A strong Canada 'will help make America great again,' Carney tells Yankees

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-new-york-speech-9.7214907

 

A strong Canada 'will help make America great again,' Carney tells New York business leaders

Carney says Canada and U.S. need a 'new partnership'

 

John Paul Tasker · CBC News · Posted: May 28, 2026 10:01 AM EDT

 

 

During a trip to New York on Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney pointed to several sectors of the economy where he said a new partnership between Canada and the U.S. would benefit both countries. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Mark Carney told a crowd of New York industry titans and financiers on Thursday that Canada and the U.S. need to pursue a new partnership — a bilateral relationship premised not on how things were done in the past but one where a stronger, more independent Canada can selectively help "make America great again."

Carney said as U.S. President Donald Trump prompts "tectonic shifts" in trade, and as the world becomes "more divided and dangerous," Canada must focus more on "taking care of ourselves" and building up at home by embracing its status as an energy superpower.

But that doesn't mean Canada wants to close itself off from the U.S., Carney said in lunchtime remarks to about 200 attendees at the city's Yale Club.

Rather, he said the government wants the two sides to pursue a "true partnership" and better co-operate on some strategic sectors, notably those hammered by Trump's sectoral tariffs.

WATCH | Carney speaks at Economic Club of New York:

 

'Canada Strong will help make America great again': Carney pitches new partnership with U.S.

9 hours ago|

Duration 2:27

 

Speaking to the Economic Club of New York on Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted 'specific, practical proposals' Canada has made to the U.S. administration. Carney spoke about a new U.S. partnership 'with a different Canada, a stronger Canada, a more confident Canada.'

Nodding to the "Fortress North America" concept floated by Ontario Premier Doug Ford and some U.S. interests, which prioritizes continental co-operation in the face of Chinese economic threats, Carney said this new relationship would "re-imagine co-operation in specific sectors deeply challenged by global competition."

Carney said the U.S. is dependent on Canadian oil, natural gas, electricity, aluminum, potash, nickel, copper and industrial components, and the two sides should do more business together in these sectors, not less.

"That is mutual strength. Canada Strong will help make America great again. The examples are legion where we should work together and compete with the world together," he said.

Carney said his government has pitched "specific, practical proposals," on autos, aluminum, energy and minerals to the Americans to move on from this period of trade antagonism.

Carney didn't say what the reception has been to those ideas. But there have been no formal trade talks in months, and there are no apparent signs a breakthrough is imminent.

Carney signalled that the old relationship where a subservient Canada essentially falls in line with what the U.S. wants is over.

What should replace it is a bilateral relationship featuring "a different Canada, a stronger Canada, a more confident Canada" that can deliver what the U.S needs on more equitable terms, he said.

Those ideas drew applause from the crowd, which included U.S.-based staff of Canadian banks and prominent businesspeople like billionaire real estate and grocery magnate John Catsimatidis.

• Analysis
  It's crunch time for Canada's trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico

• U.S. to slap tariffs on Canadian mushrooms as growers warn of broader risks for agriculture

• Carney talks CUSMA review with Mexican president as official negotiations loom

Speaking later during a fireside chat with the Economic Club of New York, Carney projected some confidence that there will be a resolution to the irritants that plague the Canada-U.S. trading relationship.

"We'll work our way through it," Carney said.

Carney said Canada is leaning into its strengths, developing energy and investing in the defence and space sectors — creating "huge opportunities" for the U.S. because the economy at home is getting bigger and richer.

On energy in particular, Carney said, Canada sits on an abundance of oil and gas and generates clean electricity that can help power the economic revolution that's underway stateside as artificial intelligence-related development explodes.

There will be an "acute" energy shortage in the U.S. as AI takes off, Carney said, and Canada "can be part of the solution."

Carney raised the government's recent decision to fast-track a major graphite mine in Quebec and help negotiate a major B.C. LNG purchase agreement with Germany, as examples of Ottawa moving quickly to stand up industries that make lucrative products the world needs.

Developing those resources, sometimes in partnership with American interests, "is a structural solution to a new partnership with the U.S.," he said.

Carney's call for a better and reworked partnership follows a recent shift in tone on the U.S. issue.

While still stressing there's been a "rupture" in the Canada-U.S. relationship amid Trump's protectionist push, this is the second high-profile speech in as many weeks where he has called for a peaceful resolution to trade issues as the CUSMA review date of July 1 looms.

In a recent address to progressive activists in Toronto, Carney said Canada "remains open to deeper integration" with the U.S. in certain sectors.

"And to be clear, those offers are on the table," he said.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has insisted that some tariffs will remain on Canadian goods. (Aurelien Morissard/The Associated Press)

Carney's remarks come at a time when U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer insists there will be tariffs on some Canadian goods, something Carney's negotiators are actively trying to avoid.

"We have to have some degree of tariff to deal with the giant deficit," Greer said this week during a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.

