a private business that isn't dealing with government incompetents and getting away with it? Maybe they'll invest in the old Stone Mill site by Bathurst while they're here....seems just as likely.

David Amos

@Bob Smith Methinks I lot of folks agree with your indignation N'esy Pas?

 
Lou Bell

Another 5 Liberals and a Con man in this one too ?

David Amos

@Lou Bell Methinks my math tells me that would make it six con men N'esy Pas?.

 
Joseph Vacher

Friends of Liberals getting their pockets filled again

al bekirkey

@Michel Boudreau we will never as a people be able to match the dollar amount in politicl contributions so we will never have a large enough say in policy our true hope is the possibility of the small parties taking enough seats to force a minority gov situation in the lege and that is province wide

David Amos

@al bekirkey I wholeheartedly agree

 
Gerry Ferguson

These liberals are running all over the province handing out baskets full of cash and getting in front of every camera they can find just because it's an election year. News flash: NB has had enough of this bunch especially the ATCON crew.

David Amos

@Gerry Ferguson Methinks that standard operating procedure for any governmental mandate just before a election not just the ATCON crew the PCs have done it too N'esy Pas?

 
Eric Plexe

In 2015 the Auditor General delivered a report on the Atcon Fiasco noting that:

“The substantial financial loss to taxpayers in our opinion was totally unnecessary," Kim MacPherson writes in her audit. And she says as long as politicians can overrule civil servants’ advice on financial aid to industry, "I believe a similar situation could happen again."

David Amos

@Eric Plexe Yea fime words that and two loonies and you can get a cup of coffee at Timmies. What did the Lady Auditor General or Ferguson before her ever do to protect us from the "Powers That Be in NB" ?

 
Emilen Forest

So is this what the Liberals refer to as "Transparency"?

David Amos

@Emilen Forest YUP

 
Greg Miller

Remember folks this is only a study so don't get too excited yet. Should we be encouraging activities that will mean increase reduction of carbon output (costs) by the rest of us? If this thing proves to be cost-effective why subsidies from us?

David Amos

@Greg Miller Methinks thou doth jest too much N'esy Pas?

 

david herman

Notice all that hot air coming from his head, pffft.

David Amos

@david herman Are you certain its hot air? Perhaps its something else.

 
james fryday

Where do you think all the steel will be sold USA? Not with Trumps tariffs.

David Amos

@james fryday Relax it ain't gonna happen

 
Andrew Clarkson

Other than "executive chair", Greg McKenzie, who are the the owners/stake holders of Maritime Iron?
I would like to know who is pocketing my tax dollars!

David Amos

@Andrew Clarkson Methinks the thing that caused me to look at Greg McKenzie, closer was his prior employment Anyone who follows money like I do would understand why N'esy Pas?

 

stephen blunston

are these politians clueless wasting money to pay for a study for a business that will never see the light of day no wonder we keep going farther and father in debt

David Amos

@stephen blunston Methinks many would agree with me in that this is far worse than mere stupidity N'esy Pas?

   

Colin Seeley

Ode to Rogers & Gallant :

How do I loath thee? Let me count the ways.
I loath thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I loath thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I loath thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I loath thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

David Amos

@Colin Seeley Methinks Elizabeth Barret Browning is rolling in here grave about now N'esy Pas/

 

al bekirkey

thanks jacques the best reporter on the cbc staff nationwide another great researched and even article jacques you sir are a beacon of light

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David Amos

@al bekirkey Methinks many political people are laughing at your comment. I know I have many reasons to strongly disagree with you and no doubt you would too if you were to simply Google his name and mine N'esy Pas?

David Amos

@al bekirkey NOPE

David Amos

@al bekirkey Methinks it too bad so sad that folks did not get to read my reply in which i explained why I disagreed with you N'esy Pas?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/energy-east-point-lepreau-irving-refinery-job-promises-1.4721833

Excited about new jobs? Hold on, here are 6 N.B. announcements that fizzled

Projects promising thousands of jobs announced by the province over the last decade have failed to materialize

Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Jun 26, 2018 5:00 AM AT

58 Comments 
Commenting is now closed for this story.

 
Paul Bourgoin

The frost on the cake is the closing of DNRE offices and the laying off of our DNRE Forest Rangers our eyes in the forest!
What a fish and wildlife legacy we leave our children. OH!!!! maybe that is why our children are all out west!!

