Chris
Collins, a former Liberal MLA for Moncton Centre and seen here in this
file photo, sued for breach of employment contract, breach of privacy
and abuse of authority. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC)
A
former Speaker of the New Brunswick legislature quietly ended his
lawsuit against the provincial government and former premier Brian
Gallant last year.
Court documents show that Chris
Collins, a former Moncton Centre MLA expelled from the Liberal caucus in
2018 over harassment allegations, halted the court action last May.
The
filing by his lawyer, Andrew Moss, says Collins "wholly discontinues"
the lawsuit and agrees not to pursue the allegations in the future.
In a statement to CBC News, Gallant said "there was no financial settlement in this matter."
Collins
said in an email that he dropped the suit because of "the significant
financial and mental stress fighting the government had taken" since
2018.
"It is still my position that the government acted
inappropriately, but continued litigation against an opponent with
unlimited financial resources was not in the best interest of my
family," he wrote.
"So I reluctantly decided to put this behind me and focus on helping create better opportunities for New Brunswickers."
In
April 2018, Gallant announced the Liberal caucus was removing Collins
because of the harassment complaint against him as Speaker from an
unidentified employee of the legislature.
Liberal Brian Gallant was premier of New Brunswick from 2014 to 2018. (CBC)
The
all-party legislative administration committee commissioned an
investigation and later said the complaint was "founded in part," though
the report was never released.
Collins later told
reporters he was making a "complete and unreserved apology for anything I
said that offended the complainant or anyone else," saying he
considered his comments "humorous and inoffensive" but to others they
were "perceived as inappropriate."
He also said the
"overwhelming majority" of the allegations against him had been deemed
unfounded. In court filings he said 77 out of 80 were unfounded.
Collins remained in the position of Speaker until the provincial election later that year.
He
announced he would not run as a Liberal under Gallant and instead
became an independent candidate, placing a distant second to Liberal
winner Rob McKee.
His lawsuit against Gallant, the
provincial government and the legislature accused them of breach of
employment contract, breach of privacy and abuse of authority.
According
to Collins, Gallant initially dismissed a complaint from the staffer in
2016, then revived it in 2018 after Collins, as Speaker, wouldn't let
the Liberals introduce partisan motions attacking Blaine HIggs,
then-Progressive Conservative Opposition leader.
He
claimed Gallant's office had the legislature adopt the provincial
government's workplace harassment policy so it would apply to MLAs, then
encouraged the woman to use it to file the complaint against Collins.
Those allegations by Collins were never proven in court.
In
2021 a judge blocked Collins from suing the legislature, ruling that
Canadian precedent prevents the courts from reviewing the institution's
internal proceedings, including the disciplining of its own members.
Collins
returned to public life in 2022 as the executive director of Canadian
Parents for French, which lobbied the Higgs government to abandon a plan
to replace French immersion.
That led Collins to interact with some of the Liberal MLAs who had voted to expel him five years earlier.
He
said last year the reception he received "was apologetic and it was
warm and I appreciated that. … They seemed to know what happened. It was
all good."
He said he was "looking forward to having my day in court and getting this over with and putting it behind me and moving on."
According
to the court file, Collins asked the court in February 2023 for more
time to respond to a government request for more documentation because
his lawyer Harold Doherty had "serious health issues" that prevented him
from being in court.
Moss took over the case May 12 and filed the notice of discontinuance the same day.
In
his statement Tuesday, Gallant said he maintained "that the complainant
in this matter had a right for their complaint to undergo an impartial,
non-partisan, and independent investigative process given the nature of
the allegations that were made — and given the importance of
safeguarding the integrity of our democratic institutions."
He said he'd been prepared to go to court to defend that position but was "fine" with the discontinuance.
The province's lawyers were representing Gallant in the case because he held a government position when Collins was expelled.
A spokesperson for the New Brunswick attorney general's office did not respond to a request for comment.
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.
Expulsé puis réadmis à l'Assemblée législative : Kevin Arseneau ne regrette rien
Kevin Arseneau
Radio-Canada
Publié le 2 novembre 2016 à 9 h 05 HAA
Former Speaker Chris Collins claims he was victim of retaliation by Brian Gallant
Last year, Collins apologized in legislature for comments 'perceived as inappropriate'
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 17, 2020 1:32 PM ADT
Five years after ouster, Chris Collins is back in the political fray
Former MLA pushed out over harassment in 2018 is now the face of French immersion fight
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jan 31, 2023 7:00 AM AST
William Peters
The court system is for the rich to sue each
other with. You only have to pay for it and admit defeat when you try
and use it. The doesn't want you in it, so that's a bitter pill to
swallow when it comes to thinking anyone can get justice.
David Amos
Reply to William Peters
Everybody knows justice is a myth
William Peters
Reply to David Amos
It works well if you can afford it. It keep businesses
in line from stealing each other's intellectual property, for example.
You pay for that too. The justice that is pure myth is the one that is
said to await you in death.
David Amos
Reply to William Peters
Look up Federal Court Rule 55
Robert Snider
wonder what cozy job the Liberals plan to assign to him should they win the election in the fall. Keep your eyes peeled folks.
David Amos
Reply to Robert Snider
Trust that I will
Lou Bell
Gallant had more serious issues to address
after the Liberals got caught with their undisclosed 130 million dollar
plan at just taking taxpayer dollars without informing 2/3 of the
population .
Al Clark
Content Deactivated
Reply to Lou Bell
NB speakers have historically had a rough time with their party leaders. Thinking Bernie Lord for one.....
David Amos
Reply to Al Clark
Me too
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Al Clark
However he attacked old Frank first
James van der Brug
When ever one feels wronged they want to lash
out, the courts are our only way to do so. Hiring a lawyer brings about
it stress which likely kills more Canadians each year that car accidents
and really who needs its when the best solution is to move on. Yes
moving on can be hard too.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to James van der Brug
I am still trucking
Lou Bell
Better for Collins . Got off the sinking ship
before Gallant and his key advisers , including the current leader of
the Liberal Party took it down. Two attempts at resurfacing the sunken
ship have since failed under unqualified " Captains " . And about to
happen once again .
Allan Marven
Reply to Lou Bell
lol....we all know which ship has been abandoned just before it it disappears into netherland.
Lou Bell
Reply to Allan Marven
I'm thinking come December Cardy may be the
newest leader of the Liberals . Or Arsenault , seeing as he's a key
part of the group that controls the Liberals . And both parties ( Greens
and Liberals ) have at several times indicated they're " confused " .