"Most countries said, 'We understand and we will remove some non-tariff barriers.' Canada's approach has been different," he said.

Greer's office announced Wednesday a series of dates over the summer when the U.S. and Mexico will sit down to negotiate the upcoming CUSMA review. No dates were set for talks with Canada.

However, a spokesperson for Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc told CBC News that "planning is underway" for a trip to Washington sometime soon.

Like Carney on Thursday, Greer said there are areas where there is "common economic benefit," like energy, critical minerals and fertilizer.

But "when it comes to some economic goods, we have a different view," he said, pointing to autos as an area where the U.S. wants to dominate and, in turn, suppress Canadian manufacturing through the aggressive use of tariffs.

"I think on some of these issues it will be a challenging negotiation but on some issues it will be fine," he said.

• Carney says the world is facing an 'energy crisis' and Canada must help solve it

• India's commerce minister says Carney's visit 'completely changed' relations with Canada

Steve Verheul, Canada's former top trade negotiator who helped broker CUSMA, said Canada is in a difficult position.

The Americans are demanding important concessions — scrapping the Online Streaming Act, reworking dairy import quotas and dropping the provincial ban on U.S. liquor — while offering seemingly no tariff relief in return.

"I think we're we're pretty firmly stuck," he said. "There's a negotiating table that isn't lining up very well in terms of even having a conversation.

"I think we really are in a position where we could be stuck for a considerable period of time."

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, criticized what he described as Carney's "buzzword-laden" speech, saying it's not clear where the prime minister stands on the U.S. relationship.

"On the one hand he says that we are in the middle of a rupture with the United States. While on the other he says he wants to make America, in his words, 'great again.' He can't seem to decide if integration with the U.S. is a strength or a weakness," Poilievre said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Paul Tasker

Senior reporter

J.P. Tasker is a journalist in CBC's parliamentary bureau who reports for digital, radio and television. He is also a regular panellist on CBC News Network's Power & Politics. He covers the Conservative Party, Canada-U.S. relations, Crown-Indigenous affairs, health policy and the Senate. You can send story ideas and tips to J.P. at jp.tasker@cbc.ca

• Follow J.P. on X

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB-Mu5M7ee8 

 

 

LIVE: from The Economic Club of New York • EN DIRECT : du Club économique de New York

Mark Carney  

 

May 28, 2026

405 Comments

 

@davidamos7114

YO Mr Carney Methinks lots of folks know that Pierre Poilievre’s computer and that many others acknowledge the emails I send to you N'esy Pas?

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FxlrXQuPGM 

 

 

 

The Numbers: Will Alberta's referendum pit Conservatives vs. Conservatives?

Éric Grenier

 

May 28, 2026

Premier Danielle Smith has added a question on Alberta separation to the October 19 referendum ballot, a move that will have repercussions for the country and the province. But is it primarily a debate being held amongst the supporters of her own party? 

 

This week on The Numbers, we discuss what the polls suggest could be the motivations behind Smith’s referendum push, as well as what it could mean for the future of the United Conservative Party — and Pierre Poilievre’s federal Conservatives, too. We also chat about the latest federal polls and what they say about support for the Liberals after what looked like a dip last week. Then, we break down new polls out of Ontario and Nova Scotia and briefly chat about this weekend’s B.C. Conservative leadership race. Finally, Philippe has a few trivia questions about past referendums in Canada.

 

79 Comments

 

@davidamos7114

Methinks lots of folks are enjoying the circus N'esy Pas?

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcNJhKXlYWk 

 

 

Separatists ignoring Carney's economic efforts, pipeline MOU: analyst | Alberta Primetime

CTV News 

 

May 28, 2026
Separatists are working to convince Albertans to vote for separation and the UCP is taking a stand for staying in Canada. Duane Bratt, a political scientist, and John Santos, a political analyst, discuss these topics and more on the Politics Panel.

 

123 Comments

 

@davidamos7114

Methinks Carney does not care what Duane Bratt and John Santos think N'esy Pas?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance Minister René Legacy claimed the EUB decision that raised charges on motorists showed 'very good work.'

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/tantramar-gas-plant-regulatory-thumbs-up-9.7214994 

 

Tantramar gas plant gets regulatory ‘thumbs up’ from EUB

Environmental and Mi’kmaw assessments still going on for 500-megawatt gas and diesel plant

 

Erica Butler · CBC News · Posted: May 28, 2026 2:01 PM EDT 

 

 

 

The Brotman Generating Station in Rosharon, Texas, has similar components and layout as the proposed project that ProEnergy will build in Tantramar. (ProEnergy)

A 500-megawatt gas and diesel power plant project is one step closer to being built in rural Tantramar.

In an online session Thursday afternoon, the Energy and Utilities Board delivered its decision approving N.B. Power’s 25-year contract with U.S.-based ProEnergy to install and run 10 gas and diesel turbines at a rural site near Centre Village.  