David Amos

@Paul Bourgoin Methinks with the Crown's forest mostly mowed down there is not much left for the overpaid Forest Rangers to protect. I suspect that the most of private woodlot owners can do a better job protecting their property and what still lives on it for free than the tax collectors harassing us ever could N'esy Pas?

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David Amos

@Paul Bourgoin Methinks folks should wonder what was in the two comment of mine that CBC blocked today on this directly related topic N'esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/maritime-iron-belledune-plant-gallant-1.4721336

David Amos

@Paul Bourgoin Methinks you would have enjoyed reading what you cannot N'esy Pas?

 
Robert Buck

Just another story that proves Red and Blue are the same. Time for a change.

Bernard Cormier

@Robert Buck
There is no such thing as a change. You can vote orange, green, purple or any color it is all the same

Fred Brewer

@Bernard Cormier
"You can vote orange, green, purple or any color it is all the same."

And how exactly would you know how green or purple would govern the same and red or blue? They have never been in power in this province and I say its high time we gave them that power.

David Amos

@Fred Brewer Methinks Mr Cormier is correct. I know the other parties will act just the same as the red and blue coats because after five elections debating them before and after the writ is dropped I know how they behave before the elections are history. Everybody knows I will never follow any leader and how I love to debate N'esy Pas?

 

 
Chantal LeBouthi

They are killing NB Wildlfe and destroying our forests the worst
Ban chocolate milk saying is bad but they promote glysophate as a good healthy thing for NB poeples
They only care about their political party and image and how much money they do

David Amos

@Chantal LeBouthi Methinks its all over but the crying. The wildlife has come to town looking for something to eat and they are considered a nuisance N'esy Pas?

 
Paul Bourgoin

The Premier’s Round Table on the Environment and Economy set as a goal: “To preserve New Brunswick’s biodiversity by protecting habitats.”
It didn't happen!!

David Amos

@Paul Bourgoin Go Figure

David Amos

@Paul Bourgoin Methinks the plot just thickened rather nicely it appears the circus is getting even more interesting N'esy Pas?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/volpe-return-pc-election-1.4721594

 
Paul Bourgoin

Forestry practices in New Brunswick is leaving no room for wildlife habitat and populations. The introduction of the Crown Land and Forest ACT in 1982, eliminated the forest as a whole, took 35,000 forestry jobs in 1982 to 12,000 jobs today generating an approximate loss in revenue for New Brunswick close to a Billion dollars annually.

• 1937 to 1969 deer hunters enjoyed a success rate of 49%, characterizing 33 consecutive years with an annual deer harvest of approximately 19,000 to 20,000 animals.
The Hunter success rates were:

• 1937 to 1969 hunter success rate was 49 %

Comparing 1985 deer harvest to 2015

1985 Deer harvest was 31,205 deer
2015 Deer harvest was 4,314 deer.

This representing an 86 % decline of deer harvested over a thirty-year period.
Who is managing our resources??

David Amos

@Paul Bourgoin What resources? Methinks if you mean the living things such as birds, bees, fish, deer and all the other wild things that lived in our mowed down forests they are mostly gone except there are some wiley coyotes, moose, beaver and bear left N'esy Pas?

 
William Reed

No mention of Fracking our way to happiness? The biggest blunder of them all.

Dan Armitage

@William Reed heaven forbid fracking but spray spray spray at our expense and the expense of our forestry

David Amos

@Dan Armitage Methinks its all nuts N'esy Pas?

 
Paul Bourgoin

In 1991 survey more than 88% of New Brunswickers spent 38 million days enjoying wildlife related activities. More than half the residents surveyed in 1991 indicated they would support higher taxes or fees if revenues were dedicated to wildlife conservation.

Wildlife recreation contributed $138 million to the New Brunswick economy in 1991. $50 million from hunting, $ 62 million from recreational fishing, and $ 88 million by non-consumptive consumers generating 2,500 jobs dependent on wildlife and 2100 person-years resulting from services generating $200,000,000 yearly by Residents.