Nicole is the best person to speak with about CPF Network
strategic goals and partnerships; Outreach, Development and Liaison with
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Andrew has represented clients at all levels of court in New Brunswick, as well as Federal Court and various administrative tribunals. Andrew’s practice focuses on personal injuries, motor vehicle accidents, insurance claims, professional negligence and wrongful terminations. Andrew teaches the Insurance Law class at the University of New Brunswick and is the former President of the York-Sunbury Law Society.
Andrew has always believed in using his education to help others. At Moss Hachey Law, Andrew is happy to help New Brunswickers every day with their legal issues.
Andrew was raised in Fredericton and has family throughout New Brunswick. In his free time, Andrew enjoys hiking New Brunswick’s trails with his wife, Anne, and their beagle-basset hound, Monkey.
Class action against former UNB psychiatrist withdrawn, mass-tort
lawsuit coming, says lawyer
Dr. Manoj Bhargava will be named in a new lawsuit alleging sexual
assault, Erika Hachey said
Aidan Cox · CBC News · Posted: Apr 04, 2023 5:19 PM EDT
A man sits in a chair wearing a purple dress shirt and bowtie.
Fredericton psychiatrist Dr. Manoj Bhargava was accused in a class
action lawsuit of sexually assaulting patients he treated at the
University of New Brunswick's health centre. (Facebook)
Lawyers have discontinued a class-action lawsuit alleging sexual
assault by a former University of New Brunswick psychiatrist toward
his patients and say they'll instead file a mass-tort lawsuit.
During a case management conference in Fredericton Court of King's
Bench Tuesday afternoon, lawyer Mike Dull requested a class-action
lawsuit naming Dr. Manoj Bhargava and UNB be withdrawn.
Representing the class members, Dull said he was originally scheduled
to make submissions to have the class suit certified, but instead
wished to abandon that request.
"It's not a reflection of how we feel about the merits of the
allegations, but rather, it comes about on our full reflection of
whether a class proceeding is the preferable procedure in which to
advance those merits," Dull said.
Lawyers present for Bhargava and UNB consented to the class action
being withdrawn.
A wide shot of the University of New Brunswick campus during winter.
The class action lawsuit alleged Bhargava sexually assaulted students
while treating them at UNB's health centre. (The Canadian Press)
Bhargava and UNB were originally named in the lawsuit filed in April 2021.
It alleged that while he worked as a psychiatrist at UNB Fredericton's
Student Health Centre, he touched patients' breasts while checking
their blood pressure and heart rate.
The class-action lawsuit also alleged that UNB didn't take appropriate
steps to ensure the plaintiffs were not subjected to such acts, and
that UNB was vicariously liable for the sexual assaults allegedly
perpetrated by Bhargava.
The university terminated Bhargav's contract in November 2020. The
termination and lawsuit came after Bhargava's licence was suspended by
the New Brunswick College of Physicians and Surgeons.
More defendants could be named: lawyer
Erika Hachey, another lawyer for the plaintiffs in the class action,
said in an interview a mass-tort lawsuit is being pursued as it better
reflects the varied experiences of each complainant.
Hachey said some class members alleged Bhargava assaulted them while
he was working at other health clinics.
14 people come forward in lawsuit against UNB, psychiatrist
accused of sexual assault
UNB faces class-action lawsuit for 'systemic failure' to protect
students from alleged sexual assault
A mass tort will allow plaintiffs to include those varying claims
about where Bhargava allegedly assaulted them, Hachey said.
"So we are going to include those … new defendants, as well as … the
former class members and the new people that had contacted us, and
they will all be considered plaintiffs in our new mass tort action,"
Hachey said.
Hachey said a mass tort is also expected to bring a quicker resolution
to the case, as there's no need to get the lawsuit certified as is the
case with a class action.
18 complaints: College of Physicians and Surgeons
The class-action lawsuit originally included 14 members, however,
Hachey said she can't say how many people will be named in the new
mass-tort lawsuit until they formally provide statements.
"I have been advised by some of my clients that there are still people
out there that are waiting and have not stepped forward to contact
us," she said. "I just want those people to know that this is the time
to contact us."
In 2021, New Brunswick College of Physicians and Surgeons registrar
Dr. Ed Schollenberg said the college had received 18 sexual assault
complaints against Bhargava from individual patients.
A lawyer for UNB declined an interview request, and Bhargava's lawyer
did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aidan Cox
Journalist
Aidan Cox is a journalist for the CBC based in Fredericton. He can be
reached at aidan.cox@cbc.ca and followed on Twitter @Aidan4jrn.
To: erika.hachey@mosshacheylaw.com, andrew.moss@mosshacheylaw.com
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Erika R. Hachey
Called to the bar: 2013 (NB) erika.hachey@mosshacheylaw.com,
Andrew C.W. Moss
Called to the bar: 2015 (NB)
Email: andrew.moss@mosshacheylaw.com
Moss Hachey Law
90 Woodside Lane, Suite 103
Fredericton, New Brunswick E3C 2R9
Phone: 506-449-7544
Fax: 506-300-2072
Schollenberg said the college involved the police recently, after
suspending Bhargava.
"It became apparent that there may be more to this," he said.
He said the college asked some of the 18 complainants if they were
interested in speaking to the police and passed on their information
to the Fredericton Police Force if they said yes.
Fredericton psychiatrist suspended by College of Physicians and Surgeons
Alycia Bartlette, spokesperson for the Fredericton Police Force, would
not confirm whether the police are investigating Bhargava.
"In general, we would not confirm whether a specific individual was
the subject of a police investigation until such time as charges are
laid in court, or there are operational reasons otherwise," she said
in an email."
>>> From: "Ross, Ken (DH/MS)" <ken.ross@gnb.ca>
>>> Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 08:43:31 -0300
>>> Subject: Re: Hey Ken Who is Mental Health's and the Hospital in
>>> Fredericton's lawyers?
>>> To: david.raymond.amos@gmail.com
>>>
>>> Got your messages Dave. I am in Toronto for meetings and will be back
>>> in the office Friday. I will ask Barb Whitenect to follow up with you
>>> in the interim. Yes Herby picked up ypur bike a while back.
>>>
>>> Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
>>>
>>>
>>> --- On Wed, 7/9/08, David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>
>>> Subject: Hey Ken Who is Mental Health's and the Hospital in
>>> Fredericton's lawyers?
