Thursday, 9 January 2020

Green Party broke 27-year-old N.B. fundraising record in 2018

https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies





Replying to and 49 others
Methinks everybody knows why the liberals and the Conservatives gave Kent-North to the Greens and my friend Roger Richard was the only soul to try to stop that nonsense N'esy Pas?


https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/01/green-party-broke-27-year-old-nb.html



 


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/higgs-austin-polarized-legislature-coon-1.5421270




Opposition leaders lament Higgs's unwillingness to seek partners beyond Alliance

Green Party leader David Coon says Premier Higgs only willing to work with People's Alliance



Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jan 10, 2020 7:00 AM AT




The Green and Liberal party leaders both say Premier Blaine Higgs has show an unwillingness to work with them, choosing instead to partner with the People's Alliance. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Green Party Leader David Coon says it's a shame that Premier Blaine Higgs appears set to extend his minority government's working arrangement with the People's Alliance in the legislature.

Coon says Higgs doesn't grasp that the Greens could be partners on key initiatives, something he says the premier's own cabinet ministers already understand.

"Despite our best efforts, the premier doesn't have the level of trust that I believe he should have in talking with us," Coon said.


"And all he needs to do is talk to some of his cabinet ministers. We have a good working relationship with a number of cabinet ministers."

He said he and his two fellow Green MLAs have worked well with Progressive Conservative ministers. including Dominic Cardy, Dorothy Shephard and Ted Flemming.


People's Alliance of New Brunswick Leader Kris Austin talks to Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Dominic Cardy in the legislature. The PCs have come to rely on support from Austin's caucus for Higgs' minority government. (James West/Canadian Press)

"That doesn't translate into the office of the premier," he said. "It's unfortunate."

Higgs seems to prefer relying on the Alliance not just for key confidence votes where the government's survival is on the line, Coon said, but also for more routine day-to-day legislation where the Greens have something to offer.


David Coon, New Brunswick's Green Party Leader, wonders why Premier Higgs isn't more willing to work with parties other than the People's Alliance. (CBC)

"It just demonstrates that the premier doesn't listen. He doesn't pay attention," Coon said. "That's why he doesn't see that there are areas of common ground that we share, that we could collaborate on, like health care reform."

Alliance Leader Kris Austin said this week his party will likely support the PCs in the legislature on confidence votes for another year past March, extending the 18-month commitment he made in the days after the 2018 election.


"We want … to let the public know that they have a stable government," he said. "They need to know that there's some stability in government."

In the wake of that inconclusive 2018 election, all party leaders spoke of the need for more consultation and collaboration among their caucuses.


Premier Blaine Higgs said in a year-end interview with CBC that he had become comfortable working with Kris Austin. He says he has less in common with David Coon and the Green Party. (CBC)

But Higgs gravitated to Austin as a reliable partner to support government legislation, and in a year-end interview with CBC News last month said it was the right call.

In return, the PCs have acted on some Alliance policies, including reclassifying ambulance paramedics and reducing the frequency of car inspections.

"The respect and recognition for each other has grown over the year," Higgs said. "I feel very comfortable sitting down and talking to [Austin] about any issues. … I find him certainly very thoughtful, rational in his process in coming up to a conclusion."
At the same time, Higgs dismissed Coon as having an "all or nothing" approach to issues, including what he called a Liberal-like instinct to "throw money" at problems.

"I try to bridge across a big spectrum and I feel the discussion that I generally have with Mr. Coon can be quite narrowly focused," he said.

'Not listening'


But Coon said there are a number of areas where the Greens could work with the PCs, including health and social welfare reforms.

"Where that falls, I don't know, but there's some common ground to talk about," Coon said. "But he's not listening so he doesn't see that."

Coon speculated that Higgs is "kind of stuck" on the Green leader's former role with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

He said the premier seems to think that because the government recently expanded conservation areas on Crown land, Coon should be happy.

"What does that have to do, really, with the work, with the things we've been trying to advance in the legislative assembly? It's just indicative of how he's not paying attention and not listening."
Both Coon and Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers say their two parties aren't as aligned as the premier seems to think.

Coon said the Greens wouldn't necessarily back a Liberal minority government and the decision would depend "on where they would take the province."


Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers hopes to win a seat in the legislature in an upcoming by-election. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC)

And Vickers said his party would be more deliberate in its approach to environmental issues. "There's a lot of things that we would like to change quickly, but we would probably take a more pragmatic approach," he said.

The Liberal leader, who does not have a seat in the legislature, said Higgs has shown no interest in working with him on issues.

When he sees the premier, "I always make a point to go over and shake his hand and wish him well, but I've never been invited to his office or received any phone calls."