Today, New Brunswick politicians have a poor sense of nature, soft on industry, plans of high taxation levels for citizens and no clues about low impact forestry within special areas because industry does not want it.

David Amos

@Paul Bourgoin Methinks you are preaching to the choir Everybody knows what you say is true. However the awful truth is not many people do anything about it except the odd protest by the usual suspects because taking on the "Powers That Be In NB" can prove to be very costly indeed N'esy Pas?

 

stephen blunston

like everything else this government does cant get anything done. all they do is waste money make big promises waste more money and repeat , know wonder the people cant stand or trust anything out of their mouths, as far and the resource sector well too many doo gooder block everything I agree and understand have strong laws and safe guards for environment but this is a resource based province if we cant get at any of it where they think jobs with good pay will come from

Rosco holt

@stephen blunston
"This government" like previous government are quick to throw money at businesses with no guarantee.

Resources development should be more than harvesting/ extraction and should have proper royalties charges. Not giving it away like the province is presently doing.

David Amos

@Rosco holt "Resources development should be more than harvesting/ extraction and should have proper royalties charges."

I agree sir

 
Colin Seeley

New Brunswick job creation announcements often fall flat. These 6 big ones came up short:

Energy East
Lepreau 2
Refinery 2
Solar
Potash
Tungsten

There is one more !

POLITICIANS B

David Amos

@Colin Seeley Methinks your point went right over my marblehead Perhaps your joke is too clever for an old Maritmer to understand N'esy Pas?

 

David Peters

Develop NB shale gas.

David Amos

@David Peters Methinks you posted that just to pick a fight with the green meanies N'esy Pas?

http://www.maritimeiron.com/directors.html

Maritime Iron is a Toronto-based private Canadian company developing a world-class dedicated Merchant Pig Iron (MPI) plant in North America.

Our iron plant will be a premier supplier of virgin iron units to electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mills and foundries in North America and Europe. EAF steel mills blend MPI with scrap steel to make superior quality steel products used in various high-end applications.

The facility will bring proven commercial technology currently used in Asia to the North American market. The plant’s strategic location will combine nearby access to Canada’s primary iron ore export terminals, in-place and underutilized infrastructure, and an adjacent electrical generating station to create a low-cost producer for MPI. This technology also possesses numerous environmental benefits including the recycling of process gases to produce electricity in the neighbouring coal-fired power plant.

Board of Directors

Greg Mckenzie

Executive Chairman

A senior investment banker with more than 20 years of experience in financing, M&A, financial advisory, valuation, and strategic advice to mid-cap companies. McKenzie has been involved in transactions valued in excess of $18 billion.

In his career, Mr. McKenzie has held positions with Morgan Stanley, CIBC World Markets, Haywood Securities. Mr. McKenzie worked on Wall Street and also practiced law with a leading Canadian securities and M&A law firm.

Norman Findlay

Director

A partner at the Bennett Jones law firm specializing in securities law focused on public offerings of securities and M&A, Mr. Findlay is recognized in Lexpert, Who's Who Legal:Canada and for mining and corporate securities law. Mr. Findlay is a former director and the Interim Chairman of Lakeside Steel Inc.

Nelson B. Thall

Director

Mr. Thall is the Founder and Managing Director of HVR Technologies Inc. and is a co-founder of Emerge Resources. He has lifelong media experience with publishing and advertising background as a member of the Torstar voting trust.

Marcus Mueller

Director

Mr. Mueller is a steel industry specialist with more than 30 years’ experience, including the past 18 years as an international trader of steel and steel related commodities, with extensive experience in facilitating the acquisition and sale of iron ore, coal and steel products worldwide.

https://www.bennettjones.com/FindlayNorman

T: 416.777.6077

findlayn@bennettjones.com

Norman Findlay is primarily engaged in securities law with an emphasis on public offerings of securities, mergers and acquisitions, and takeovers. His practice also involves private placements of debt and equity securities, mining law and general corporate transactions. Norman has been recognized by Lexpert as a leading practitioner in Mining and Corporate Finance & Securities, by The Best Lawyers in Canada in the practice areas of Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law and Securities Law and by Who's Who Legal: Canada and Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers for Mining Law. In addition, Norman has been recognized by Canadian Who's Who as a prominent Canadian. He has also spoken at a number of conferences in Canada, the United States, South Africa and South America on topics relating to securities and mining law. Norman has acted as lead counsel for issuers and investment dealers in a number of significant financings and M&A transactions.