>>> To: ken.ross@gnb.ca, Barbara.Whitenect@gnb.ca, MichaelB.Murphy@gnb.ca
>>> Cc: rosaire.santerre@gnb.ca, Marc.Pitre@gnb.ca, David.Eidt@gnb.ca,
>>> oldmaison@yahoo.com, Judy.Cyr@gnb.ca, t.j.burke@gnb.ca,
>>> police@fredericton.ca, Carrie.Levesque@gnb.ca, anne.elgee@gnb.ca,
>>> danny.copp@fredericton.ca, jacques.boucher@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
>>> Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 3:03 AM
>>>
>>> KENNETH ROSS, Assistant Deputy Minister
>>> Addictions and Mental Health Services / Health
>>> Contact Information
>>> Phone: (506) 457-4800
>>> Fax: (506) 453-5243
>>>
>>> BARBARA WHITENECT, Director
>>> Addictions and Mental Health Services / Health
>>> Contact Information
>>> Phone: (506) 444-4442
>>> Fax: (506) 453-8711
>>> EMail Address: Barbara.Whitenect@gnb.ca
>>>
>>>
>>> Sorry to involve you but lets just say that I am really really pissed
>>> off for very justifiable reasons.
>>>
>>> This should prove to some folks that at least I know how to read.
>>>
>>> http://www.ahsc.health.nb.ca/Programs/MentalHealth/rights.shtml
>>>
>>> I have no doubt whatsoever that you would more pissed than I am if
>>> the malicious bullshit that happened to me last weekend had happened
>>> to you.
>>>
>>> I will try to call you in business hours but I suspect in the end I
>>> will wind up arguing this dude in court in short order. (On a lighter
>>> note did Herby pick up my bike?)
>>>
>>> David Eidt
>>> Legal Services
>>> Office of the Attorney General
>>> Tel: (506) 453-3964
>>> Fax: (506) 453-3275
>>> david.eidt@gnb.ca
>>>
>>> Best Regards
>>> Dave
>>>
>>>
>>> These emails and the bullshit from the news last year should to all
>>> that I am as serious as a heart attack and far from mentally unstabe
>>> but the cops have proven themselves to be monumental liars many times
>>>
>>> Subject:
>>> Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:02:35 -0400
>>> From: "Murphy, Michael B. \(DH/MS\)" MichaelB.Murphy@gnb.ca
>>> To: motomaniac_02186@yahoo.com
>>>
>>>
>>> January 30, 2007
>>>
>>>
>>> WITHOUT PREJUDICE
>>>
>>> Mr. David Amos
>>>
>>>
>>> Dear Mr. Amos:
>>>
>>> This will acknowledge receipt of a copy of your e-mail of December 29,
>>> 2006 to Corporal Warren McBeath of the RCMP.
>>>
>>> Because of the nature of the allegations made in your message, I have
>>> taken the measure of forwarding a copy to Assistant Commissioner Steve
>>> Graham of the RCMP "J" Division in Fredericton.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> Honourable Michael B. Murphy
>>> Minister of Health
>>>
>>> CM/cb
>>>
>>> Warren McBeath warren.mcbeath@rcmp-grc.gc.ca wrote:
>>>
>>> Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 17:34:53 -0500
>>> From: "Warren McBeath" warren.mcbeath@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
>>> To: kilgoursite@ca.inter.net, MichaelB.Murphy@gnb.ca,
>>> nada.sarkis@gnb.ca, wally.stiles@gnb.ca, dwatch@web.net,
>>> motomaniac_02186@yahoo.com
>>> CC: ottawa@chuckstrahl.com, riding@chuckstrahl.com,
>>> John.Foran@gnb.ca, Oda.B@parl.gc.ca,
>>> "Bev BUSSON" bev.busson@rcmp-grc.gc.ca,
>>> "Paul Dube" PAUL.DUBE@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
>>> Subject: Re: Remember me Kilgour? Landslide Annie McLellan has
>>> forgotten me but the crooks within the RCMP have n
>>>
>>> Dear Mr. Amos,
>>>
>>> Thank you for your follow up e-mail to me today. I was on days off over
>>> the holidays and returned to work this evening. Rest assured I was not
>>> ignoring or procrastinating to respond to your concerns.
>>>
>>> As your attachment sent today refers from Premier Graham, our position
>>> is clear on your dead calf issue: Our forensic labs do not process
>>> testing on animals in cases such as yours, they are referred to the
>>> Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown who can provide these
>>> services. If you do not choose to utilize their expertise in this
>>> instance, then that is your decision and nothing more can be done.
>>>
>>> As for your other concerns regarding the US Government, false
>>> imprisonment and Federal Court Dates in the US, etc... it is clear that
>>> Federal authorities are aware of your concerns both in Canada and the
>>> US. These issues do not fall into the purvue of Detachment policing in
>>> Petitcodiac, NB.
>>>
>>> It was indeed an interesting and informative conversation we had on
>>> December 23rd, and I wish you well in all of your future endeavors.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> Warren McBeath, Cpl.
>>> GRC Caledonia RCMP
>>> Traffic Services NCO
>>> Ph: (506) 387-2222
>>> Fax: (506) 387-4622
>>> E-mail warren.mcbeath@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
>>>
>>> charles leblanc oldmaison@yahoo.com wrote:
>>>
>>> Where are ya living now???? Since the media seem to ignore ya? I'll
>>> sit down for a debate with a recorder for the blog...Now? Don't get
>>> all exicted and send this all over the world.....lol
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----
>>> From: David Amos motomaniac_02186@yahoo.com
>>> To: brad.woodside@fredericton.ca; whalen@fredericton.ca;
>>> david.kelly@fredericton.ca; cathy.maclaggan@fredericton.ca;
>>> stephen.kelly@fredericton.ca; tom.jellinek@fredericton.ca;
>>> scott.mcconaghy@fredericton.ca; marilyn.kerton@fredericton.ca;
>>> walter.brown@fredericton.ca; norah.davidson@fredericton.ca;
>>> mike.obrien@fredericton.ca; bruce.grandy@fredericton.ca;
>>> dan.keenan@fredericton.ca; jeff.mockler@gnb.ca;
>>> mrichard@lawsociety-barreau.nb.ca; cynthia.merlini@dfait-maeci.gc.ca;
>>> jlmockler@mpor.ca; scotta@parl.gc.ca; michael.bray@gnb.ca;
>>> jack.e.mackay@gnb.ca
>>> Cc: news@dailygleaner.com; kcarmichael@bloomberg.net;
>>> oldmaison@yahoo.com; advocacycollective@yahoo.com;
>>> Easter.W@parl.gc.ca; Comartin.J@parl.gc.ca; cityadmin@fredericton.ca;
>>> info@gg.ca; bmosher@mosherchedore.ca; rchedore@mosherchedore.ca;
>>> police@fredericton.ca; chebert@thestar.ca; Stoffer.P@parl.gc.ca;
>>> Stronach.B@parl.gc.ca; Matthews.B@parl.gc.ca; alltrue@nl.rogers.com;
>>> Harper.S@parl.gc.ca; Layton.J@parl.gc.ca; Dryden.K@parl.gc.ca;
>>> Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca
>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 10:37:04 PM
>>> Subject: I promised one of the Fat Fred City cop Randy Reilly that I
>>> would try to make him famous
>>>
>>> http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=davidraymondamos&search=Search
>>>
>>> A man is only as good as his word EH? To bad priests, bankers,
>>> politicians, lawyers and cops can't claim the same N'est Pas
>>>
>>> http://actionlyme.org/FBI_WIRETAPE_TAPES.htm
>>>
>>> FEDERAL EXPRESS February 7, 2006
>>>
>>> Senator Arlen Specter
>>> United States Senate
>>> Committee on the Judiciary
>>> 224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
>>> Washington, DC 20510
>>>
>>> Dear Mr. Specter:
>>>
>>> I have been asked to forward the enclosed tapes to you from a man
>>> named, David Amos, a Canadian citizen, in connection with the matters
>>> raised in the attached letter. Mr. Amos has represented to me that
>>> these are illegal FBI wire tap tapes. I believe Mr. Amos has been in
>>> contact with you about this previously.