'Take it file by file'


Austin said this week that the extension of his commitment to support the PCs doesn't mean the Alliance will vote for every government bill. "We're going to take it file by file. I'm not going to pin us into a corner on any one issue."

The Alliance wants glyphosate spraying banned in the province and so far the PCs have not agreed to that.

The Alliance candidate in the upcoming, unscheduled Saint Croix by-election, Rod Cumberland, said if he becomes an MLA, glyphosate could be his line in the sand for supporting the PCs.

"Obviously if something came up in the legislature, politics doesn't trump science. If the science says this isn't good, this shouldn't be done, obviously I'm going to go with what I know," he said.

Cumberland alleged he was fired from the Maritime College of Forest Technology for his outspoken views on glyphosate "so I think the proof's in the pudding on that one."

About the Author



Jacques Poitras
Provincial Affairs reporter
Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. Raised in Moncton, he also produces the CBC political podcast Spin Reduxit. 


 




151 Comments Before many deletions began

100 Comments 
Commenting is now closed for this story.



 


Lou Bell
Of course Vickers hasn't been invited to Higgs office . He's the latest pah pet in the Liberal Party which is totally controlled by the SANB. Their sole intent with Vickers is for him to win his riding and to chase a pie dream they'll gain one or two of the non Francophone ridings , nothing else . Vickers having any control in the Liberal Party has as much chance as D. Amos !


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks everybody already knows why I am honoured by the fact that politicians hate me and the EX RCMP dude you make fun of is one of the ones most responsible for my lawsuit in 2015 N'esy Pas?















Bob Smith
Coon has not shown one bit that his party will vote different than the Liberals. The fact he is trying to say otherwise is laughable.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Bob Smith: I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir















Matthew Locke
Everyone work together. NB cannot afford another Liberal Gov't.


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Matthew Locke: or a Conservative one















Michael Durant
I want to thank Austin for pushing through on the bi-yearly vehicle inspections.


Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Michael durant: Quite an accomplishment eh?


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Michael durant: Methinks the Green leader understands why every time I see your name I recall talking to him and the NDP lawyer running against him just before the writ was dropped and we all ran in the last election N'esy Pas?





















Marc LeBlanc
Wow,an Irving man that won't work with the Green Party....what a revelation..!


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Marc LeBlanc: I was asstounded













David Raymond Amos
Oh My My I have to holler BINGO out of the gate today 






David Raymond Amos

Content disabled
Surprise Surprise Surprise 









Lou Bell
Greens - Irrelevant AGAIN ! Libs sooo need your SANB member who is now so irrelevant.


Nick Carver
Reply to @Lou Bell: so tired of all you francophobes living here. Makes me embarrased to be an anglophone here.


Marguerite Deschamps 
Reply to @Lou DumBell: ...speaking of the irrelevant


Marc Bourque
Reply to @Nick Carver: likewise to you sir..


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Nick Carver: FYI Lou is a French woman


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marc Bourque: Methinks folks should relax and enjoy the circus N'esy Pas?



















Jim Cyr:
What a shameful, unbelievable article Jaques has written here. As if this article would EVER have been written, in the time when Liberals were in power and working with the Greens/NDP to get things passed. Shameful, utter propaganda.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Cry me a river

















John Pokiok
Greens are one issue party nothing to work with there.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @John Pokiok: Methnks many would agree that the Greens are all about the colour of money just like the rest of the political gangs are N'esy Pas? 
 

Gabriel Boucher
Reply to @John Pokiok:
Your knowledge of the Green Party is very outdated. Please go to their website and educate yourself some more about the party before spewing misinformation on social media like that.

















Pierre Cyr
PANB are tanking in the polls. Lets see how low they can go once the PCs start blowing up hospitals.


Lou Bell 
Reply to @Pierre Cyr: Liberals are the ones who are tanking ! Their 110 million dollar giveaway exposed who they truly represent and where their priorities lie !!


Jim Cyr 
Reply to @Pierre Cyr: Don't have to "blow them up"...........the Liberal years have made it impossible for them just to stay open (see: rolling ward closures....)


Pierre Cyr 
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Only tories say its impossible to keep hospitals open. Then they privatize to grease up their buddies in business at 4x the cost of the public system.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Lou Bell: Why spin so much?




















David Stairs
Coon claims he worked with Dominic Cardy and other members of the Conservative Party...pipe dream...Dominic doesn't even work or listen to his constituents..he is only interested in Dom.....and Coon is out in left field with the issues he is interested in...all things we cannot afford or need.....and now we have Vicker's...go back to Ottawa where they think you are more believable...anything for a vote....