Before delivering final approval on the project, board chair Christopher Stewart took a moment to scold N.B. Power for not following its own investment governance framework and providing inadequate information to the board.

"But for the fact that the board was able to satisfy itself based on the evidence that it had before it … the board could not have found the current project prudent," Stewart said.

The New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board panel that approved the Tantramar gas plant proposal, from left to right, Kenneth McCullogh, chair Christopher Stewart and John Logan. (New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board livestream)

The project promises to provide up to 500 megawatts of electricity when needed to cover spikes in power demand during cold snaps in the winter months and to fill in lulls in wind or solar power generation.  

Four hundred megawatts of that capacity is earmarked for New Brunswick, and another 100 megawatts is being purchased by the Nova Scotia system operator in a 10-year contract with NB Power. 

Board heard conflicting opinions

The board spent eight days in hearings about the project in February and March.

Opponents argued that N.B. Power overstated its need for additional capacity and did not use up-to-date costing of alternatives, such as a large-scale battery project.

WATCH | N.B. Power says it will continue discussions with Tantramar residents:

 

Tantramar gas plant greenlit by Energy and Utilities Board

55 minutes ago|

Duration 3:09

 

A controversial gas and diesel power plant planned for rural Tantramar got regulatory approval Thursday.

N.B. Power maintained that the province could face rotating blackouts if the project was not online by 2028, and that battery storage projects would be too expensive. 

The project is expected to cost at least $3.5 billion over the course of the 25-year contract, based on figures in a 2024 briefing note to the N.B. Power board of directors. 

The utility has refused to share the actual costs of the contract signed with ProEnergy. 

Project opponents disappointed

"This fight isn't done," said Terry Jones, the closest neighbour to the proposed gas plant in Centre Village.

"We're not happy with it. We don't want it in our woods."

Atlantic Wildlife Institute director Barry Rothfuss was disappointed but not surprised by the EUB decision. (Chad Ingraham / CBC)

Barry Rothfuss is executive director of the Atlantic Wildlife Institute, just kilometres from the proposed site for the gas plant. Rothfuss said he knew it would be an "uphill battle" to convince the EUB to reject the project.

"We realized that they were only looking at the the economic situation, the prudency of it financially," said Rothfuss, and not "the actual threats that building this infrastructure will have here in the Tantramar region."

• Conservationists question N.B. Power decision not to build $1B gas plant at industrial park

Moe Qureshi, director of climate research with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, said he was disheartened by the EUB decision.

"This kind of project is locking New Brunswick into decades of fossil fuel dependence," Qureshi said. "We know alternatives exist."

• N.B. Power lawyer fails to get expert's battery evidence tossed

• This company says a large-scale battery system could replace the Tantramar gas plant for half the cost

The council brought in expert Toby Couture to the hearings to testify about the increasing affordability of large scale battery storage solutions.

The council argued that N.B. Power's information on battery systems was outdated, but the EUB found too little detail in Couture's testimony.

Stewart said the evidence was "general in nature" and didn't address "the specific conditions, costs, and system requirements in New Brunswick."

Qureshi said the Conservation Council would continue to pursue alternatives to the gas plant, and ask the provincial government to "reassess the alternatives."

"We will ask premier Holt to reconsider this," Qureshi said.

The EUB’s decision can be changed or overturned by the Premier’s Office within a 30-day window, but Energy Minister Rene Legacy cast doubt on that possibility Thursday.

"If government starts reversing those kinds of decisions of a Crown corporation, how are we ever going to be able to approach any industry to come into this province?" Legacy said to reporters at the legislature.

Making room for more renewables

Yves Gagnon, a professor of engineering at Université de Moncton and a champion of renewable energy, said he would have been happy with either an approval or rejection of the project by the EUB.

While it may be a fossil fuel project, Gagnon said, it uses technology "that is used throughout the world in terms of dispatchable capacity," and it will allow for "better and easier integration of renewable energy" in the province.

Université de Moncton professor of engineering Yves Gagnon says the plant's technology will allow for better integration of renewable energy. (Erica Butler/CBC)

Speaking to reporters after the decision, N.B. Power chief commercial officer Brad Coady touted the power purchase agreements the utility has already signed for 700 megawatts of wind energy.

"There's opportunities for several 100 megawatts of wind potentially to come," he said.

Just seven kilometres from the proposed gas plant site, a new partnership is proposing to build a 150-megawatt solar farm, which would be the largest in New Brunswick and one of the largest in the country.

Cookville Solar has yet to sign an agreement with N.B. Power for the energy it could provide.

• N.B. Power disagrees that battery storage is better solution for risk of energy shortfall

• Massive solar farm proposal promises 150 MW of clean energy

The project is awaiting approval in a provincial environmental impact assessment process, which started in July 2025.