>>>
>>> Very truly yours,
>>> Barry A. Bachrach
>>> Direct telephone: (508) 926-3403
>>> Direct facsimile: (508) 929-3003
>>> Email: bbachrach@bowditch.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> http://davidamos.blogspot.com/.
>>>
>>> Paulette Delaney-Smith Paulette.Delaney-Smith@rcmp-grc.gc.ca wrote:
>>> David,
>>>
>>> I received your voice mail, I have been transferred to another unit
>>> and I am unaware of who is dealing with your complaints at this time.
>>>
>>> Paulette Delaney-Smith, Cpl.
>>> RCMPolice "J" DIvision HQ
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> http://gypsy-blog.blogspot.com/2008/03/media-restrains-itself-inexplicably.html
>>>
>>> Threat against Burke taken seriously
>>>
>>> By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
>>> dgleg@nb.aibn.com
>>> Published Thursday May 24th, 2007
>>> Appeared on page A1
>>> An RCMP security detail has been guarding Justice Minister and
>>> Attorney General T.J. Burke because of threats made against him
>>> recently.
>>>
>>> Burke, the Liberal MLA for Fredericton-Fort Nashwaaksis, wouldn't
>>> explain the nature of the threats.
>>>
>>> "I have had a particular individual or individuals who have made
>>> specific overtures about causing harm towards me," he told reporters
>>> Wednesday.
>>>
>>> "The RCMP has provided security to me recently by accompanying me to a
>>> couple of public functions where the individual is known to reside or
>>> have family members in the area," said Burke. "It is nice to have
>>> some
>>> added protection and that added comfort."
>>>
>>> The RCMP provides protection to the premier and MLAs with its VIP
>>> security
>>> unit.
>>>
>>> Burke didn't say when the threat was made but it's believed to have
>>> been in recent weeks.
>>>
>>> "When a threat is posed to you and it is a credible threat, you have
>>> to be cautious about where you go and who you are around," he said.
>>> "But again, I am more concerned about my family as opposed to my own
>>> personal safety."
>>>
>>> Burke said he doesn't feel any differently and he has not changed his
>>> pattern of activity.
>>>
>>> "It doesn't bother me one bit," he said. "It makes my wife
>>> feel awful nervous."
>>>
>>> Burke served in an elite American military unit before becoming a
>>> lawyer and going into politics in New Brunswick.
>>>
>>> "(I) have taken my own precautions and what I have to do to ensure my
>>> family's safety," he said. "I am a very cautious person in
>>> general due
>>> to my background and training.
>>>
>>> "I am comfortable with defending myself or my family if it ever had to
>>> happen."
>>>
>>> Burke said it is not uncommon for politicians to have security concerns.
>>>
>>> "We do live unfortunately in an age and in a society now where threats
>>> have to be taken pretty seriously," he said.
>>>
>>> Since the terrorism attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001,
>>> security in New Brunswick has been
>>> beefed up.
>>>
>>> Metal detectors were recently installed in the legislature and all
>>> visitors are screened.
>>>
>>> The position of attorney general is often referred to as the
>>> province's "top cop."
>>>
>>> Burke said sometimes people do not differentiate between his role as
>>> the manager of the justice system and the individual who actually
>>> prosecutes them.
>>>
>>> "With the job sometimes comes threats," he said. "I have had
>>> numerous
>>> threats since Day 1 in office."
>>>
>>> Burke said he hopes his First Nations heritage has nothing to do with
>>> it.
>>>
>>> "I think it is more of an issue where people get fixated on a matter
>>> and they believe you are personally responsible for assigning them
>>> their punishment or their sanction," he said.
>>>
>>> Is the threat from someone who was recently incarcerated?
>>>
>>> "I probably shouldn't answer that," he replied.
>>>
>>> Reporters asked when the threat would be over.
>>>
>>> "I don't think a threat ever passes once it has been made," said
>>> Burke. "You have to consider the credibility of the source."
>>>
>>> Bruce Fitch, former justice minister in the Conservative government,
>>> said "every now and again there would be e-mails that were not
>>> complimentary."
>>>
>>> "I did have a meeting with the RCMP who are in charge of the security
>>> of the MLAs and ministers," said Fitch.
>>>
>>> "They look at each and every situation."
>>>
>>> Fitch said he never had bodyguards assigned to him although former
>>> premier Bernard Lord and former health minister Elvy Robichaud did
>>> have extra security staff assigned on occasion.
>>>
>>> He said if any MLA felt threatened, he or she would discuss it with the
>>> RCMP.
>>
Ex-premier Brian Gallant denies targeting career of former Speaker Chris Collins
Gallant and provincial government file joint statement of defence to lawsuit by former Moncton Centre MLA
CBC News · Posted: Jul 03, 2020 4:04 PM AT
Former premier Brian Gallant has said he looked forward to the chance to
'dispel false claims' made in the allegations against him. (CBC)
Former Liberal premier Brian Gallant denies he abused the power
of his office and engaged in unlawful conduct to hurt the career of the
former Speaker of the New Brunswick legislature Chris Collins.
Gallant
and the provincial government filed their joint statement of
defence with the Court of Queen's Bench in Fredericton Friday to the
lawsuit by Collins in May.
Collins, the former Liberal MLA for
Moncton Centre, alleges he was the victim of harassment charges spurred
on by Gallant's desire to punish him for being too independent.
In his statement of claim, Collins said allegations by a
staffer he calls Jane Doe were originally dismissed by Gallant in 2016
as unfounded.
But he alleges that after he refused to do
Gallant's bidding by letting a Liberal motion be debated in the
legislature in February or March 2018, the accusation was revived and
publicized to force him out.
Collins
was suspended as Speaker, pending an independent investigation, which
meant he wasn't allowed to run as a candidate for the Liberals in his
riding in that fall's provincial election. He ran as an independent and
lost to Rob McKee.