Mack Leigh 
Reply to @David Stairs: Any " working with " done by Coon with Cardy , I suspect, was done long before Cardy left the NDP..... Neither Coon or Cardy are to be trusted as their tract record proves in spades.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Methinks lots of folks have noticed what has been rather obvious for years Most folks just don't care as long as everybody they care about gets to stay aboard the gravy train N'esy Pas?


Marguerite Deschamps
Content disabled
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: so true! It's human nature. I suggest Meagaine Trutthough, le Crisse d'Hostie and all these bible thumpers read The Selfish Gene, by Richard Dawkins where it is all explained instead of wasting their time on an antiquated book. These politicians know this too well, yet they are feeding us this salad.


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks the wicked political games are as old as your beloved peoplekind in this wonderful old dog eat dog world I bet you enjoyed my letter to Franky Boy in 2004 that our former little Lord's AG now Judge Brad Green acknowledged before I was falsely imprisoned in the USA without the right to habeas corpus etc after I served the Yankee DA 9 police surveillance wiretap tapes that were found in a downtown Beantown dumpster when Whitey Bulger ran off N'esy Pas? 

















Cheryl Wright
maybe if the other parties had something to bring to the table they would be listened to


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @cheryl wright: Dream on 
 


















Matt Steele
There is no Green Party in N.B. anymore as the party was hijacked by Kevin Arseneau and the SANB a few months ago ; and is now plagued with endless in-fighting as Arseneau pushes his SANB agenda . Kevin Arseneau was so extreme in his views , that even the N.B. Liberals refused to let him run as a candidate for their party . If the Greens can't even work with each other , how are they suppose to work with other political parties .


David Raymond Amos  

Content disabled
Reply to @Matt Steele: Methinks Arseneau and all the chickens to a pal of his wife clucking in and around the old maison was enough for Higgy and his even his wacko cohort Chucky Leblanc N'esy Pas?


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: BINGO 


















Toby Tolly
 why work with kevin arsenault
he and jacques claimed he had no ties



David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Toby Tolly: Methinks they know each other quite well N'esy Pas?



















Brian Robertson
What a shame.
Opposition politicians are frustrated because the Premier won't allow them to play politics in the running of the Province.
What a brave new world.



David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Brian Robertson: Imagine 

















Meagaine Trutthough
Content disabled
Do the right thing and ban marijuana. We need to attract the right sort of people to this province. Let's become a beacon of hope in a nation plagued by drugs. Ban marijuana and take on the federal government. We will export undesirables to the rest of this evil country and attract the desirables.


Terry Tibbs
Content disabled
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough:
Hello 1960 and reefer madness.



Darryl Hill
Content disabled
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough: Good idea. Let's start with you.


Michel Forgeron 
Content disabled
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough: It would take centuries for the evil of marijuana use to catch up with that of religion, any religion including Christianity.


Jim Cyr 
Content disabled
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough: The many, many, many potheads of NB do not want to hear this truth, Meagaine. Sad.


Marguerite Deschamps 
Content disabled
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Therefore she is the only one who holds the truth.


Meagaine Trutthough
Content disabled
Reply to @Jim Cyr: It is really sad. What was once good is now considered evil and what was once evil is now considered good. It was only half a generation ago that marijuana users were something to be avoided and pitied and now we have a government and media on television encouraging the public to use these drugs. It's just heartbreaking how quickly our society has descended. I'll admit that sometimes i say outlandish things in the heat of an argument, but these leftists are making me lose my mind. It's like talking to aliens these days, they don't make any sense.


Meagaine Trutthough 
Content disabled
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Well, myself and thousands upon thousands of medical professionals and researchers, particularly in the field of psychiatry.


Marguerite Deschamps
Content disabled
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough: junk science!


Marguerite Deschamps
Content disabled
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough: Organigram's shares have tanked quite a bit over the last year. At its price today, it's a bargain. I suggest you buy some. That's the best financial advice you will ever have. In a year from now, your money will more than double. 


David Raymond Amos 
Content disabled
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks it not wise to give folks financial advice in a public website unless you are licensed, do not have a conflict of interest and actually know what you are bragging about without insider information N'esy Pas? 


Marguerite Deschamps
Content disabled
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: I year ya the second coming of J.J. Robinette.



















Terry Tibbs
Maybe, just maybe, if the Greens hadn't been so hasty to throw their lot in with the Liberals, we could take them seriously. This is no more than sour grapes and the cost of poor decisions in your past.


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks if you had bothered to check my work then you would understand as to why the Greens are not to be trusted N'esy Pas?
 
















William Edwards
Hey David, kick Kevin Arseneau(SANB) out of your party and then you might be taken serious as a legitimate party and not taking direction from SANB. When Rod Cumerberland gets elected your enviromental platform will be swallowed up by Kris Austin, it'll be the end for you then.