Proposed Belledune iron ore project already a recipient of taxpayer help

Maritime Iron got $625,000 from province over past 2 years for 'pre-feasibility' studies

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 25, 2018 6:31 PM AT

Premier Brian Gallant said the $1 billion processing facility in Belledune would create 1,000 short-term jobs and more than 200 permanent jobs. (Serge Bouchard/CBC)

The company that Premier Brian Gallant welcomed to Belledune last week has been trying to get its iron-ore processing plant up and running for three years.

It's also been receiving money from New Brunswick taxpayers for almost as long.

• $1B iron processing plant in works for northern N.B.

Public records show Maritime Iron Inc. has received a total of $625,000 from the province in the last two years, even though it lost a potential investor in the Belledune plant in 2015.

Gallant held a news conference last Thursday to announce the company wants to start building the plant next year and start production in 2022, depending on feasibility studies.

He said construction would create 1,000 jobs and the company would employ more than 200 people when it is running.

Gallant described the province as a "partner" in the project, though company chairman Greg McKenzie was cagey in an interview about what that entailed.

"The government has certain programs that are available to a project such as this," McKenzie said.

"Especially when you're going to be partnering or working with public institutions, it makes sense that everybody's interests are aligned. We believe it makes sense for the government to be aligned with us and be a partner in the funding as well."

Maritime Iron’s executive chair Greg McKenzie, seated next to Gallant, has not been specific about what it means to have New Brunswick as a partner in the project. (Serge Bouchard/Radio Canada)

Government spokesperson John McNeil said Monday that there is "no financial commitment" from the province, but that could happen in the future.

Public accounts documents listing government grant recipients and suppliers show the province paid Maritime Iron $250,000 in 2015-16 and $375,000 in 2016-17.

The province says that was for "pre-feasibility" studies, not the "feasibility" studies still on the way.
Opposition Progressive Conservative MLA Bruce Fitch questioned why people are only hearing about Maritime Iron now.

"If this thing had been floating around in 2015, don't you think somebody would have been talking about it back then?"

'Lots to do'

At last week's announcement, Gallant said the need for an environmental review and for community and Indigenous consultations means "there is still lots to do" before the project is a sure thing.

That appears to be an understatement. McKenzie said the company has not put any financing in place because it's too early.

"You don't finance the construction before you've completed a bankable feasibility study and before you've got environmental permitting and you've done your consultations with First Nations and community groups," he said.

He said the plant will be the first significant producer of pig iron in North America and will fill a market niche. The location near major shipping lanes is also a plus, but "all of those details have to be studied out in the feasibility study," he said.

Green Party Leader David Coon raised an eyebrow at the timing of the announcement, considering how few details are available. (Joe McDonald/CBC)

Green Party Leader David Coon said the lack of detail in the announcement, made just three months before a provincial election, was worrying.

"Is this serious, or is this just electioneering?" he said. "The details are slim."

Earlier deal fell through

While McKenzie said it was too early to pursue financing, Maritime Iron did sign a deal with a potential investor three years ago — only to see it fall through.

Vancouver-based EastCoal Inc. said in September 2015 it would invest in the project. The company said in a news release at the time that Maritime Iron was was "completing a feasibility level study and related processes" to build the plant.

But three months later EastCoal announced it was "unable to complete the required funding" to make the investment.

Obviously, any industrial development will have an environmental footprint.- Greg McKenzie, Maritime Iron chairman

McKenzie said that's in part because Maritime Iron hadn't yet adopted the specific processing technology it now says it will use in Belledune.

"That deal didn't happen in 2015, and we're here in 2018, more than three years later, or almost three years later," he said. "And we think what we have on the table today is an exciting step forward."

Korean technology is new

Maritime Iron plans to use a processing technology called Finex, owned and licensed by Posco, a major Korean company.