Collins is suing for breach of employment
contract, breach of privacy and abuse of authority. None of the
allegations have been proven in court.
The province and Gallant, in their statement of defence, ask for the court action to be dismissed with costs.
"As
to the whole of the statement of claim, the province and Mr. Gallant
say that at all material times the province and/or Mr. Gallant acted
lawfully, appropriately, in the public's best interest and in
consultation with members of the Executive Council and senior government
officials," the document states.
Chris Collins apologized in 2018 at the foot of the
legislature with his wife, Lisette Richard, standing behind him, for
something he said to a former employee of the legislature, which was
deemed to be a partial violation of sexual harassment rules. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC)
"Any statements
made, or actions taken by Mr. Gallant, public or otherwise, were true
and/or made in relation to a matter of public interest and, in the
alternative, are protected by the principles of qualified privilege
and/or fair comment."
The legislative assembly is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. It has not yet filed a statement of defence.
A date for the case to be heard in court has not yet been set.
Didn't encourage complainant to file
In the statement of defence, Gallant denies being aware of the woman's allegations against Collins in 2016.
He
also denies that he had a close personal relationship with the woman,
who has never been identified publicly, or that he encouraged "Ms.
Doe" to file the complaint against Collins in 2018.
Gallant contends he has never seen the complaint or the investigative report.
77 of 80 allegations deemed unfounded
The
legislative administration committee, made up of MLAs from all parties,
has said the investigation by Leslie H. MacLeod, an adjunct professor
at Osgoode Law School, concluded the allegations were "founded in part."
In July 2018, Collins offered a "complete and unreserved" public apology, though he said the "overwhelming majority" of the allegations against him had been deemed unfounded.
He
said he had made comments to the employee that he considered "humorous
and inoffensive" but that were "perceived as inappropriate."
According
to his statement of claim, 77 of 80 allegations were deemed unfounded,
while two instances of abuse of authority and one of harassment were
deemed to have violated the harassment policy.
The investigation concluded the harassment allegation was founded "on the balance of probabilities," the court document states.
Quit party of own volition
Although
Collins blames Gallant's actions for his 2018 election loss, the
statement of defence notes Collins was able to "fully participate" in
the general election as a candidate for Moncton Centre,
In
addition, he quit the Liberal Party and/or the Liberal caucus prior to
the election of his own volition, it states. He had been suspended
only pending the outcome of the independent investigation.
"Had
the plaintiff not quit and/or there had been no suspension, there was no
guarantee that the plaintiff would have been the Liberal candidate for
Moncton Centre, or any other riding, as the party had an open nomination
policy for the general election."
41 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
Shawn Tabor Infighting in the party and the taxpayer is on the hook for the bill I am guessing. WOW as the world turns.
michael levesque wow even out of office he can still waste taxpayers money!!!
Jos Allaire
Reply to @michael levesque: Come on tear stew peed key car rack te reese sty law key la fait.
michael levesque
Reply to @Jos Allaire: you should run for the Liberals cause you talk like a Liberal you don't make any sense.
Jos Allaire
Reply to @michael levesque: Run it through Google translate!
Dianne MacPherson
Reply to @Jos Allaire:
SIGH !!!!
Lou Bell Melanson
, the Shediac 5 , et al didn't like anyone questioning their insider
control of the Liberals . Vickers will soon discover the same . Probably
drop out before the next election .
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Lou Bell: Povit chip pay!
Lou Bell
Reply to @Jos Allaire: chit 'ed
.
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Lou Bell: Pea too aie Ann gross folle the Ted Carey!
Dianne MacPherson
Reply to @Jos Allaire:
SIGH !!!
Gerry Ferguson Ha ha poor Gallant getting called out for shifty tricks!
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Gerry Ferguson:
Sadly tho Gallant has yet to be held accountable for his " shifty tricks
" while the common folk would have been held accountable..
Matt Steele At
this point , does ANYBODY believe anything that Brian Gallant says as
his credibility is next to none . Gallant certainly abused his position ,
and the province's finances , in his ONE term as Premier ; and now
the taxpayer ends up paying for his mess again . Gallant is like Frank
McKenna as N.B. just can't seem to get rid of them .
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Matt Steele: So you believe Chris Collins?
Marc LeBlanc The
Murphy/Collins email was deliberately leaked to the media by the
liberal elite to destroy Murphy's reputation.There's no doubt in my mind
everyone knew exactly what the outcome would be and were deliberate in
their actions
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Marc LeBlanc: What reputation?
Jack Straw The
problem with Brian Gallant s version of his story is that he did the
same thing to the staff of Service New Brunswick when he ramrodded the
new assessment system through. If I recall correctly some seniors not
knowing better or too intimated to fight the government were simply
going to pay up. Gallant being the man he is blamed the senior staff at
SNB instead of accepting blame himself. Reminds me of a guy currently
running the U S A. It s always someone else's fault. Gallant is an
embarrassment to hard working, decent New Brunwickers.Hopefully he 'll
leave the Province with his joke new job and not come back. It s no
wonder this Province is in the mess it is when we elect individuals like
Brian Gallant. I guess we deserve it.
Matt Adams Gallant would not have been smart enough to figure this out on his own
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Matt Adams:
His handlers LeBlanc and Boudreau would have told Gallant what to do ,
when to do it and who to do it for....Nothing but a big feeling puppet..
Cal Sullivan
Reply to @Mack Leigh: While slightly off topic, it sounds like Trudeau, yet another puppet who can't think for himself.
Matt Steele Gallant
was well known to throw hissy fits when anyone challenged him ; and if
anything went wrong , he was always quick to blame others for his bad
decisions . So it is not really surprising that Gallant would throw
Collins under the bus if Collins questioned Gallant's authority .
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Matt Steele: More you who is known for that.
Richard Dunn
Reply to @Matt Steele: I think the picture CBC used actually is a very telling one, he looks very angry.
Bob Smith Gallant
wants to move past this for this new Navigator firm he's heading up,
for sure...which isn't going to be lobbying for gov't contracts in the
future, right?
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Bob Smith:
The country forked many times this amount for the Olympics. Why don't
you talk about that? That's right, it had little French connotation ,
you Bee goat!
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Bob Smith: sorry, this post was intended for the snag just below.
Johnny Almar Yes you did Brian.
Jos Allaire
Yes you did Chris!
Mack Leigh Just
one more time that politicians will twist the legal system into their
way of thinking...Gallant, his buddy LeBlanc along with numerous other
Liberal politicians will make sure that in this case absolutely .....no
justice...is served.
