Premier Blaine Higgs confirmed Friday there won't be an election this year. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
After
six weeks of hints and preparations, Premier Blaine Higgs now says he
will not call an early provincial election this fall.
The
premier first stoked speculation of a snap campaign on Sept. 15, when
he announced he would stay on as Progressive Conservative leader to seek
a new mandate.
He left the door open to going to the polls this year to put an end to what he called instability in his PC caucus.
Since then he has acknowledged being "very close" to doing it.
WATCH | 'There's not going to be any fall election,' Higgs says:
New Brunswickers won’t be heading to the polls this year
Duration 1:53
After
weeks of speculation, Premier Blaine Higgs announces he won't call an
election this year. The official legislated date for an election is Oct.
21, 2024.
But Friday he said this option was off the table.
"There's not going to be any fall election," Higgs told reporters.
"There won't be any election in '23. I guess that ends that speculation, and we can kind of move on."
Higgs
said many of the preparations the PCs have made in the last several
weeks, including the recruitment of Steve Outhouse as campaign manager,
will help the party be ready when the election happens next year.
"We'll continue with the campaign manager being in place to help us get organized. We're in the last year of our mandate."
Higgs
identified Outhouse in a late Friday press release. Outhouse managed
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's election campaign earlier this year and
ran the federal Conservative leadership campaigns of MP Leslyn Lewis in
2020 and 2022.
The official legislated date for the next election is Oct. 21, 2024.
Higgs
has repeatedly complained this fall about six MLAs in his caucus who
voted against him in June on Policy 713, which deals with
gender-identity in schools.
Despite their promises to
support the government on confidence votes, Higgs said, their demands
for more caucus input into decisions — and their refusal to meet with
him except as a group — was creating "instability."
Only one of them, Daniel Allain, has reconciled with Higgs and declared himself willing to run again in the next election.
Radio-Canada obtained this photo taken Friday of the PC campaign bus that would have been used in a fall election. (Submitted by Charles Doucet)
All six of those MLAs voted for the government's throne speech on Oct. 27.
Higgs wasn't clear what else had happened since then to resolve the issue for him.
"I'm willing to keep going and see how this goes," he said.
"Hopefully, it can work out well for us and we can get back to focusing on the priorities of government."
Opposition
Liberal Leader Susan Holt, whose party became increasingly bold in the
last three weeks daring Higgs to trigger an election, said Higgs likely
backed down because he was hearing the same thing her party was.
"People
started telling us in larger and large numbers, and with more and more
anger, that they were fed up with Higgs and they wanted him to go," she
said.
Green Leader David Coon said it was clear by last
week there would not be an election because Higgs "started blaming
journalists for election speculation."
Higgs acknowledged Friday that the election talk was more than media guesswork, and he had been on the verge of doing it.
"We were ready to pull the trigger. I've got to say that," he said. "We were. It wasn't an idle discussion here. It was real."
Radio-Canada
obtained a photo taken Friday showing the PC campaign bus decked out
with a photo of Higgs and the slogan "Stronger than ever: let's keep
building."
Asked about the next possible scenario for an
early election — next spring, after his government tables a new budget —
the premier laughed.
"Let's just focus on the task at
hand," he said. "Let's just focus on a more stable government and moving
the bar on big issues for our province."
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.
Yes, and the same applies to every Canadian province and
territory. Inflation continues, fueled by uncontrolled federal
government spending (ongoing); then we continue to deal with the high
interest rates, courtesy of federal inflation (and we've not yet seen
the peak). And, of course, there's Canada wide housing crisis, made
much worse with the ongoing and uncontrolled record levels of
immigration.
Let's not forget the carbon tax, for which we are seeing the beginning of the end.
Sunny ways was nothing more than a fantasy.
David Amos
Reply to Don Corey
Oh So True
Don Corey
All those "hints" were simply a way for Higgs to provide
his super admirer Poitras with something to write about.
I'm sure Susan Holt is relieved, as the Liberals were ill-prepared for an election.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Don Corey
How do you know that?
Don Corey
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Prove me wrong.
SW Home
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Another one who can't back up what he claims when challenged. Higgs sure has the wool pulled over their eye's doesn't he
Chris Eidt
Reply to Don Corey
Higgs said completely otherwise right in the article. Read it again carefully
Chris Eidt
Reply to Don Corey
Higgs: we were ready to pull the trigger. I've
got to say that, he said. we were. It wasn't an idle discussion here. It
was real.
David Amos
Reply to Don Corey
Higgy was serious until Jenni landed in Fat Fred City To give the devil his due it was Poitras who reported it
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Don Corey
CBC JOURNALIST JACQUES POITRAS TALKS ABOUT BLOGGING!!!
Charles LeBlanc
2.04K subscribers 218 views Aug 31, 2008
I sat down with the CBC journalist last week!!!
Dan Lee
the poor are some releived.......
Dan Lee
Reply to Dan Lee
sarcasm 101....................
David Amos
Reply to Dan Lee
Many a true word is said in jest
Greg Windsor
Wow,, that was a close call for the other party
leaders...now they can relax....certainly must be feeling relieved
although will not show it is front of the cameras...
David Amos
Reply to Greg Windsor
I concur
Kyle Woodman
I'm surprised that all the usual PC
cheerleaders didn't know about the bus. I guess they aren't as included
in the Party as they think. I'm sure they still take their donations
though.
Le Wier
Reply to Kyle Woodman
So the campaign slogan is or was stronger than ever
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier
Isn't that special?