He said the 2015 study mentioned by potential investor EastCoal was actually the "pre-feasibility" study.

"It's the same location, same idea, but different process. There's many different process and many different technologies that can be used to upgrade iron ore into pig iron."

Asked if the Finex system makes the business case better than what the company had in 2015, McKenzie pointed out he wasn't the company chair then.

"Look, it's different," he said. "I don't want to keep referring back to what was going on in 2015. That's not my frame of reference."

Silent on emissions

McKenzie was similarly tight-lipped on what impact the proposed plant would have on New Brunswick's greenhouse gas emissions — a key issue as the company prepares for an environmental impact assessment.

"I wouldn't just throw numbers around," he said. "I think that's not responsible."

Gallant claimed last week the project would have a "lower environmental footprint" because of the Finex technology, which will send a gas byproduct from the iron refining to NB Power's Belledune generating station.

NB Power's Belledune generating station would be able to burn a gas byproduct of the iron ore plant, according to Gallant. (Environment and Climate Change Canada)

That will reduce the station's use of coal, cutting emissions from 2.8 megatonnes to one megatonne a year, Gallant said last week.

The premier also said the project would "significantly reduce overall global GHG emissions" because iron ore now shipped from Quebec and Labrador to China would instead be sent to Belledune, reducing the emissions of freighter ships.

But the plant will itself generate emissions, the company acknowledged.

"Obviously any industrial development will have an environmental footprint," McKenzie said.

He wouldn't provide the company's estimate of those emissions, though. He said the assessment will look at "those precise details."

Provincial goal at risk

New Brunswick has legislated an objective of lowering greenhouse gas emissions to 10.7 megatonnes by 2030. Any increase would make that goal harder to achieve, and the reduction from ocean freighters would not count toward the province's total.

Gallant has also claimed that he's been able to avoid a new carbon tax on gasoline because the province has hit the federal emissions target — but that, too, would be in jeopardy if the iron ore plant creates a net increase.

Coon said a reduction in coal use at Belledune "would be quite positive" but if the iron plant creates a net emissions increase, "obviously deeper reductions would have to be made elsewhere in the economy."

McKenzie also avoided specifics on whether Maritime Iron had shopped its proposal to other provinces in the region.
"Look, I think a project like this is possible to build in different locations," he said. "It's part of the reason why, earlier in the history of the company, we did do site reviews of other locations.

"Belledune is always mentioned as an industrial site. If you're going to do an industrial development project, this is one of the locations that makes sense to do it."

Maritime Iron's website lists no other company operations other than the development of the Belledune project.

With files from Shane Magee

 

Excited about new jobs? Hold on, here are 6 N.B. announcements that fizzled

Projects promising thousands of jobs announced by the province over the last decade have failed to materialize

Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Jun 26, 2018 5:00 AM AT

It's not uncommon for New Brunswick politicians to trumpet the proposed benefits a major economic development project only to see it fall apart. Energy East is a recent behemoth that fits the bill. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Premier Brian Gallant's announcement last week of a possible $1 billion iron-ore processing development in Belledune that will employ hundreds of people might seem premature given the project has not undergone a feasibility study yet, but in New Brunswick that's not unusual.

Counting jobs before they hatch has a long history among New Brunswick politicians who often find the practice irresistible no matter how tentative the proposal might be or how many previous major announcements have been made that ultimately dissipated into nothingness.

Premier Brian Gallant last week announcing a feasibility study will be done to see if an iron-ore processing facility in Belledune is viable. Despite the uncertainty, he said the plant would employ hundreds during construction and hundreds more during operation. (CBC)

"We are not as skeptical as we should be," said St. Thomas University journalism professor Michael Camp of the public's consumption of government economic development announcements.
"They don't really have a plan. They have a dream and they're announcing a dream."

Over the last decade New Brunswick has had several dreamy economic development project announcements that failed to materialize as advertised — but not before first being milked for political gain as game-changing job creators — some more than once.

Here's a look at six of the largest of the last decade that struggled to match their political hype

1.  Energy East

 

Former New Brunswick Premier David Alward at a news conference celebrating the Energy East pipeline proposal in August 2013. Alward called the project a game changer for the province that would create 4,000 jobs. It was cancelled in 2017. (CBC)

The most recent project promising economic revival for New Brunswick that went bust was the multibillion-dollar Energy East pipeline that was to bring western crude oil to Saint John and a related $350-million Irving Oil Marine terminal that was to be attached to it.