ProEnergy plans to build a 10-turbine gas plant in a rural area near Centre Village, at the intersection of the Maritimes and Northeast natural gas pipeline and N.B. Power's transmission line. (Roger Cosman/CBC)

ProEnergy recently presented results of a water supply assessment for its project site, which showed the project would use too much water during winter months. 

The report by Stantec says ProEnergy would need to store water, control its demand or change its water use assumptions to meet the capacity available on site.  

ProEnergy is also engaged in a Mi’kmaq Rights Impact Assessment process with Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Inc., known as MTI. 

John MacIsaac, the head of ProEnergy’s Canadian operation, said a “first phase report with conditions is substantially advanced" and being considered by MTI leadership. 

N.B. Power has a backup plan if the environmental impact assessment does not succeed, said Brad Coady, but, "unfortunately, that backup plan would add more time, more risk, and more cost for New Brunswickers."

Another 600 megawatts to come?

The same report that kicked off the utility's pursuit of the Tantramar gas plant in 2024 also includes a second recommendation, to start planning for "an additional 600 MW as early as 2030."

When asked about that recommendation, Coady said, "we do see further combustion turbines as part of our long-term energy future."

But he said the utility will also pursue energy efficiency, demand reduction, and battery energy storage to help meet its needs.

"The EUB validated N.B. Power's thinking in this case," said Coady, that "at this time, under these circumstances:" the gas plant was "the least cost option."

"I can't say with certainty, the next time … will we find the same circumstances?"

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/liberal-bill-energy-advocate-9.7214011 

 

Liberal bill creating energy advocate ‘quite progressive,’ ex-intervener says

Independent office would be allowed to focus on helping N.B. Power’s residential and small business customers

 

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: May 27, 2026 2:18 PM EDT

 

 

Peter Hyslop, who used to appear before regulators two decades ago, mostly supports the new plan from the Liberals. (Pat Richard/CBC News file photo)

The Holt Liberals’ plan to beef up the powers of an independent advocate on energy rates is getting a positive review from one former public intervener.

Peter Hyslop, who used to appear before regulators two decades ago, says the legislation to create a consumer advocate for the energy sector will fix a flaw in the system.

“I would say it’s quite progressive legislation,” said Hyslop, a Hartland lawyer who was appointed public intervener by a previous Progressive Conservative government.

“I may have some minor quibbles, but overall I think it gives the residential consumer and small business a fighting chance, so it’s good legislation.”

The Liberal bill introduced this week would replace the public intervener position with an advocate to focus on the interests of residential and small business customers rather than a broader “public interest.”

Under the existing statute adopted by David Alward’s PC government in 2013, the public intervener is not allowed to argue on behalf of any single, specific group of customers when making arguments.

Instead, they must consider the interests of all classes of ratepayers, including large industrial customers, as well as big-picture issues such as N.B. Power’s financial status.

WATCH | 'Quite progressive’: Advocate bill gets thumbs up:

 

Early praise for Liberal bill to beef up energy advocate’s role

May 27|

Duration 2:22

 

Legislation would create role focused on residential, small-business power costs.

In 2017, Hyslop sought the Energy and Utilities Board’s approval to appear as a special intervener on behalf of residential electricity customers at board hearings that were considering higher-than-average increases for residential customers.

The board rejected Hyslop’s application, saying it had no legal authority to allow it.

Randy Hatfield, executive director of the Human Development Council, a social research and advocacy non-profit, also applauded the Liberal bill.

“I think it’s a good step forward,” he told reporters at the legislature.

“For too long residential ratepayers have not had a dedicated voice at the Energy and Utilities board. It’s pretty quiet and rather difficult to get the interests and concerns of low-income residential ratepayers in front of the board.” 

Randy Hatfield, executive director of the Human Development Council, also supported the development. (Graham Thompson/CBC)

The advocate bill is part of the Holt government’s action plan on N.B. Power, a response to an independent review of the debt-plagued utility’s future.

While the review was prompted by customer complaints about major increases to their power bills, it looked at the challenges the utility is facing with its $5.9-billion debt and the need for costly upgrades to several of its power plants.

The Liberals pushed off decisions on several major recommendations, such as writing down part of the utility’s debt and using more nuclear power and natural gas, until 2029.

They introduced the advocate bill a day after the release of their action plan.

Energy Minister René Legacy said large industrial power customers don’t need a public advocate to look out for them.

“They already have the means to usually present their case with either their lawyers or their representatives. Somehow [the public intervener] was representing them when they really didn’t need the representation.”

Legacy said no one should expect power bills to go down.

• More analysis needed on key N.B. Power recommendations, Holt says

In question period Wednesday, Opposition PC energy critic Kris Austin told Legacy the bill was an empty gesture that did not tackle “the things that really matter to make life more affordable for New Brunswickers.”

“He creates a bureaucratic self-licking ice cream by this complaint box called an advocate, which will do nothing to reduce electricity rates.”