Matt Steele
Reply to @Mack Leigh:
.....Probably more true than we know . There was a news story not that
long ago about several Judges who were appointed who had close personal
ties to Dominic LeBlanc . The fix is probably already in .Welcome to
N.B. ; a failed social experiment .
Amajor Hall
Reply to @Matt Steele: ...and the gutter of the country no less..
Mack Leigh Please
tell me when......when did Brian Gallant ever act in the public's best
interest ? Worse than Shawn Graham with no accountability, no
transparency , no integrity and completely lacking any strength of
character..... Good riddance..
Lou Bell Targetting
people and their careers to suit their own agnda , The liberal template
for decades ! Look at who controls them , says it all !
James Smythe Reply to @Lou Bell: Presumably you think our own power grabbing Irving shill of a Premier is better?
Anne Berube
Reply to @James Smythe: The liberal excuses, always, give it up. Gallant is gone, gone, gone.
Former Speaker Chris Collins claims he was victim of retaliation by Brian Gallant
Last year, Collins apologized in legislature for comments 'perceived as inappropriate'
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 17, 2020 1:32 PM AT
Harassment allegations against Moncton MLA Chris Collins were deemed
'founded in part' by a third-party investigator. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC)
A former Speaker of the New Brunswick legislature says he was
the victim of harassment charges spurred on by former Premier Brian
Gallant's desire to punish him for being too independent.
Chris
Collins, the former Liberal MLA for Moncton Centre, says in a statement
of claim filed in Court of Queen's Bench that the allegations by a
staffer he calls Jane Doe were originally dismissed as unfounded by
Gallant in 2016.
But he alleges that after he refused to do
Gallant's bidding by letting a Liberal motion be debated in the
legislature in February or March 2018, the accusation was revived and
publicized to force him out.
"Mr. Collins was repeatedly told the premier was very mad about
not being able to have this debated," says the 15-page statement of
claim.
"During the last meeting with Mr. Collins, [staffer] Carl
Davies threatened Mr. Collins by saying, 'the Premier's Office can make
life very difficult for you.'"
Premier Brian Gallant declined through a spokesperson to comment on Collins's statement of claim. (CBC)
Collins says Gallant knew "it was unlawful to collude with a complainant" about her complaint and to then publicize it.
In
a statement Wednesday, Gallant said, "I look forward to the opportunity
that the legal process will afford me to dispel false claims being made
and to make public the relevant factors which impacted the decisions
made in response to the actions of certain parties."
Davies said he would not comment on the allegations in the lawsuit.
The
suit also names the government and the legislature as defendants,
alleging that legislature clerk Don Forestell should not have
"acquiesced" to Gallant's actions. Forestell refused to comment
Wednesday.
T.J. Burke, Collins's lawyer at the time, said in the days following the
revelation that the harassment 'did not occur.' (Maria Jose
Burgos/CBC)
On April 5, 2018, Gallant told reporters in an evening
conference call that Collins had been suspended from the Liberal caucus
over harassment allegations.
The
complainant has never been identified publicly, though Collins's
statement of claim says she had "a close, personal friendship with
Premier Gallant."
Collins filed his notice of intent to sue
Gallant and the province April 3, two days short of the legal deadline
for him to take the case to court.
The speaker of the
New Brunswick legislature has issued a public apology for comments that
an investigation deemed as harassing. 1:39
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Gallant
and the province have yet to file statements of defence in the lawsuit.
The province will represent Gallant in the case because he was premier
at the time.
Office of the Attorney-General spokesperson Paul
Bradley said a statement of defence "is being finalized" and will be
filed soon.
Collins is not suing for defamation but for breach of employment contract, breach of privacy and abuse of authority.
The
night Gallant announced Collins's suspension, the then-premier said
there had been "personality conflicts" between Collins and an employee
of the legislature.
Collins gave up his functions as Speaker but kept the title.
His lawyer at the time, T.J. Burke, said in the days following the revelation that the harassment "did not occur."
Chris Collins ran as an independent candidate in Moncton Centre during
the 2018 provincial election and lost. (Kate Letterick/CBC News )
But the following month the legislative administration
committee, made up of MLAs from all parties, said an investigation by
Leslie H. MacLeod, an adjunct professor at Osgoode Law School,
concluded the allegations were "founded in part."
In the wake of that, Burke said Collins "accepts full responsibility for the findings that the investigator made in her report."
He said
he had made comments to the employee that he considered "humorous and
inoffensive" but that were "perceived as inappropriate."
77 of 80 allegations were deemed unfounded
In
the new statement of claim, Collins elaborates that 77 of 80
allegations were deemed unfounded, while two instances of abuse of
authority and one of harassment were deemed to have violated the
harassment policy.
The investigation concluded the harassment allegation was founded "on the balance of probabilities," it says.
Collins's
suspension from the Liberal caucus meant he was not allowed to run as a
candidate for the party in his riding of Moncton Centre in that fall's
provincial election. He ran as an independent against Rob McKee, who won
by a wide margin.
Chris Collins delivered his apology at the foot of the legislature with
his wife, Lisette Richard, standing behind him. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC)
According to the
statement of claim, "Jane Doe" was working for Collins in August 2015
when she told a staffer for deputy premier Stephen Horsman about the
alleged harassment.
Gallant's office looked into the allegation
and "Premier Gallant advised Ms. Doe that her allegations against Mr.
Collins had been looked into, were unfounded and without merit and that
no further action would be taken."
Horsman
and Gallant's acting chief of staff Greg Byrne both declined through a
spokesperson to comment on the statement of claim Wednesday morning, as
did McKee.
Jane Doe left her job at the legislature in January 2016, the claim says.
Two
years later, it continues, Gallant's then-chief of staff, Jordan
O'Brien, "aggressively pursued" getting Collins to let a motion to be
introduced in the legislature that Collins says "was a breach of the
rules of the House" and "constituted a personal attack" on a sitting
MLA.
O'Brien refused to comment Wednesday on the narrative Collins lays out for 2018.
After
Collins refused to allow the motion to go forward, the statement of
claim says, Gallant's office brought the government's workplace
harassment policy to the legislative administration committee to have it
adopted as applying to members of the legislature.
According
to the filing, Gallant then "encouraged" Jane Doe to file a complaint
against Collins despite knowing it had been deemed unfounded two years
earlier. It says the premier's office also persuaded her to let Gallant
publicize the complaint despite confidentiality rules.
Complaint would 'go away'
Collins
also claims he only learned of the complaint after Gallant's conference
call with reporters on April 5 when he met three senior Liberals,
including cabinet ministers Victor Boudreau and Serge Rousselle.
He says they told him the complaint would "go away" if he quit.
Boudreau and Rousselle refused to comment on that allegation Wednesday.