The two developments had enormous and ultimately fatal regulatory, political and economic hurdles to clear, but that didn't stop all the benefits for New Brunswick being added up and widely publicized, including the promised creation of 4,000 jobs inside the province.

"It's not an overstatement to say (it's) a game changer. It will change the direction of our province. It will change the direction of our economy. It will change the fate of many of our families and citizens and it will help create a stronger more prosperous future for all of us," said Premier David Alward in a typical assessment of the project in 2013. It was cancelled in 2017.

• TransCanada kills Energy East, Eastern Mainline pipeline projects

 

2.  A 2nd reactor for Point Lepreau

​

Former New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham, right, held a signing ceremony in August 2007 with AECL's Ken Petrunik to investigate the construction of a second nuclear reactor at Point Lepreau. Promoted as a big job creation initiative at the time, the development failed to proceed. (CBC)

The most frequently proposed big project in New Brunswick promising jobs that then never moved forward is the construction of a second nuclear reactor next to the existing Point Lepreau Generating Station.

Former Premier Richard Hatfield first proposed a second reactor during the 1987 provincial election. He lost handily, but 20 years later Premier Shawn Graham liked the idea so much he proposed it again — twice.

In 2007, Graham held a large signing ceremony with Atomic Energy Canada Ltd. to launch a feasibility study into building a large new prototype reactor at Lepreau that eventually fizzled.

Undeterred, Graham signed a similar agreement with the French nuclear company Areva in July 2010, just before the start of a provincial election that year.

Former New Brunswick premier Shawn Graham, second from left, poses with Areva nuclear's CEO Jacques Besnainou, second from right, in July 2010 after signing an agreement to build a second reactor at Lepreau, a project the province said would create 8,500 jobs. It was the second attempt the Graham government made to try and have a second reactor built at Lepreau but was unsuccessful. (CBC)

"A project of this magnitude would create 8,500 direct and indirect jobs for New Brunswickers in all regions of our province," said Graham. The Areva proposal also failed to ignite.

• Latest speculation on Lepreau II 'beating a dead horse' 

 

3.  A 2nd oil refinery

 

Irving Oil Ltd. proposed to spend $7 billion to construct a second oil refinery in Saint John in 2007. But the project fell apart and was cancelled in 2009. (CBC)

Irving Oil's proposal in 2007 to spend $7 billion to construct a second oil refinery in Saint John ignited intense optimism — and huge job creation projections — until the project fell apart and was cancelled in 2009.

Along with the proposed second reactor at Lepreau, a second potash mine in Sussex (which was built but quickly closed) and other energy projects, the second refinery was expected to anchor the creation of 33,000 new jobs in New Brunswick, according to projections by the province at the time.

"They're astonishing to think about," said Graham in the spring of 2008 about the expected benefits.

4.  A solar cell manufacturing plant

 

In 2009, Shawn Graham's Liberal government promised Norway's Umoe Solar it would have power rates reduced to help ensure the company would build at the former UPM mill. (David Smith/Canadian Press)

Just as the second refinery idea was waning in 2009, another energy project promising 1,000 construction and 350 permanent jobs in Miramichi presented itself.

The Norwegian solar company UMOE proposed building a $600-million manufacturing  plant on the site of the city's old paper mill.

The province promoted the development as an important win for northeastern New Brunswick, but UMOE backed out in May 2010. Not only were there no jobs, but, according to a prior agreement, the province was then forced to buy back the old paper mill property from UMOE at a cost of $10.8 million.

• Failed solar plant to cost taxpayers $11M

 

5.  A potash manufacturing plant

 

Alward, former natural resources minister Bruce Northrup and Keith Attoe, co-chief executive officer of Atlantic Potash Corp., signed a two-year deal for potash exploration rights in December 2011.

Alward promoted a number of projects during his term as probable job creators that struggled to advance, including two from a company called Atlantic Potash.