The legislation allows the advocate to look at complaints from individual N.B. Power customers and refer those issues to the EUB if the utility’s response doesn’t address the problem.

Progressive Conservative Energy Critic Kris Austin said the bill was an empty gesture. (Chad Ingraham/CBC)

“If there’s a non-resolution they can escalate at the EUB and then EUB can order it to have a corrective measure,” Legacy said.

According to the legislation, the board would still have the power to decide not to hear a complaint.

Green Party Leader David Coon said narrowing the advocate’s mandate to residents and small businesses was “a really good idea,” but it also seems to be a way “to take the heat off government and their MLAs.”

MLAs frequently get calls from constituents about their power rates or other N.B. Power issues and are usually able to resolve them promptly by intervening directly with the utility, Coon said.

That shows that the real issue is the Crown corporation itself, not the complaint mechanism.

“N.B. Power should be able to do that themselves,” he said. “They shouldn’t have to rely on MLAs getting involved.

“It’s an N.B. Power problem that needs to be addressed.”

Hyslop said the provision to refer complaints to the EUB is “unique.”

He said members of the legislature likely find it frustrating to contact N.B. Power about rate issues, “but this legislation helps solve that problem.” 

The independent review panel said elected politicians need to stop interfering with the utility’s management.

The panel’s report referred to “a stream of unofficial, sometimes daily, contacts with government officials … which can divert NB Power’s executives from their responsibilities and agreed priorities.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacques Poitras

Provincial Affairs reporter

Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

 

 

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/changes-negative-implications-solar-growth-9.7211051

 

N.B. Power changes will have ‘negative implications’ for solar growth, says industry group

Utility says it's time to make system more sustainable

 

Erica Butler · CBC News · Posted: May 26, 2026 5:00 AM EDT

 

 

Sackville resident Josh Goguen installed a backyard solar system in 2023. (Erica Butler/CBC)

The number of residential solar systems in New Brunswick has more than quadrupled in the past three years, but that rapid growth could slow down if two proposed changes from N.B. Power go ahead.

The utility announced an end to financial incentives of up to $3,000 toward residential solar systems and has asked the Energy and Utilities Board to approve a new charge that will make it more costly to sell excess power back to the grid.

The two changes combined could make investing in solar panels less attractive in New Brunswick.

“It's going to have serious negative implications,” said Chris Meechan, spokesperson for Solar NB Solaire, an industry group representing installers, manufacturers and solar customers in the province.

“Making technology uneconomical, I'm sorry, it's backwards thinking, right?”

According to N.B. Power data, the number of customers with solar systems connected to the utility grew from 465 in spring 2023 to 2,138 three years later.

Feeding extra power to grid

Josh Goguen was part of that growth.

The Sackville resident installed his first system in his backyard in the fall of 2023 and expanded to his rooftop in May 2025.

He uses the power he produces during the day, and whatever is not used on site goes to the N.B. Power grid. When he’s not producing power, he pulls it from the grid.

As part of N.B. Power’s net metering program, he gets charged for each kilowatt hour he pulls off the grid and credited for each kilowatt hour he feeds in, all at the same rate.

WATCH | ‘It's backwards thinking’:

 

N.B. Power proposal has solar industry seeing dark clouds ahead

May 26|

Duration 3:39

 

N.B. Power wants to change how home solar users are compensated and that could mean greater costs for people in the utility’s net metering program. [Correction: A previous version of this video contained a graphic which reversed the rate changes proposed by N.B. Power. In fact, the proposed rates are 9.22 cents per kWh for power charges and 6.77 cents per kWh for power credits.]

During the summer months, there can be a lot of extra power. Over the course of the year, Goguen produces enough to cover “running what I need in the house, plus charging my electric car.”

He uses the money he saves on power bills to pay down loans for the two systems, with an expected payback period of about 13 years. With the systems expected to last about 30 years, that leaves about 17 years of very little in energy costs — under the current program.

But that may change, if N.B. Power gets approval for what it calls a plan to modernize how it handles net metering.

Changes to rates, new demand charge

Currently, producers are both credited and charged for power at the retail power rate, now 15.39 cents per kWh and predicted to go to 15.46 cents per kWh in N.B. Power's proposal.

But N.B. Power is also proposing to charge solar customers less for the power they use, just 9.22 cents per kWh, while also paying them even less for power they feed to the grid, just 6.77 cents per kWh.

(CBC)

On its own, the rate change could result in lower bills for some solar producers. But the big impact, said Goguen, comes from another big change: a new demand charge.

The proposed demand charge is a new fee that charges customers for their peak demand — the highest rate of power usage they hit between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays — in any given month.

Goguen said his peak demand hit nearly 18 kilowatts this past March. With N.B. Power’s proposed new $13 per kilowatt demand charge, that would translate to over $230. According to his calculations, that would leave Goguen with a bill about $240 higher than under the current pricing system.