David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @William Edwards: Methinks many political pundits agree that a certain lady could embarrass your PANB pal easily if she decides to run against him N'esy Pas?





















Meagaine Trutthough
Content disabled
Stand strong Higgs! Trump proved that politicians don't need to give in to the leftist mob, stand your ground and the people of New Brunswick will stand with you. When the leftists try to force you acquiesce to their bilingual, pro marijuana drugs nonsense, double down and fight it.


Terry Tibbs 
Content disabled
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough:
What planet are you from? Unfortunately Mr Higgs is no different from all the rest, wanting to be the big frog in a very small puddle, mouthing the right words to show his difference, but without the right actions. Actions speak louder than words and Mr Higgs has no actions any different than ANY of the others.



Marguerite Deschamps 
Content disabled
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: She's from Uranus.


Lou Bell
Content disabled
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: As are you ! Only you're from the central part !


Marguerite Deschamps 
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Actually the central part is COR country.


Archie Levesque 
Content disabled
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: And the North is SANB all the way. They could run a francophone chicken in one of those ridings and all the p;eople would step up and vote as long as its a Liberal

Marguerite Deschamps
Content disabled
Reply to @Archie Levesque: when all the while, the south votes blue.


Marguerite Deschamps 
Content disabled
Kent-North went green, Kent-South went blue many times as well as Tracadie and Shippagan-Miscou, more so than the south voting red.


David Raymond Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks everybody knows why the liberals and the Conservatives gave Kent-North to the Greens Even you must know that my friend Roger Richard running as an Independent was the only soul to try to stop that nonsense N'esy Pas?  


Marguerite Deschamps
Content disabled
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: With friends like you, who needs enemies, eh?



















Ferdinand Boudreau
I think no parties want an election right now--funds aren't there


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Ferdinand Boudreau: Methinks many would agree that their bank accounts support the fact that only the PANB and does not want an election N'esy Pas? 


















Roland Godin
It is called political 'parties', whatever colour chosen it will be a chorus of songs and dance...et voilà.


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Roland Godin: Methinks whereas you enjoy the circus as much as I we should share our popcorn as we sit in the peanut gallery and make fun of the clowns entertaining us N'esy Pas? 



















 
Mack Leigh
Trust is something that has to be earned Mr Coon. Your actions and inactions in the past have proven you have a long way to go in that department. You are not called the " Watermelon Party " for nothing, green on the outside and pure red on the inside.... Also your inaction regarding the actions and speeches of your loose cannon KA does not help your party at all.. Ex SANB and absolutely no respect for the majority of people in NB.

 
Darryl Hill
Reply to @Mack Leigh: It's really funny you bring up trust, considering all the dirt on the hands of Conservatives and Liberals.


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Darryl Hill: C'est Vrai Methinks his insights make the circus even more fun for the folks to watch N'esy Pas? 














 
Paul Bourgoin
Opposition leaders lament Higgs's unwillingness to seek partners beyond Alliance, Why?
Birds of a feather flocks together!



David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Paul Bourgoin: YUP 















 
Meagaine Trutthough
Content disabled
This province is in direct opposition to the tower of babel. This is why so many French people seem to hate God so much. God separated the languages, it is spitting in his face to promote bilingualism.


Rosco Holt 
Content disabled
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough:
Why do you bring God into this, he has nothing to do with this.



Marguerite Deschamps
Content disabled
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough: Therefore God is on your side. We read all about this throughout history and many innocent died as a result.


Meagaine Trutthough
Content disabled
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: There's a serious point to this, God gave us all free will and being forced to learn two languages goes against that. God created us and placed us in French and English families for a purpose, that purpose was not to be forced to learn another language against our will.


David Raymond Amos 
Content disabled
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough: "This province is in direct opposition to the tower of babel"

Too Too Funny

Now I have to blow my nose and make another cup of coffee (No Joke) 



















 
Marc Bourque
WOWWEEE all of a sudden the greens feel so important and left out LOL LOL


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marc Bourque: Welcome back to the circus 















 
Kyle Woodman
This sounds a lot like a coalition government to me.


Paul Bourgoin 
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Did you say a Coalition government or Co-Op government?!


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Trust that I have another term for it but it would not pass the Crown's censors sensibilities
 


















Marguerite Deschamps
Birds of a feather flock together. The Higgs Bozon and le Crisse d'Hostie, two peas in a pod, aka former CORs.


Paul Bourgoin
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Nice to hear someone who truthfully calls a SPADE A SPADE!


Darryl Hill
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough: Then do the Christian thing and turn the other cheek.


Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Darryl Hill: You are a prime example of what Gandhi said about Christians:
‘I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.’