Le Wier Reply to David Amos
I think it’s a bit predictable, and overdone in
North American politics. I don’t think it’s catchy more kitschy really.
The PC party might want to rethink who they brought on as campaign
manager if that’s their idea. It definitely wasn’t a modern slogan, but
then maybe that’s what the PC party is going for.
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier
I was referring to the irony of it because Higgy felt he needed an election because of the had dissension in his ranks
Le Wier
Reply to David Amos
Oh yes! That is so ironic stronger than ever is kinda funny now that you mention it.
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier
Have a good day
Sam Hull
There is no other choice at the present time..
Liberals or the NDP would be a nightmare for the people of NB.. You
would have to be braindead not to see that. With WW3 starting up we are
going to see huge huge change. At least we have a fighting chance in
Canada. The one thing though is all politicians need to go Federally
right down to Municipal Government. They are all a disease.. and they
need a cure..
David Amos
Reply to Sam Hull
Amen
Lou Bell
Actually , as hilarious as it is watching the
squirming by the left for over a year now , I really feel more pity for
them than anything . Lost elections , little future , and virtually
leaderless provincial and federal parties I'm just thankful the
majority of Canadians have come to realize the mess the left has put
this country in and times are a changin ' for the better .
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Actually , its hilarious that you forgot that I agreed with Higgy over the 713 nonsense
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell Trust that all the leaderless provincial and
federal parties have known for 22 years why I came home but you do not
have the first clue because you refuse to read or listen
Al Clark
Reply to Lou Bell
Actually, it's pretty hilarious watching the
apologists/cheerleaders trying to put on a brave face here after yet
another colossal failure by higgs. What a shame they can't comprehend
comedy!
Al Clark
Reply to David Amos
armed in-laws, you mean?
Harvey York
Reply to Al Clark
armed in-laws, and more likely, to avoid jail
Al Clark
Reply to Harvey York
Yup!
David Amos
Reply to Al Clark
Please do tell us more
Jos Allaire
He changed his mind. The numbers did not look good and he even had dissensions in the ranks. It does not bode well for him.
Lou Bell
Reply to Jos Allaire
16 guaranteed Liberal seats and nothing more .
Unless of course one believes the polls . Love seeing them . Hilarious !
Especially from the last 2 elections .
David Amos
Reply to Jos Allaire
He can change his mind again if Jenni deems it so
Jos Allaire
Reply to Lou Bell
While Higgs has no guaranteed seats.
David Amos
Reply to Jos Allaire
Good point
Lou Bell
I expect in another year and after the next liberal defeat that Cardy will be their next leader .
Lou Bell
Reply to Lou Bell
And the Liberals will recycle the losing candidates from past federal and provincial elections .
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Is time for a butter tart and a nap eh?
Lou Bell
Reply to David Amos
You better call your best bud Dom . He's recruiting .
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
You are the one who sang his praises for years not I
Lou Bell
What's next from the Liberals ? Failed to win at the polls , failed to win in the backrooms . The party of failed dreams .
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Out of the gate today you failed to admit the backroom boyz had wrapped a bus
Lou Bell
Reply to Lou Bell
The only people telling the Liberals they were
fed up with Higgs were those in the 16 guaranteed ridings the Liberal
have and nothing more . Just like before the last 2 elections .
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
If that were true what is with the recruitment of Steve Outhouse as campaign manager?
Al Clark
So will his freshly wrapped bus be hidden under wraps
till the next election? Rent for bus and barn will be pricy.
Maybe just rip it off and wrap another the next time chucky feels lucky?
Le Wier
Reply to Al Clark
Or does the PC campaign manager and Higgs want
New Brunswickers to believe this was a soft launch of the campaign
slogan and the baby blue bus wrapper? Or did they dislike the slogan and
wrap job, and were trying to hide it? New Brunswickers aren’t that
naive.
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier
Hard telling not knowing for sure but I bet Jenni had the bus driver's phone number before she left Fat Fred City
Dan Lee
Quess his western consultants told him.....oh oh.....you better back off...........
David Amos
Reply to Dan Lee
Bingo
Archie MacDaniel
Now KW has another story about some magical
bus, he won't be able to provide anything to back up is "tale" but let's
not let facts get in the way of a his magical world. Maybe he uses it
for his surveillance.
Le Wier
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
The phot of the bus is in the article
Chris Eidt
Reply to Le Wier
Maybe Archie only read the headline and none of the story?
Michael Cain
Reply to Chris Eidt
I don't they had enough pictures; he did miss the obvious.
Le Wier
Reply to Chris Eidt
Seems like it. How could you miss that big baby
blue bus with the slogan stronger than ever? One has to wonder if the
campaign song was or is stronger Kelly Clarkson.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Are we having fun yet.
Al Clark
Reply to Chris Eidt
maybe?
Lin Munro
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Awwww there's never a gosh darn edit or delete button when you need it the most huh?
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
I am as always
Lou Bell
Aw shucks . The false narrative of the left has
been stalled once again . And to think our publicly owned media has
been pushing it full force . Back to the JT problems it appears
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Lou Bell
Umm, I'm pretty sure Higgs had a bus wrapped and ready to go.
Lou Bell
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Umm , I'm quite sure he didn't . But keep up that false narrative , although it'll be hard to do for another year .
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Lou Bell
My buddy did the wrap job Lou. I'd post a picture of it if it was possible.
Radio-Canada obtained this photo taken Friday of the PC campaign bus that would have been used in a fall election. (Submitted by Charles Doucet)
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