Goguen said his peak demand is usually lower, around 12 kilowatts. The example N.B. Power presents in its case to the Energy and Utilities Board estimates a peak demand of 8.4 kilowatts, resulting in a demand charge of just under $110 and a total bill that’s $90 higher than the current net metering program allows for.

Chris Meechan is a member of Solar NB Solaire and national solar director for Greenfoot Energy Solutions, based in Moncton. (CBC)

Meechan said the new demand charge is “unpredictable” for users, and, according to Solar NB Solaire, is not something used by any other Canadian utility.

N.B. Power said demand charges are used elsewhere, particularly for commercial, industrial and higher-usage customers.

Current system not sustainable, says N.B. Power

“There's no intent to dry up the solar industry in New Brunswick, whatsoever,” said N.B. Power chief commercial officer Brad Coady. “The vision would be for all homes in New Brunswick to eventually have [solar generation] as a solution.”

But that will not be possible under the current framework for net metering, said Coady, because it was designed to help nurture residential solar growth and not be sustainable in the long term.  

“The market has now moved beyond an entry or a nascent market,” said Coady, “and now it's starting to hit more mainstream. So, the time to make it sustainable is today.”

Brad Coady, N.B. Power's chief commercial officer, said the utility's current net metering program is not sustainable. (CBC)

Meechan rejected the idea that incentives for New Brunswickers to adopt solar are costing other ratepayers. N.B. Power is “looking at it from a one-sided perspective,” said Meechan.

“Even, in their documentation, they talk about how they haven't weighed in the positive economic benefits of these private capital investments that support the grid," he said.

Meechan said the changes risk leaving New Brunswick “in a chasm situation where the adoption is not happening fast enough” to meet growing electricity demand.

Encouraging battery storage

Coady said new demand charges will encourage residential solar producers to invest in battery systems, so they can use their solar power outside of daytime hours and reduce their peak demand.

“If I were to do it again, I would need to invest in a battery,” said Goguen.

But that comes at a cost, which Goguen estimated would be about $10,000 for his home system.

As an existing net metering customer, Goguen will have some time to consider whether he makes the investment.

N.B. Power’s proposal includes a 10-year grandfather period for those already registered in the net metering system or who have applied by Nov. 1.

The new demand charge and rate changes for net metering are now before the Energy and Utilities Board with a hearing expected in late summer or fall.

N.B. Power has already announced an end to financial incentives for new solar systems, taking effect on May 27.

Solar NB Solaire is asking for a pause on the changes to allow time for consultation with the public and industry stakeholders.

“If this goes through the way that it is currently being devised,” said Meechan, “nobody's having a say here, and it's not fair.”

Corrections

• A previous version of this story contained a graphic that reversed the proposed rate changes for N.B. Power net metering customers. The corrected version shows proposed rates of 9.22 cents per kWh for power charges and 6.77 cents per kWh for power credits.
  May 26, 2026 11:31 AM EDT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Erica Butler

Reporter

Erica Butler is a reporter with CBC New Brunswick. She lives in Sackville and works out of the Moncton newsroom. You can send story tips to erica.butler@cbc.ca.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-panel-recommendations-9.7211551 

 

More analysis needed on key N.B. Power recommendations, Holt says

Premier releases ‘action plan’ for troubled utility that includes 2029 timelines for several major decisions

 

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: May 25, 2026 3:52 PM EDT

 

 

Premier Susan Holt unveiled an 'action plan' on Monday to address an independent review of N.B. Power, but some of the timelines her government gave last beyond the next election. (Mikael Mayer/Radio-Canada)

The Holt Liberal government is pushing back some of the toughest decisions it faces about N.B. Power until after the next provincial election.

These include proposals to shave almost $2 billion off the utility’s massive debt and to spin off the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant into a separate company to address its costs.

Premier Susan Holt unveiled what she called an “action plan” Monday in response to an independent review of the troubled utility’s finances and its recent pattern of large rate increases for customers.

“We are going to do this as quickly and as transparently as possible,” Holt said.

“We are not going to shy away from making the changes required.” 

The government says it is moving on most of the recommendations, but several of the most complicated ideas are labelled "further analysis required,” with timelines stretching into 2029.

WATCH | ‘Not going to shy away’: Premier on power plan:

 

Holt Liberals delay some major N.B. Power decisions

May 25|

Duration 2:37

 

Province releases utility “action plan” but says some ideas need more analysis.

The review panel suggested the government write down a large share of the utility’s $5.9 billion debt to reduce the upward pressure on rates.

That move would also add to the province’s own soaring debt.

“More analysis is required,” the action plan document says. “Next steps to be identified at a later date.”

That analysis will be complete in December 2029, the document says — more than a year after the next scheduled provincial election.

Splitting the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station into its own separate business is another suggestion from the panel that the government will analyze further.

Energy Minister René Legacy said none of the review panel's recommendations made have been rejected. (Tara King-Stewart/CBC)

“Government will assess this recommendation to fully understand the implications both in relation to the current facility and any future new nuclear at Point Lepreau,” the plan says.