David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Meagaine Trutthough: Methinks you have become persona non grata N'esy Pas?






















Jake Newman
Higgs needs a majority


Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Jake Newman: He will never get a majority after being in cahoots with bLe Crisse d'Hostie.


Jake Newman 
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: when the election is called, you can bet he'll get one, and it'll be good for NB.


Darryl Hill 
Reply to @Jake Newman: Yeah, because he kept his promise of balancing the budget. What is this, twice now he's made that promise? Give it a rest.


John Smith
Reply to @Jake Newman: He's done such a great job. We've been trying for years to be number one, and now we are the number one poorest province in Canada. So we made it.


Paul Bourgoin
Reply to @Jake Newman: Politicians have to start looking for their electorate first and their former BOSS Last


Darryl Hill  
Reply to @Paul Bourgoin: Last, if at all.


Paul Bourgoin 
Reply to @Jake Newman: WHY??


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Jake Newman: Methinks every politician needs a majority N'esy Pas?




















 


Jonas Smith
If I were Higgs, I wouldn't work with Kevin Arseneau either.


Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Jonas Smith:

Do you *think* he has a choice?



David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks you jest N'esy Pas?
















Matt Steele
The Greens have already shown that they back the Liberal Party and SANB without question ; so why would Higgs trust , or want to work with them . The Greens two main priorities seem to be massive tax increases , and eliminating industry in the province ; so it is really tough for many N.B.ers to take them seriously when they don't seem to have any realistic ideas or solutions ; and no doubt Higgs feels the same way .


Darryl Hill 
Reply to @Matt Steele: I dunno, because after the last election all the politicians were talking about what a clear message the public sent them that political parties need to work together. You know, for the people.

Higgs promised to work with the other parties - Not just one - So, he lied. Pure and simple: He lied.



Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Darryl Hill: He's not working "with" anyone. He is working "for" the Bermuda Baron.


Paul Bourgoin 
Reply to @Darryl Hill: Do you know any politicians that don't lie?


Darryl Hill 
Reply to @Paul Bourgoin: Can't name a single one! I guess that means it's time to clean house.


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks everybody knows who you are working "with" N'esy Pas? 
 

Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Guess again.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks its rather obvious that I didn't guess N'esy Pas? 
 

Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: You are.



















Fred Dee
Let me see... The liberals did all that they could to STALL and keep the PC's out of power... The greens said they would NEVER support the PC's. NOW they are surprised that they are not asked for input??!!!! WOW any reasonable person would expect this.. only in the wild eyes of politics can you kick someone over and over... then be surprised that they do not ask you for help!!!!!


Roy Nicholl 
Reply to @Fred Dee wrote:
"The liberals did all that they could to STALL and keep the PC's out of power"

No, they merely following the procedures of our Westminster style system which provided the incumbent government the first opportunity to seek the confidence of the legislature.
If the next election returns a similar minority situation, then Mr. Higgs' government will have the first opportunity to seek the confidence of the legislature.



David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Fred Dee: Surprise Surprise Surprise

 




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Replying to and 49 others
Methinks the LIEbrano lawyer Greg Byrne should review the documents and CD I gave him and many others in 2004 and his email to me after I got of the Yankee jail N'esy Pas? 


https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/01/green-party-broke-27-year-old-nb.html



 



https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/political-party-donations-green-record-breaking-1.5420245



Green Party broke 27-year-old N.B. fundraising record in 2018

Green donations far outpaced those of other 3rd parties


Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Jan 09, 2020 5:00 AM AT



Leader David Coon helped win three seats for the New Brunswick Green Party in the 2018 provincial election. The campaign was fuelled in part by nearly $303,000 in donations — a record for a New Brunswick third party. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

New Brunswick's Green Party flexed its growing fundraising muscle in the province's 2018 election, pulling in more donations than the NDP and People's Alliance combined and closing some of the money gap with Liberals and Progressive Conservatives, new records show.

In a financial disclosure submitted to Elections New Brunswick last month and recently released by the agency, the Greens reported raising $302,749 from donors in 2018, a record for a New Brunswick third party.

The amount was more than double what either the People's Alliance ($124,570) or New Brunswick NDP ($103,109) were able to coax from their own supporters in 2018.


Political scientist Jamie Gillies said that could make a difference as the three compete among themselves in the next election to emerge as the main alternative to the Liberals and PCs.
"If they can take that money and have it work in over 10 ridings, well they're going to hold the balance of power," said Gillies, who teaches at St. Thomas University.

'A party cannot run without funds'


Eighteen supporters gave the Green Party the maximum $3,000 allowed by New Brunswick donation rules, including retired Moncton pathologist Sarah Colwell, who also stood as a candidate in Moncton Southwest.