In 2011, it proposed to develop a new mine in the Sussex area if deposits panned out, an idea the province quickly promoted.

"If exploration by Atlantic Potash Corp. confirms this is an economically viable deposit, developing a new mine would mean hundreds of jobs and generate much-needed revenue to help pay for health care, education and other public service," said Alward in 2011.

• Atlantic Potash Corp. awarded new mining deal

That never happened.

Later in 2013, the company said it also planned to build a potash manufacturing facility in Saint John, even if the mine proved uneconomical.

The company put forward eye-popping numbers for both projects, suggesting its mine would create 16,700 direct and indirect jobs during construction and its Saint John manufacturing plant would permanently employ more than 500 people once constructed.

In 2014, Alward was still including the company's plans in speeches he gave describing "exciting" developments on the way. So far neither project has materialized.

6.  Tungsten mine

 

If developed, the Sisson Mine would be in operation for about 27 years and cost an estimated $579 million. (Submitted Sisson Mining Ltd)

One of the longest running development proposals in New Brunswick that has been promoted as a major job creator since 2013, first by Alward and then by Premier Brian Gallant, is the Sisson tungsten mine near Stanley.

Alward announced that it would "likely" begin construction in 2014 creating more than 500 jobs. That didn't happen and neither did the new predicted start date of this spring put forward last year by federal Liberal cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc.

• Sisson Mine construction not happening this spring, spoiling minister's prediction

The company itself has not made a final investment decision to proceed with the mine and markets have been reluctant to bet on the project happening at all, bidding the company's share price down into to the 10-cent range for much of this year.

Still, the province has been promoting the mine, and the jobs it promises, as a near certainty for five straight years.

"The economic impact of the Sisson Mine project will be huge for New Brunswick," said Gallant last year.

About the Author

Robert Jones

Reporter

Robert Jones has been a reporter and producer with CBC New Brunswick since 1990. His investigative reports on petroleum pricing in New Brunswick won several regional and national awards and led to the adoption of price regulation in 2006.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/jeannot-volpe-blaine-higgs-progressive-conservatives-1.4725629

Jeannot Volpé not shy to rain criticism as PC hopeful mounts return to politics

PC Leader Blaine Higgs said he welcomes former cabinet minister Jeannot Volpé's outspokenness

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 28, 2018 4:00 AM AT 

 

Progressive Conservative hopeful Jeannot Volpé is, once again, not shy of doling out criticism against decisions made by the PCs.

Former cabinet minister Jeannot Volpé did not go quietly, and it looks like he's not going to come back quietly, either.

The one-time Progressive Conservative MLA who retired from politics in 2010, and became an outspoken critic of Premier David Alward's PC government, is now back in the fold.

• Volpé criticizes Higgs for slow movement on deficit

• New Crown forest plan criticized by ex-DNR ministers

He wants to be the party's candidate in Madawaska Les Lacs-Edmundston in the Sept. 24 election — despite his objections to key decisions made when current PC Leader Blaine Higgs was the finance minister.

"Somebody needs to get involved and if Blaine Higgs needs some help, I'll do whatever I can to help him fix the problems we have now and put the province back on track," Volpé said Wednesday.

The highway toll issue

Volpé was first elected in 1995 and was a cabinet minister in the Lord government from 1999 to 2006. He did not run in 2010 and later criticized decisions by his party, including a 2014 forestry plan and a reform of the pension plan for members of the legislature.

Higgs in turn has lumped in the Lord government with other previous administrations who he says made short-sighted, costly, politically motivated decisions. Higgs said last year Lord's decision to eliminate tolls on the Moncton-Fredericton highway was one such move.
Volpé said he has straightened out Higgs on that issue.

Volpé was Natural Resources Minister in the Bernard Lord government. 

 

"I asked him what he knew about it," he said. "So he told me what he knew about it. I said 'OK, now I'll tell you what I know about it,' and when I was done, he said, 'Well, Jeannot, to be fair, I was not aware of that part.'"

He also pointed out that the Lord government left office with the province's net debt lower than when it took power, despite the toll debt being added to the books.

'I'm looking for people to contribute'

Higgs, meanwhile, said he welcomes Volpé's straight talk.

