PC Party says one letter calling for Higgs ouster is valid after all
Reversal means Tory dissidents are one letter closer to triggering leadership review
Party president Erika Hachey has acknowledged to one PC riding association president whose request for a leadership review vote was declared invalid that it is valid after all.
"There was an internal error made when you had purchased your membership," Hachey wrote in a Thursday email obtained by CBC News.
According to the email, the member — whose name is blacked out in the screen image provided to CBC — bought a five-year membership but was mistakenly recorded at the time as buying a one-year membership.
That means the person is still a PC member today.
"That's been rectified so therefore we will count your letter as valid," Hachey wrote in the email.
It's a key concession by the party brass because the push to remove Higgs as leader is a numbers game.
Under the party's rules, 50 members, including 20 presidents of PC riding associations, must request a leadership review to start the process.
If that happens, the party's provincial council must debate whether to schedule a convention.
Earlier this week, Hachey told party members that the push had fallen short.
"Over 40 valid requests were received from current members," she said in an email. "Of the valid requests received, only 15 came from riding presidents."
Error raises concerns
She initially told the unnamed party member that their request "is not counted toward the minimum threshold" of 20 riding association presidents.
The reversal on Thursday means the party now has 16 riding president letters.
PC regional vice-president John Williston, part of the group trying to remove Higgs, said the error on the member's paperwork was a concern.
"It calls into question the organization of the party and certainly the clerical skills around how we're recording and maintaining our memberships."
Hachey turned down an interview request and did not respond to an email question about whether any other invalid letters have since been declared valid.
John
Williston, a regional vice-president of the Progressive Conservative
Party, said it 'feels a bit questionable' that the party is only now
questioning the status of some people as party members. (Submitted by John Williston)
But Williston said other "invalid" members are also going over their paperwork to check for errors, including people who bought lifetime memberships when the party was selling that option a couple of decades ago.
The party has contacted each invalidated person to explain the reasoning.
Williston said in some cases, there have been "minor issues," such as members whose memberships expired a short time ago but who have been allowed to continue taking part in party functions until now.
"And it's only now they're questioning their status as party members," he said. "All I'll say is it feels a bit questionable."
Optimistic about Aug. 19 deadline
In her July 31 email to all party members declaring that the review push had fallen short, Hachey gave Tories until Aug. 19 to submit valid letters.
Williston said he believes the group will get there.
If they do that, the party's provincial council will debate on Sept. 9 whether to schedule a convention for a vote on Higgs's leadership. The council must vote by a two-thirds majority for that to happen.
Williston said that even if the vote falls short of that threshold, a substantial vote supporting a review should still prompt Higgs to step down.
"If we're in a situation where we have even 40-per-cent-plus of provincial council voting for a leadership review, I think it's really morally incumbent on the premier at that point to consider resignation and not put the party through this gut-wrenching episode."
Prompted by Policy 713 controversy
The push to remove Higgs began after two of his ministers resigned amid a controversy over his changes to Policy 713, which sets out protections for LGBTQ students in provincial schools.
Six PC ministers and MLAs voted in favour of a Liberal opposition motion in the legislature calling for Child and Youth Advocate Kelly Lamrock to hold consultations on the policy changes.
The motion passed 26-20 and Lamrock said he would respect the vote and report on his findings by Aug. 15.
The two ministers who resigned, Dorothy Shephard and Trevor Holder, accused Higgs of a top-down management style that has strayed from longtime PC party principles.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
messed up World we live in, for Sure ...
I forgot the main reason why
oh wait yes
it's a french - English thing
Blaine will be premier for years to come. For the benefit of all New/Nouveau-Brunswickers.
Reply to Daniel Henwell
We need more politicians like him.
Reply to Daniel Henwell
Whose family?
Jos Allaire
Reply to Daniel Henwell
Higgs stands for COR values.
Jos Allaire
Reply to Daniel Henwell
... if they have any, that is.
Reply to Daniel Henwell
A Christian heterosexual family who has an income of at least 150k and who lives in a city in the south or southwest part of the province.