Energy Minister René Legacy said none of the 50 recommendations had been rejected.

But he wouldn’t say if those items needing more analysis will definitely happen, suggesting this will depend on how things go with some other recommendations being tackled first.

• More nuclear power, less debt among N.B. Power recommendations

“It’s a sequencing, so until we get the first part organized and see what comes out of it and some of the work that has to be done, it’s hard to identify it at this point,” he said.

In March, before the release of the review panel’s report, Legacy said that “it is not going on the shelf."

"I can guarantee that. There is no shelf for that report.”

N.B. Power CEO Lori Clark seemed unfazed that seemingly major choices may not happen for two or three more years.

Splitting the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station into its own separate business is another suggestion the government will analyze further. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

“They’re big decisions, and they will require a lot of analysis to ensure that we move in the right direction, and we fix them for the longer term as well,” Clark told reporters.

The Liberals will move quickly on some items, including an “energy sector consumer advocate’s office” to field and deal with complaints from ratepayers.

That will replace the role of the public intervener, who appears at Energy and Utilities Board hearings on behalf of New Brunswickers.

Legislation to create the new advocate’s office will be introduced Tuesday, Holt said. 

The government says it will talk to other provinces in the region about more cooperation, improve consultations with First Nations, and improve accountability and oversight.

A proposal for the “corporatization” of N.B. Power, to make it operate more like a private business and borrow money on capital markets without the province’s backing, “may be considered at a later date,” the action plan says.

Recommendations to build a second larger nuclear reactor and to encourage more use of natural gas for heating will also take further analysis under the plan.

After the news conference, Progressive Conservative energy critic Kris Austin said he “left more confused I guess than before I got there,” given the comments about further analyzing some recommendations.

“I’m still kind of wondering which direction government is going to go with those reviews,” he said.

Austin called the natural gas recommendation “the largest” of the review panel’s proposals but said Holt and Legacy had “skirted” any firm commitment on it.

The plan also defers a decision on a recommendation to re-establish executive bonuses at N.B. Power as a way of giving the utility’s leaders more incentives to improve performance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Jacques Poitras

Provincial Affairs reporter

Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.

With files from Frederic Cammarano

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/gas-diesel-price-increase-environment-oil-holt-9.7200874

 

Price of gas jumps in N.B. after EUB ruling on company environmental costs

Gasoline price hits four-year high in wake of decision

Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: May 15, 2026 11:37 AM EDT

 

 

 

New Brunswick petroleum prices jumped five cents Friday after an Energy and Utilities Board decision. (Axel Tardieu/Radio-Canada)

Gasoline and diesel rose five cents across New Brunswick on Friday morning, driven mostly by resurgent oil company environmental costs that Susan Holt's government had once promised it would eliminate from prices.

Instead, in a ruling earlier this week, New Brunswick's Energy and Utilities Board cleared the way for higher charges.

The board found the government's plan to eliminate them from retail prices would be "crippling" for wholesalers and retailers in a way that could eventually "collapse" petroleum supply chains in the province.

In its decision, the EUB said there are "real costs" imposed on oil refineries and petroleum importers by tightening federal rules on the carbon intensity of motor fuels. 

WATCH | Gas prices jump in New Brunswick again:

 

Why New Brunswickers are paying more for gas, despite government promise of action

May 15|

Duration 1:51

 

New Brunswick's Energy and Utilities Board has cleared the way for higher gasoline charges, bucking a provincial Liberal campaign promise to eliminate some costs for motorists.

As a result, the board said, it would allow retailers to continue to charge motorists for these costs, despite a 2024 provincial Liberal election promise to have them eliminated.

"Absent a mechanism for passing … compliance costs through to consumers, wholesalers and retailers will have to absorb them, resulting in a crippling reduction in their effective margins," the board wrote.

"Margins would fall significantly below comparator markets and the sustainability of the chain of supply would be in danger of collapse."

Petroleum retailers applied to the Energy and Utilities Board last fall to retain charges that allowed them to pass oil company environmental costs through to consumers. (Roger Cosman/CBC)

New Brunswick drivers have been paying a special charge on gasoline and diesel since 2023 to compensate refineries and fuel importers for costs they incur to comply with tough new federal environmental standards.  

Charges on motorists were introduced by the former Progressive Conservative government of Blaine Higgs and aggressively denounced by then opposition leader Susan Holt, who argued oil companies should pay for their own environmental costs, not pass them on to consumers. 

"The clean fuel regulations were designed to be borne by producers and refineries," Holt said in the legislature in October 2023.

"This government chose to make a special loophole to bypass that so that New Brunswickers would pay instead of the refineries. We think that is a poor decision, and New Brunswickers think that is a poor decision."