"No question about it, Jeannot is well known for speaking his mind," the PC leader said. "I'm looking for people to contribute, not be silent."

When asked about Volpé's outspokenness, Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs said he wants PC members to speak up. (Radio-Canada)

 

 

Volpé fiercely criticized the 2014 PC reform to MLA pensions plans, saying the retroactive changes to the benefits amounted to an illegal breaking of the contract he agreed to when he ran for office.

He went as far as to launch a human rights complaint. He said Wednesday he had abandoned that because the legal bills would have been too high.

He said Wednesday he tried to warn Alward that the reform legislation was flawed and would cost long-time MLAs like him more than intended, with retroactive provisions going back to when they were first elected.

Volpé blamed what he called "a few dummies" on Alward's staff for the mistake.

"By being with Mr. Higgs, if elected, I would do my best so that people who make decisions know what they're talking about when they're making a decision. I believe David Alward made quite a few decisions without knowing fully what he was doing."

Higgs declared the question closed Tuesday. "The pension stuff is over," he said. "We're not going to be reopening that issue."

The Alward forestry plan

Volpé also denounced the Alward government's 2014 forestry plan, which he says further entrenched the dominance of large companies on Crown lands at the expense of small woodlot owners like himself.

He repeated those criticisms Tuesday, saying the province is losing money on the land it leases to major forest companies and New Brunswick has the fewest jobs per thousand cubic metres of wood of any jurisdiction in North America.

He said he didn't begrudge forestry companies like J.D. Irving trying to get access to more Crown wood.

"For companies in this province to keep on asking, to me it was always very normal. It's the decisions I would criticize, the ones who said 'yes.'"

Volpé, who owns a small woodlot, denounced the previous PC government's forestry plan. (CBC)

 

 

Higgs said last year he was open to changes to the regime, especially now that the U.S. government has ended a New Brunswick exemption from softwood tariffs.

The Americans have argued that wood from Crown land, which they consider subsidized, is making up a greater and greater share of the province's wood output.

Volpé said he and Higgs have had long discussions about modernizing the law governing Crown land.
"I said, 'If you want me to work on it, I'd be happy to work with some other people and at least have a good discussion with the people of this province, who are the shareholders, to see what it is we're doing wrong here,'" he said.

Higgs confirmed that he is willing to "completely open this up" if that will end the U.S. tariffs on New Brunswick mills, though he said he made no promises to Volpé.

Former Tory cabinet minister Jeannot Volpé announces return to politics

Former cabinet member seeking PC nomination in Madawaska Les Lacs-Edmundston

Sarah Morin · CBC News · Posted: Jun 25, 2018 9:27 PM AT

Jeannot Volpé announced at a press conference on Monday that he’s returning to politics. ((CBC))

Former provincial cabinet minister Jeannot Volpé announced on Monday he's running to represent the Progressive Conservatives in the riding of Madawaska Les Lacs-Edmundston for the upcoming election.

Volpé, the only person who's announced they intend to run for the nomination, is likely to challenge MLA Francine Landry, the Liberal minister of economic development.

Volpé was the former New Brunswick natural resources minister from 1999 to 2003 during the Bernard Lord government and served as Lord's finance minister between 2003 and 2006. Volpé was the interim PC leader in 2007 and 2008 after Lord resignation.

Last February, Volpé said the government should consider a requirement that industrial players like J.D. Irving Ltd. buy a portion of their wood from New Brunswick's forest product marketing boards as a condition for access to trees on Crown land.

In 2013, Volpé also came out criticizing how the David Alward government tackled the province's finances. He was also one of former MLAs who complained to the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission about the retroactive reductions to their pension benefits in 2012, when the Alward government reversed a 2008 decision that boosted the pensions.

When Volpé was leader of the New Brunswick Conservatives in 2007, he said Brunswick News Inc. should be forced to sell off some of its media holdings.

No candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party has yet indicated an intention to succeed Madeleine Dubé in the neighbouring riding of Edmundston-Madawaska Center. Dubé announced her departure from politics in February.

About the Author

Sarah Morin

Reporter

Sarah Morin is a reporter with CBC New Brunswick based in Fredericton. Story tip? sarah.morin@cbc.ca