Reply to Daniel Henwell
So you say
Reply to Jos Allaire
Methinks you stand for SANB values N'esy Pas?
Matt Steele
They claimed that they had 26 Riding Presidents who wanted a review ; and now it is down to 16 out of 49 ridings : seems pretty obvious that most of the PC membership supports Premier Higgs , his stance on family values , and the ability to bring the province back from the financial brink of a Credit downgrade , to actually paying off well over TWO BILLION in provincial debt in just five years . A job well done Premier Higgs .
Reply to Matt Steele
Dream on
John Lawrence
His ego is keeping him there and will also be the reason why he gets turfed by his own party. Momentum is building and it’s going to get a lot heavier
Reply to John Lawrence
Premier of the poorest province in Canada. Quite a legacy Mr. Higgs
Troy Murray
Reply to Michael Cain
It has been the poorest for decades
Dec 18, 2019 — P.E.I. has long been considered the poorest province in Canada, but now, New Brunswick has that title and will start getting the most funding
Don Corey
Reply to Michael Cain
We’re certainly not as poor as we were under Gallant.
Get the facts; PEI was until we took the honours in 2019.
Don Corey
Reply to Michael Cain
My post is true. Check it out for yourself.
PEI was until NB took the honours in 2019.
Don Corey
Reply to Michael Cain
P.E.I. has the 2021 title. NS is next.
Reply to Don Corey
C'est Vrai
until irving is cut from new brunswick politics there will continue to be issues surrounding money and clout that is given to them. although i will say higgs is the most blatant one for giving money to the irvings...i asked for the conservatives to pay my lightbill...but i never received any money to pay for the hydro bill....
Don Corey
Reply to rayma allaby
And you actually believe the liberals will exclude Irving from provincial politics, and “favours”?
Reply to rayma allaby
He has been no different than any other premier, prove otherwise if you can.
PP is going to tell Irving where to buy their oil from.
up to you to prove your comment.
Reply to Michael Cain
It's difficult to imagine PP saying no to a billionaire.
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
All except Little Louis!
Reply to Michael Cain
PP wants them to get it here in Canada instead of supporting questionable countries the way JT wants them to.
Reply to Michael Cain
History has done that for me, pay attention.
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
They are a business, and they will buy the cheapest oil. Since Energy East was a flop, they’ll likely only buy the Canadian oil if it is subsidized to be a comparable price to them, which is highly unlikely to happen.
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Trust that I pay attention
Reply to Michael Cain
Geordan Mann
As usual, the leadership in NB politics is incredibly underwhelming. One has no social or ethical conscience and the other has no business or financial acumen. You cannot have a province supported only by underutilized civil servants or overworked minimum wage workers. Nothing has changed here in forever.
Reply to Geordan Mann
Well put. Thanks for saying it.
Reply to Geordan Mann
Excellent description of the Trudeau government.
Reply to Don Corey
I would agree - does not matter if it is provincial or federal in that sense. I realize this is not how you mean it but if you remove "Trudeau government" (please do btw) and insert "federal politics" you have it.
Reply to Geordan Mann
Maybe Andrea Johnson’s replacement as executive director will be able to help with the review process. That could be why the letters weren’t properly tabulated the Fredericton office is understaffed.
Reply to Le Wier
"Williston said that even if the vote falls short of that threshold, a substantial vote supporting a review should still prompt Higgs to step down." - Wishful thinking rarely plays any significant role in politics. Here's the real question: what gives the PC Party the best chance of winning the 2024 provincial election? Some might say that holding a leadership review at this point weakens that chance. However, if (big if!) the rebellion is strong enough and widespread enough to threaten Higgs' chances of winning, then the party might do better with a different leader. That's question the council faces.
Reply to SarahRose Werner
Maybe Higgs will call one sooner than you think.
Reply to Don Corey
Sure, that could happen too. But that's up to Higgs, not the party's provincial council. We have lots of different plays, each with their own agenda.
Reply to SarahRose Werner
I’m well aware of the fact that the premier calls elections, not the party.
As to the agenda thing, everyone here obviously has his/her/whoever own. Such is not unique to politics.
Reply to Don Corey
We could only hope.
Reply to Don Corey
I double dare him to call a general election❗
Reply to Jos Allaire
Triple dare?
Reply to Jos Allaire
Don’t bet the farm on it.
Reply to SarahRose Werner
Neither will HIggs bet the farm on it. He's afraid to lose.
Reply to Don Corey
I can't call an election, but Higgs can.
Reply to Jos Allaire
I highly doubt it.
Reply to Don Corey
Me too
Did this site just post another Policy 713 spinoff story based on a single membership that was first thought invalid is now valid?
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Yes.
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Ask yourself why
Douglas Howser
Hot Potato!
"We might not get the number we need - but we hope he will step down anyway..."
What a duplicitous, back-stabbing bunch. When he was golden - they were all his friends.
I don't personally care for his brand of leadership - but they voted him in and should live with the consequences.
The threshold is the threshold. Get the number or go home.
Caesar had it easier in some ways....
Reply to Chuck Michaels
When was he golden?? Maybe in his golden years but hardly golden. More silver'ish I think.
Reply to Geordan Mann
there is no such thing as golden years the only gold i have seen is in my urine here in this province
Reply to Chuck Michaels
There has always been infighting within this party. Now that the COR has infiltrated it, they are doomed!
Reply to Jos Allaire
Seems to be even more happening in Ottawa at the moment, any comment?
Reply to Jos Allaire
No, but SANB total involvement has certainly doomed the Liberals.
Reply to Don Corey
Let Higgs call an election. We'll see. I dare him!
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Reply to Don Corey
Not even close. It's been like this even before John Diefenbaker.
Reply to Jos Allaire
Too Too Funny
Reply to Chuck Michaels
Eh tu Brute?
This is the best show in Canadian politics these days. Higgs is a hoot.
Content Deactivated
He is the only premier with the guts not be be afraid of that lobby group.
Reply to Bob Wing
Lobby group? You mean the Acadians?
Reply to Bruce Dagsvik
Welcome to the circus
Content Deactivated
Reply to Michael Cain
The Liberal party in Ottawa is only concerned with spending money; not counting it…..or, heaven forbid, using such to pay down our debt.
The provincial Liberals are definitely of the same mindset, and have no hope of forming the next government.
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Called investing in our future; something the Cons lack, a future.
Reply to Michael Cain
The only thing they have invested in is massive debt.
Reply to Michael Cain
Reply to Al Clark
Liberals aren’t even concerned with budgets; they’ve just an unnecessary inconvenience.
Reply to Don Corey
Liberals just don't let budgets be an excuse to make Canada a better place for people.
Reply to John Montgomery
That might be the most irresponsible financial post I have ever read.
Reply to John Montgomery
Yep, like I said, they could care less about budgets. As Trudeau has said, they’ll just balance themselves.
Reckless spending and record deficits have not made Canada a better place.
Reply to Don Corey
Better than most
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Well at least people are happier.
Reply to Terry Halverson
True, and much better before Trudeau.
Reply to John Montgomery
Happier than when? 80% of Canadians want to see Trudeau gone.
Reply to Don Corey
At least one has shown him the door
I'm not seeing anything in the party constitution that requires people to have been a party member for a certain amount of time before being able to submit a request for a leadership review. I would think that people who were unable to prove from their own records that they have current memberships could simply re-join and submit a new review request.
Don Corey
There is nothing that prevents new members to participate in process.
I suspect the individual referred to in the article was mistakenly thought to have taken out just a one year membership, which would have now expired.
Reply to Don Corey
The article also refers to "members whose memberships expired a short time ago but who have been allowed to continue taking part in party functions until now." I'm just saying that as long as these folks re-join now, they can submit new review requests before the August 19 deadline.
Reply to SarahRose Werner
Kinda funny, eh?
Reply to Al Clark
The whole affair is a joke
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