"A party cannot run without funds. It certainly can't fund candidates and run a campaign without adequate funding," said Colwell about her donation.

"It's important to vote, but if you can support them financially, that's a really important thing to do."


Former Moncton pathologist Sarah Colwell was one of 18 supporters to donate $3,000, the legal maximum, to the New Brunswick Green Party in 2018. The People's Alliance took in three of that size and the NDP one. (Submitted)

Fredericton resident Margaret Trahms-Coombs also gave the maximum $3,000, a significant increase over the $1,000 she donated in the 2014 election year.


"My familiarity with the party has been growing and ability to donate is growing," she said

"I really believe in their philosophy. I really believe we need to move in that direction."

Closing ground on top 2


New Brunswick Green Party fundraising is still well behind the PCs and Liberals, who raised $1.3 million and $1 million in 2018, respectively, but the Greens are closing ground.

Amounts raised by the big two parties were both down in 2018 by a combined 20 per cent from 2014, while Green Party donations more than doubled over the same period.
 

Political scientist Jaimie Gillies says the Green Party's ability to raise money will be an important advantage in the competition in the next election with the NDP and People's Alliance to emerge as the main alternative to the Liberals and PCs. (CBC)

Gillies said Green supporters tend to view the party as both an environmental and political organization and a high proportion of affluent urban professionals in that group can afford to finance their convictions.

"It's like a charitable contribution and less like a donation to a political party," he said. "So an environmentalist would happily put their money toward the Green Party because it ticks both [environmental and political] boxes.

"You have a demographic that skews middle class to upper middle class among a lot of the core supporters who are willing to contribute."
The previous record for minor party fundraising in New Brunswick was held by the former Confederation of Regions Party, which raised $274,000 to fight the 1991 election, and the New Brunswick NDP, which brought in $272,000 in 2014.

The Green Party financial return is the last one to be submitted to Elections New Brunswick from 2018 and arrived six and a half months late.

Political parties were required to file returns by May 31, 2019, but only the PCs met that deadline.



 




36 Comments  
Commenting is now closed for this story.






David Raymond Amos
"The Green Party financial return is the last one to be submitted to Elections New Brunswick from 2018 and arrived six and a half months late."

Methinks somebody should wonder why N'esy Pas? 






















Mike Morton
The celebration of mediocrity!


David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @Mike Morton: Methinks you are being nice N'esy Pas?


















Fred Brewer
Anyone who says the Greens are a one issue party are either ignorant of the facts or are just parroting the official lines offered by the increasingly nervous Liberals and Conservatives.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Methinks everything political is always about the money just as this article easily proves N'esy Pas?






















Tim Astle
"A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted"


David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @Tim Astle: True
















Lou Bell
Libs will most likely be well below the million dollar mark by the end of 2019. Dropping like flies ! That underhanded 110 million dollar giveaway plan has done them in .


Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Lou Bell: Be careful what you wish? The next government might be a coalition of the Liberals and the Greens. Now that would make for a good government!


Dan Lee
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Psssst Lou.......Harper gave 288 millions to Irving for a blueprint of a boat where the boat was going to cost in total..........120 millions....Mkay s answer was....errrr huh....it was worth it............



David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Surely you jest 
 

Lou Bell
Reply to @Dan Lee: And which provincial party did Harper run for again ? Err Huh ??


Lou Bell
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Greens are too smart to side with the Liberals , other than the one SANB plant !


David Raymond Amos















Jonas Smith
The first step in being owned, NB's political parties should really be funded by public money based on popular vote received. If donations are to be kept, the threshold should be lowered to 500$ max.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Jonas Smith: Why bother with money at all? I don't















Mack Leigh
Oh , the Watermelon Party, green on the outside and pure, pure red on the inside..SANB loves, loves, loves the Green Party. Could it be that the SANB and the Francophone Elite are now hedging their bets ?


Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Mack Leigh: They sure are not in love with the PA!


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Mais Oui
















Fred Brewer
The next election will shock those that think the Greens are irrelevant. NEWS FLASH: it is the Liberals and Conservatives who are rapidly becoming irrelevant because they refuse to do anything for the environment and continue to operate in back rooms.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Dream on 
 




















McKenzie King
One issue parties are more of a problem than a solution. Modern governments have to be many-faceted, and one issue parties have always struggled with this.


Marguerite Deschamps 
Reply to @McKenzie King: LIke the COR and the PA.


Fred Brewer 
Reply to @McKenzie King: Sigh. So many people seem to think the Green's are a one issue party. Please take the time to visit their website to review their multi-faceted platform and you will see they are most definitely NOT a one issue party.


Lou Bell 
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: More like the failing SANB Libs ! One issue only and it showed until they were given the boot and then we all learned of their planned 110 million dollar giveaway to the minority they represent .


Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Lou DumbBell: They had the most popular vote. The former COR is governnig by a hair without a majority of the popular vote.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks it must really rot your SANB socks that Higgy still has a mandate N'esy Pas? 













 


Gerry Ferguson
yuppie party


David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @Gerry Ferguson: YUP



















Matt Steele
The Greens may be raising money , but they seem to have a lot of internal problems and infighting going on within their three MLAs , and can't seem to get anything done . They seem to be pretty much irrelevant and ineffective on the N.B. political scene .


Marguerite Deschamps 
Reply to @Matt Steele: Infighting, that's how the COR party imploded before.


Mack Leigh 
Reply to @Matt Steele: I would suspect that Coon is having a hard time controlling his party's loose cannon , good ole SANB boy K. A.....Now that one has an agenda all of his own and it appears to be more red than green.


Lou Bell
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Like the Libs are now. People coming to see they're run by the U de M and the " Shediac six " !


Marguerite Deschamps 
Reply to @Lou DumBell: Bilingualism is cast in stone. Way past time to turn the page.


Dan Lee
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Ah lou...and Pa is run by rednecks and clones of their parents....no marbles to run in a French riding.....why?they need to mix with other people.........



David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Dan Lee: Methinks you are correct about the PANB but the loose cannons on deck are 2 French dudes the former president of the SANB and the Deputy Premier N'esy Pas?







https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/kim-poffenroth-financial-returns-liberals-greens-1.5339011


Chief electoral officer drops financial hammer on delinquent Liberals, Greens

Liberals, Greens missed deadline to disclose their donation, expense information


Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Oct 29, 2019 6:00 AM AT




New Brunswick's Chief Electoral Officer, Kimberly Poffenroth, is withholding quarterly payments to the Liberals and Greens after the parties failed to submit financial returns. (Jon Collicott/CBC)

New Brunswick's chief electoral officer has begun turning financial screws on the provincial Liberal and Green parties for broadly missing the deadline to disclose their donation and expense information to the public from last year's election.

"I have a number of duties that are imposed on me," said Kimberly Poffenroth, who also holds the position of supervisor of political financing .

"It's not possible for me to fill those obligations if political parties don't comply with their obligations to file timely and complete financial returns."



Poffenroth informed both parties in a letter earlier this month they will not be getting their latest quarterly installment of public financing until they submit valid financial returns from 2018, which were legally due months ago.

The NDP also received the letter but has since filed its return.

Allowance withheld


Provincial Liberals were scheduled to receive $60,299 this month in a quarterly public financing payment based on their 2018 election vote total, with the Green party entitled to $20,231.25.  But Poffenroth said she will hold the money at least until the end of the quarter on Dec. 31 unless the parties file their complete financial statements before then.

"I advised the parties whose returns are outstanding that I would not be authorising the payment on their annual allowance until I received their annual return for 2018," said Poffenroth.

Party returns are a key element of political transparency across Canada, offering the public a window into how parties raise and spend money and who their major donors are.
It's a top priority to deal with it.​​​
- Greg Byrne, New Brunswick Liberal Party
But it is so far a mystery who financed the Liberal and Green party campaigns in 2018, how much was spent by each and what kind of financial shape they were left in to fight a future election if New Brunswick's minority government falls apart unexpectedly.



New Brunswick legislation requires all parties to file audited financial statements for each calendar year disclosing all important information, including donations, debts and expenses "no later than May 31 of the following year."

That date was originally April 1 but loosened to May 31 by the Legislature in 2017 to give parties more time to comply with the law.
It didn't help.

This year only Progressive Conservatives and the now defunct Keep It Simple Solutions (KISS) party met the deadline. The People's Alliance did not file its return until mid-September, 15 weeks late, with the NDP return showing up only recently.

Parties blame staffing changes


Greg Byrne, acting executive director of the New Brunswick Liberal Party, said internal changes following the party's defeat in 2018 has caused a delay in disclosing its financial information.

"It's a top priority to deal with it," said Byrne

"We have had some changes here at the party office. The executive director has left and we've had a change in controller here, too, and we're just adjusting to the transfer of responsibilities and we're working through everything. Hopefully everything will be finalized this week."


Greg Byrne, acting executive director of the New Brunswick Liberal Party, said internal changes caused a delay. (Roger Cosman/CBC)

The Liberal party has had a change in personnel, but former executive director Keiller Zed left the position in September, long after the May financials were due.

The Green Party's executive director also blamed staffing problems for missing the deadline and said it could still be "weeks" before its return is ready.

"We went through a staff change since the election," said Marco Morency, who was hired by the party in April.

"This is what slowed us down. The work is almost complete."

Half-year returns also missing


New Brunswick parties are also legally required to file half-year returns which, for 2019, were due Sept. 30.

All parties, with the exception of Progressive Conservatives, have missed that deadline as well.
Poffenroth said she has not yet turned her attention to those violations.

"I haven't determined what my next steps are going to be on the mid-year returns yet," she said
"Two of the parties haven't yet submitted their 2018 return so I want them to focus on getting the full year return in".



 




34 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.






David Raymond Amos
Methinks the lawyer Greg Byrne should review the documents and CD I gave him and many others in 2004 and his email to me after I got of the Yankee jail N'esy Pas? 














Lou Bell
Most likely the Libs had to pay the Phonie Games infrastructure money U de M was counting, and now having to pay for it outta their own pockets !!


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you are missing a certain SANB dude who pretends to be a lady N'esy Pas?
















Lou Bell
Following the Trump template I see !!


Roy Cummings
Reply to @Lou Bell: What the Hell does this have to do with America or Trump. It is Canada, the Liberals and the NDP.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Roy Cummings: Methinks former PM Harper and even the ghost of the Yankee lawyer Elijah Cummings would agree that the conservative lady north of the medicine line doth protest too much about Trump and his malicious nonsense. Trust that Trump, his buddy Harper and everybody else knows that I got an answers in writing from Elijah Cummings and many of his congressional cohorts long before I ran in the election of the 38th Parliament N'esy Pas?



















Karl Jensen
They would file their returns on time if, instead of just delaying the payments, the total payment is reduced by 25% for each month the returns are late.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Karl Jensen: Trust that that will never happen

















Peter Green
"This year only Progressive Conservatives and the now defunct Keep It Simple Solutions (KISS) party met the deadline." Somewhat an indicator of who could be considered fiscally responisble.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @peter green: Yea but its only an indicator Methinks with regards to the conservatives many would agree that its only a flash in the pan because like KISS they had no money going into the election so a month of bookkeeping should be easy to record and report (The Conservatives even had their HQ in Fat Fred City up for sale) On the other hand the liberal bank account was overflowing hence they have lots of money to hide as they wait for the next speech from the throne in 3 weeks to see if the PANB will continue to support Higgy and his cohorts N'esy Pas?




















Shaun Flynn
I love how it's okay for the political parties to NOT follow the law in reporting donations and expenses etc, but it's a completely different story when John & Jane Q. Public don't submit tax returns etc. Man, the fines, the assessments, the speed with which they are gone after is incredible! I laud Kimberley Poffenroth on withholding ANY & ALL funding to these political parties until they are completely up to date with their returns! I also want to know what fines, if any, are assessed for late filings!


David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Shaun Flynn: Dream on if you expect an ethical answer



















BruceJack Speculator
citizens elect a government and allow them to handle all the tax revenue they take from us. how they handle their "own" finances may give a clue as to how they handle "our" money?


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: Exactly






















Lorne Amos
Instead of hold backs, cancel ! If they want to feed on tax money, earn it, otherwise lose it.


BruceJack Speculator
Reply to @Lorne Amos: EXCELLENT suggestion.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: Spoken just like the conservatives I have debated many times. Methinks you are every bit as happy as I am that we are not related N'esy Pas?


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @BruceJack Speculator: OOPS The comment was meant to be directed at the other dude named Amos


Lou Bell 
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: I've heard of Lorne Amos . Who are you again ??


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks I am still the dude bored conservative widows love to hate N'esy Pas?


















Laurie Clark
There is no excuse for the delays! None, nada, zip!


David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @Laurie Clark: True but methinks there could be many political reasons for the deliberate delay N'esy Pas?























Mack Leigh
Thank you Kimberly Poffenroth for doing your job and holding political parties to account...Every party who file late should be subject to a stiff fine with absolutely no exceptions....


Ray Fredette 
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Withholding funds amounts to same thing.


Fred Dee
Reply to @ray fredette: no withholding just means delayed


David Raymond Amos  
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Methinks you forgot that the lawyer Poffenroth was appointed to her position by her liberal pals N'esy Pas?




















Fred Dee
should do much more than withhold $$$$$ should fine a % daily!!!!
If I am late paying money to the gov, they punish me with huge penalties!! even for a DAy!!!



David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Fred Dee: True


















Jonas Smith
Really these are pathetic excuses for parties wanting to be responsible for the public purse strings.


David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @Jonas Smith: YUP




















David Peters
"But it is so far a mystery who financed the Liberal and Green party campaigns in 2018..."

Follow the money.



David Raymond Amos 
Reply to @David Peters: Methinks that is just one of those things that I do that peoplekind fail to appreciate N'esy Pas?




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