Premier Susan Holt said, when she was opposition leader, that allowing federal environmental costs on refineries to pass through to consumers was the 'wrong decision.' (Mikael Mayer/CBC)

The special levies have fluctuated over the last three years but had been frozen since last December at 7.9 cents (plus HST) for gasoline and 8.81 cents (plus HST) for diesel, while the EUB decided what to do about the government's plan to eliminate them.

As part of its decision this week, the board changed the way the costs are calculated and this caused the charges to motorists to jump Friday morning to 11.26 and 13.2 cents respectively.

It pushed gasoline prices in the province to their highest levels in four years.

The Holt government did pass legislation to eliminate the levies that was to take effect last fall, but it left the EUB with the discretion to create identical charges in their place.

New Brunswick Finance and Energy Minister René Legacy told reporters Thursday the EUB decision that raised charges on motorists for oil company environmental costs showed 'very good work.' (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

On Thursday the Holt government gave no indication it opposed the EUB's final decision on the matter or had any plans to introduce further legislation to undo it.

Speaking to reporters, New Brunswick's Energy Minister René Legacy said he understood the EUB decision would cause prices to consumers to "go up slightly" but praised the move to change formulas. 

He said the previous formula would have generated even higher prices once charges were unfrozen.

"I think they've done some very good work," Legacy said.

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.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

 

 

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fuel-tax-suspension-nb-9.7163627

 

New Brunswickers call Carney's fuel tax suspension 'good news'

Tax freeze is expected to bring gas prices down by 11.5 cents starting Monday

 

Ian Curran · CBC News · Posted: Apr 14, 2026 4:11 PM EDT

 

 

 

John Stillwell, manager of Johnny’s Gas Bar in Douglas and Island View, said customers are having trouble affording the rising cost of fuel. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

The Mark Carney government will suspend the federal fuel excise tax on gas, diesel and aviation fuel starting on April 20.

The move means on Monday the cost of gasoline in New Brunswick, including HST, will drop by 11.5 cents per litre and 4.6 cents per litre on diesel. The discounts will last until Labour Day.

The summer suspension is “good news,” according to John Stillwell, manager of Johnny’s Gas Bar in Douglas and Island View, west of Fredericton.

“I just was not expecting it at all,” said Stillwell. “I had to double-check, make sure it wasn't some online joke.”

WATCH | Price at the pump is about to get a little less painful:

 

New Brunswickers react to news of price reduction at pumps

April 14|

Duration 1:31

 

The federal government is suspending the excise tax on fuel, which means the price of gas and diesel will be reduced from April 20 until Labour Day.

Last weekend, Johnny’s Gas Bar had a sale and took about 10 cents per litre off regular gasoline.

According to Stillwell, it drew a crowd.

“We saw an incredible number of people, a lot of people who've never seen before,” he said. “We just don't see the traffic when the prices are high.”

Stillwell said he has spoken with customers at the pumps who said they have been having trouble affording the rising cost of fuel.

“Those raised prices are doing some real damage to folks,” said Stillwell. 

“Some people are talking about having to cancel summer vacations because they simply can't afford to even do day trips because of the price of gas.”

Ingrid O’Donnell, one of Stillwell's customers, said she worries about going on road trips with her family this summer.

Ingrid O’Donnell said the federal tax suspension will help her family afford summer road trips. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

“We went to Saint John this past weekend because it was rainy here and it took almost a full tank of gas just to go to Saint John for the day,” said O’Donnell.

“If it keeps going up, we're not gonna be able to do family road trips for the day, even to stay within the province."

O’Donnell was filling up her vehicle when he heard about the federal tax suspension. She said it was good news for her adventure-seeking daughter.

“That's exciting, especially for my eight-year-old because she loves to do things like road trips and fun things throughout the province,” said O’Donnell.

“Gas definitely has to go down or we're not gonna be able to afford to be able to travel and do fun stuff because it's so expensive.”

Francis Morissette also found out while at the pumps and welcomed the news. He drives a large pickup truck for work on buildings that he takes care of.

“I'm running back and forth with two-by-fours. I don't have a choice but to have a truck,” said Morissette. “It's tough, especially when you're running a truck like this, 250 to 300 [dollars] depending on where you fill up.”

Francis Morissette, right, drives a pickup truck for work and said it costs him around $250 to $300 to fill his tank. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

He welcomed the federal decision as the conflict between the United States and Israel with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to impact global fuel prices.

• Rise in gas prices leaves experts concerned for New Brunswick economy

“We have to keep our own in check here in Canada,” said Morisette. “That will help, especially with what they've announced, what Trump's doing over in the Strait of Hormuz.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ian Curran

Video journalist

Ian Curran is a video journalist based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is currently participating in the 2026 CBC summer scholarship for emerging journalists working with News Network and the Toronto local bureau. He has also worked with CBC New Brunswick in the Fredericton bureau. You can contact him with story ideas at ian.curran@cbc.ca.

With files from Shane Fowler

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices