https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FohimMcE_g&ab_channel=CharlesLeblanc
Communication New Brunswick refuse Blogger to have access to Premier Blaine Higgs!!!
A snap election would give Higgs a PC Party in his own image
Premier’s caucus critics are already marginalized. The next campaign could end their dissent for good
The six dissident PC MLAs who hoped he'd retire had those hopes dashed by his announcement last Friday that he'll stay and run for a new mandate in October 2024 — if not before.
Ironically, their main function now may be as a pretext for Higgs to dissolve the legislature earlier than scheduled and end whatever influence they may still have.
The only date for an election "at this point," the premier said last week, is the one created by fixed-date election sections of provincial law — Oct. 21, 2024.
But that law also gives the lieutenant-governor the authority to heed any request for an early election, something Higgs wouldn't rule out if the six rebels make procedural mischief with his legislation.
"We all know the situation that exists within the legislature and within our government, so obviously that remains a big concern," Higgs said.
We've heard rumours [Higgs is] preparing, that he wants an election now.
— Liberal Leader Susan Holt
The six Tory rebels, who broke ranks in a vote on Policy 713 in June, told their caucus colleagues in an Aug. 10 email that they had "no intent to disrupt our government's legislative business."
The email obtained by CBC News warned, however, that if they felt the PC caucus's role wasn't being respected, "we will stand up for what we feel is right."
Whether they'd go as far as voting against Higgs in a confidence vote isn't clear.
But the premier's comments about the uncertainty reinforce rumours that the PCs could hit the campaign trail within the next month.
"I'm getting many messages from New Brunswickers that 'he's going, he's going,'" Liberal Leader Susan Holt said last week.
"We've heard rumours he's preparing, that he wants an election now."
Another piece of evidence is feeding the speculation.
PC MLAs have been told that new party riding associations — required to reflect the redrawn boundaries of the province's 49 electoral constituencies — should be officially established by Sept. 30.
Those associations are the party entities that nominate election candidates.
But why would Higgs go early?
Liberal Leader Susan Holt says she's heard rumours that Higgs wants an election now. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Despite, or perhaps because of, the Policy 713 controversy, the premier's approval rating has inched up since the spring, as has satisfaction with the government.
In the Angus Reid Institute's quarterly survey of approval for Canadian premiers, Higgs's rating has improved from 25 per cent in March to 30 per cent this month.
More significantly, Narrative Research has had the PCs statistically tied with the opposition Liberals in voting intentions in three straight quarterly polls.
Because of how Liberal support is clustered in northern and francophone ridings, that tie could easily produce a majority PC win.
Perhaps just as tempting, pulling the trigger early would let Higgs accelerate his reshaping of the party.
Higgs inherited a caucus of PC MLAs with a range of opinions — "a diverse group," he would say, sometimes ruefully, when there was an outbreak of dissent.
Many of them had long histories in the party that put them at odds with some of his ideas and did not support him for leader.
Now the most rebellious are out of cabinet, replaced by firm loyalists, and at least some of the rebels have already said they won't run next time if Higgs is still leader.
For his part, the premier wouldn't say last week whether he'll sign their nomination papers if they did try to stay on the ballot.
"It remains to be seen where we go from there but I think it was pretty clear that several have made that decision," he said.
That will leave a more firmly pro-Higgs slate of candidates, whenever the election happens.
Unlike in 2018, when the vote produced a minority government, and 2020, when Higgs won his first majority, anyone who decides to run for the PCs next time will know exactly what to expect from him when he controls the agenda.
Should he win, a future caucus and cabinet would be more homogeneously Higgsian than ever before — a PC government created in his own image.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
2 dissident Tories say they won't destabilize N.B. legislature this fall
Premier won't rule out early election, citing caucus turmoil
Trevor Holder and Andrea Anderson-Mason both say they're not looking to make procedural mischief or bring down the government when the legislature returns next month.
Higgs said last Friday that the legislated Oct. 21, 2024, date for the next election is the only date "at this point" but added that "the situation that exists within the legislature and within our government … remains a big concern."
That was a reference to six PC MLAs, including two who quit his cabinet and two he shuffled out, who voted with the opposition Liberals on a motion about Policy 713 in June.
If those six MLAs withheld their support, Higgs wouldn't be able to pass legislation.
'The
election date as far as I'm concerned is next year and that's what I'm
basing my actions on,' says Holder, who resigned from cabinet in June
over the premier's leadership style. (Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick)
Holder, who resigned from cabinet in June over the premier's leadership style, said he had no comment on Higgs's refusal to rule out a snap election.
"The election date as far as I'm concerned is next year, and that's what I'm basing my actions on," he said.
Asked if there was any uncertainty about the government being able to pass legislation this fall, Holder answered, "None."
Anderson-Mason said Higgs seems to be suggesting "that he might not have the confidence of the House, and we all know there are very few confidence votes, one of them being the budget."
"And I've got nothing but praise for the past budgets we've introduced. … I have the same level of expectation that they will be as good as they have been in the past."
Rebel MLAS 'reached out' to Higgs
She said if Higgs is worried about losing confidence votes, "I would strongly urge him to converse with us."
The former attorney-general said she and the other rebel MLAs "reached out" to Higgs over the summer to have a conversation about the fall session, but that hasn't happened.
The full PC caucus hasn't met since the June revolt either.
Anderson-Mason
says she and the other rebel MLAs 'reached out' to Higgs over the
summer to have a conversation about the fall session, but that hasn't
happened. (New Brunswick Legislative Assembly livestream)
Both Holder and Anderson-Mason also said that their recent tough line of questioning on the legislature's public accounts committee wasn't aimed at the government but was in line with the committee's accountability role.
Anderson-Mason told reporters that media treatment of PC questioning of government departments can make it seem more "salacious" than it actually is.
"Sometimes they see it as criticism, but it's really an opportunity to learn."
Holder said during a session on Tuesday and in an interview that the approach is non-political and is "getting back to what this committee's purpose and intent always have been."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rallies against LGBTQ rights in schools met with counter-protests across Canada
Thousands marched for and against policies that allow gender diversity to be taught in schools
The Canadian Press · Posted: Sep 20, 2023 3:09 PM ADT
"The protests are linked to emerging policies across the country, including in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, that require young people to get parental consent before teachers can use their preferred first names and pronouns."
Higgs greets marchers opposing LGBTQ rights
Premier says his presence is about parental rights, but critics say he’s polarizing New Brunswickers
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Sep 20, 2023 4:11 PM ADT
Too Too Funny that they claim that after doing just exactly that all summer.
Cardy Removed From PC Caucus
It’s official — Dominic Cardy is no longer a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus.
The move comes a day after Cardy unexpectedly resigned as minister of education and early childhood development
In a letter, Premier Blaine Higgs said caucus found his conduct and actions over the last few days to be “inexcusable.”
The premier referred to a meeting with Cardy on Thursday morning where he expressed concerns about the education system and informed him of plans to remove him from the cabinet.
Higgs said he was “surprised to immediately receive your resignation letter.”
He called the content of Cardy’s resignation letter as “vindictive and misleading.”
Higgs described it as “unfortunate and hurtful” that he would choose to leave this way.
Higgs said he plans to move forward and do the hard work their team was elected to do adding he is focused on making improvements “that benefit New Brunswick in critical areas like health and education.”
He ended the letter by saying it’s important to “rise above” and stay focused on the mission at hand before signing with the words “province before politics.”
No comments:
Post a Comment