Collins
also says Gallant persuaded him to allow the new harassment policy
apply to the case, even though it did not apply retroactively to MLAs
and even though the clerk of the legislature has the discretion to not
investigate complaints more than a year old.
The statement of
claim quotes a letter from deputy clerk Shayne Davies saying the
investigation was in the public interest "given the public disclosure of
a complaint" and a subsequent decision by the legislative
administration committee to have it investigated.
The filing
says a lawyer hired by the committee told its members that the
seriousness of Collins's behaviour rated a one, on a scale of one to
10.
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.
42 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Welcome to the circus
"Gallant and the province have yet to file statements of defence in the
lawsuit. The province will represent Gallant in the case because he was
premier at the time.
Office of the Attorney-General spokesperson Paul Bradley said a
statement of defence "is being finalized" and will be filed soon."
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks it would be a huge faux pas if Higgy et al were to try to settle this matter in secret N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks everybody knows what I am up to by now N'esy Pas?
David News We
really don't need articles like this to make up news. If the court case
had been decided and the ruling was released. That would be news. This
sadly is not, just accusations that have to be proven.
Samual Johnston
Reply to @David News:
so no reporting of crimes or the accused - just court rulings? that
would be interesting now wouldn't it?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David News: Methinks you don't know about my lawsuit N'esy Pas?
David News Reply
to @Samual Johnston: Well fair comment, but do we need all the gory
details of something that is simply an unproven accusation? Tell us
there is a lawsuit and the charge. Leave out the filling until it has
been proven
Samual Johnston
Reply to @David News: is a fine line for sure - news coverage is far more opinion and drama vs fact these days.
Chantal LeBouthi When you are independent you can’t be part of a political party
Donald Gallant Content disabled Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: POOF The instant he referred to JWR
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Donald Gallant: Does she ever
val harris Poor chris I feel bad
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @val harris: Trust that I don't
Jos Allaire Reply to @val harris: Chris the foo!
Lou Bell
Reply to @val harris:
Left out of the " Phonie games " inner circle , as were many others !
Wouldn't tow the line when asked to forego house ethics !!! They didn't
want a house Speaker , they wanted a pahpett !!
Matt Steele Not
really surprising as it is well known that former ONE term Premier
Brian Gallant was known to use his position as Premier of N.B. for
personal gain . They should look into the 130 MILLION dollar
Francophonie games that Gallant tried to downplay the cost of , and how
Gallant hired his " Best Man " from his wedding to help organise them ,
all at the taxpayers expense. It should be interesting watching Gallant
being held accountable in this trial ; to bad the taxpayers are the ones
who have to pay to defend him . He should be paying to defend himself
since his personal actions caused it
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Jos Allaire: Moody bee go!
June Arnott Sue Gallant not the New Brunswick taxpayer
Jos Allaire
Reply to @June Arnott: Why should a former Premier have to pay to defend unfounded accusations?
Fred
Brewer
Reply to @Jos
Allaire: What are you talking about? After a lawsuit has been filed,
only a court of law can determine if the accusations are founded or
unfounded. You might believe the accusations are unfounded but that is
just your opinion. A judge will decide.
Cheryl MacLeod
Reply to @June
Arnott: Think of government as a company that tax payers own. When we
hire an employee, or n this case we vote them in, and that employee does
wrong,; as long as their actions are legal, it is unfortunately us who
pays.
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Fred
Brewer: Never said otherwise. Don't try to put words in my mouth. I just
said that until the allegations was proved, the former Premier is to be
defended at taxpayers' expense and that would include Higgs.
Fred
Brewer
Reply to @Jos
Allaire: No that is not what you said. You said "Why should a former
Premier have to pay to defend *UNFOUNDED* accusations?" This implies
two things:
1) that the accusations are unfounded.
2) that he should have to pay for his defense if the accusations were founded.
Your reply to my comment stated it correctly which is regardless of founded or unfounded, the province MUST defend Gallant.
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Exactly, you are implying things!
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Fred
Brewer: Furthermore, a plaintiff can allege anything in a Statement of
Claim. They remain to be proven. Any litigation lawyer worth his salt
will tell you that.
Fred
Brewer
Reply to @Jos
Allaire: Then why did you choose to say UNFOUNDED accusations. I was
being kind to say that was an implication; It is more a statement of
fact which turns out to be just your opinion.
Dan Lee 1st rule of cheating when caught......deny.....deny........swear while denying........and deny one more time....
David Peters SNC Lavalin did well with the Gallant liberals.
Dan Lee
Reply to @David Peters:
So did Irving with the libs or cons but that wasn't your agenda was it................
David Peters
Reply to @Dan Lee:
Everyone's agenda should be to get rid of corporate welfare and special
tax breaks, imo. Tax fairness and a level playing field in the business
world is in everyone's best interest.
Roland Stewart I don't think Chris was well like by the guys in Shediac.
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Roland Stewart: ... including many others!
Lou Bell
Reply to @Jos Allaire: Ne fitted in avec la partie de six au de Shediac ! Les spin doctors ont a rogue pah pett !
Lou Bell
Reply to @Roland Stewart: Uncontrolled Pah pett gone rogue ! " Eliminated by the Shediac 5 !
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Lou Bell: Two parle le she noah?
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Lou Bell: Two fe Ann foll the toi.
Lou Bell Even when voted out of office the Liberals just keep on takin' !!!
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Lou Bell: Collins is a renegade who would fit better with the CONservatives.
Jim Cyr
Reply to @Jos Allaire: How I regret my wasted years as a liberal......
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Jim Cyr: The only good Conservative was Richard Hatfield.
Jack Straw The best thing Brian Gallant ever did for NB was leave.
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Jack Straw: He still had more votes than Higgs.
Methinks all the MLAs recall that the sneaky SANB dude Kevin Arseneau of
the Watermelon Party after being barred from the legislature wanted to
be a LIEbrano MLA candidate N'esy Pas?
Replying to @DavidRayAmos@Kathryn98967631 and 49 others
Methinks
all the MLAs recall that the sneaky SANB dude Kevin Arseneau of the
Watermelon Party after being barred
from the legislature wanted to be a LIEbrano MLA candidate N'esy Pas?
Kevin Arseneau sera candidat à l'investiture libérale dans Kent-Nord
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Gallant, Premier Brian
(PO/CPM)" <Brian.Gallant@gnb.ca>
Date:
Mon, 5 Nov 2018 05:14:46 +0000
Subject: RE: SO Chucky Leblanc have you asked
your SANB buddy Kevin Arseneau,now of the Watermelon Party about being barred
from the legislature then wanting to be a LIEbrano MLA candidate or the
recent tip about him and SWN in YOUR blog?
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Thank
you for writing to the Premier of New Brunswick. Please be
assured that
your email will be reviewed.
If this is a media request, please forward
your email to media-medias@gnb.camed
ia-medias@gnb.ca
>.
Thank you!
******************************
*******
Nous vous
remercions d’avoir communiqué avec le premier ministre du
Nouveau-Brunswick.
Soyez assuré(e) que votre courriel sera examiné.
Si ceci est une demande
médiatique, prière de la transmettre à media-medias@gnb.camedia-medias@gnb.ca
>.
Merci!
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos
<motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date:
Mon, 5 Nov 2018 01:14:38 -0400
Subject: SO Chucky Leblanc have you asked your
SANB buddy Kevin Arseneau,now of the Watermelon Party about being barred from
the legislature then wanting to be a LIEbrano MLA candidate or the
recent tip about him and SWN in YOUR blog?
To: "Dominic.Cardy" <Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>,
"kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>,
Next
time you see this guy ask him why it was ok for him to work on the
shale gas project for SWN. He was an employee with Peregrinne Ventures
doing geochemistry
The New Brunswick election could be close with 5 parties hoping to gain seats on Monday
Daniel McHardie · CBC News · Posted: Sep 23, 2018 3:30 PM AT
Kent North
Green
candidate Kevin Arseneau is the high-profile Green candidate running in
Kent North. The Greens finished second in the eastern riding in 2014. (Tori Weldon/CBC)
Kent North,
which takes in the eastern communities of Rexton, Richibuto,
Rogersville and Saint-Louis-de-Kent, is a riding that has suddenly
become a curious race to watch.
The riding was won by the Liberals in 2014, but Bertrand LeBlanc decided not to reoffer in this campaign.
Liberal
candidate Emery Comeau is trying to hold onto the riding, but the
Greens are hoping that Kevin Arseneau may be able to break through.
The
Greens placed second in the riding in 2014, so there is a base of
support for the party in the riding. Arseneau is a former president of
the Acadian society and he had wanted to run for the Liberals in the
riding. However, the Liberals did not approve his candidacy, so Arseneau
switched to the Greens.
The Greens gave Arseneau's
campaign a boost in the final days of the campaign by sending
environmentalist David Suzuki to his riding.
Kevin Arseneau sera candidat à l'investiture libérale dans Kent-Nord
Kevin Arseneau, président de la SANB Photo : Radio-Canada
Moins d'un jour après avoir annoncé sa démission en
tant que président de la Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick
(SANB), Kevin Arseneau fait savoir qu'il sera candidat à l'investiture
libérale dans la circonscription de Kent Nord, en vue des élections
d'octobre 2018.
M.
Arseneau n'a pas été approché par le parti libéral, mais il affirme que
des résidents de la circonscription l'ont encouragé à se présenter.
À titre de président de la SANB également, il a été critique envers le gouvernement Gallant sur des questions comme le financement du bureau provincial du commissaire aux langues officielles.
Malgré
tout, il croit qu'il a sa place au sein du parti. « Je crois que c’est
la meilleure place pour contribuer à faire avancer ma communauté
actuellement. »
Il précise que les valeurs qu'il a défendues
jusqu'ici demeurent siennes, comme le respect de l'environnement, le
développement rural - il est copropriétaire d'une ferme dans la région
de Rogersville - et la qualité de l'éducation, de la petite enfance
jusqu'au niveau postsecondaire.
Contre l'épandage de glyphosate, Énergie Est
Il n'a pas l'intention, s'il est choisi candidat, puis député libéral, de suivre une ligne de parti stricte.
« [...]
J’ai complètement l’intention de demeurer moi-même, de parler
franchement. Y’a des décisions que je suis encore pas d’accord avec chez
les libéraux. L’environnement reste un enjeu important pour moi, le
glyphosate, je m’oppose à ça [...] Énergie Est, je crois qu’il y a
d’autres façons de développer l’économie donc j’ai l’intention d’aller
là et de continuer à être moi-même. »
Kevin Arseneau ne croit pas que le projet Énergie Est soit la meilleure
façon de développer l'économie de la province. Photo : TransCanada
S'il
n'a pas discuté avec le premier ministre Brian Gallant de sa
candidature, il affirme qu'un ancien ministre libéral très respecté,
Bernard Richard, est un « grand mentor ».
Tout comme Bernard
Richard, il estime appartenir au courant plus progressiste du parti.
« Je me considère de l’héritage de Louis Robichaud », lance-t-il.
Le député actuel de Kent-Nord, Bertrand LeBlanc, a annoncé qu'il ne se représenterait pas aux prochaines élections.
La
date de l'assemblée d'investiture de cette circonscription n'est pas
encore connue. Le directeur général de l'Association libérale du
Nouveau-Brunswick, Pete Belliveau, précise par courriel « qu'un certain
nombre de personnes sont intéressées à briguer l'investiture dans
[Kent-Nord] », mais que personne jusqu'ici - y compris Kevin Arseneau -
n'a déposé de formulaire de candidature.
Kevin Arseneau était
président de la SANB depuis octobre dernier. L'organisme de défense des
intérêts des Acadiens doit annoncer une présidence intérimaire dans les
prochaines heures.
Expulsé puis réadmis à l'Assemblée législative : Kevin Arseneau ne regrette rien
Kevin Arseneau, nouveau président de la Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick Photo : Twitter/@SANB2012
Kevin Arseneau, le nouveau président de la Société
de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick (SANB), dit qu'il pourrait refaire un
geste comme celui qui lui avait valu d'être expulsé et interdit de
séjour à l'Assemblée législative, à Fredericton.
Au
moment de l'incident, en avril 2015, il se trouvait dans la tribune de
l'Assemblée législative en tant que membre de l'Union nationale des
fermiers. Il s'est adressé publiquement aux députés durant leurs
travaux, ce qui est interdit. Il explique avoir agi ainsi après avoir
tenté pendant des mois et sans succès d'avoir une discussion avec son
député et d'autres intervenants au sujet du projet de loi du Parti vert
sur l'alimentation locale.
« J'étais extrêmement déçu. Donc, je me
suis levé debout et j'ai rappelé à certains députés avec qui j'ai déjà
parlé les engagements qu'ils avaient pris envers moi et envers les
fermiers lorsqu'ils étaient en train de voter contre ce projet de loi »,
a souligné Kevin Arseneau en entrevue à l'émission Le réveil Nouveau-Brunswick, d'ICI Acadie.
L'agriculteur militant est devenu président de la SANB le 23 octobre
dernier. Il croit toujours que son geste à l'Assemblée législative était
nécessaire.
Cette journée-là, si c'était à refaire,
je le referais probablement parce qu'il y avait des choses qui devaient
être dites, et lorsque le peuple appelle les députés et qu'on ignore les
gens pour des raisons purement idéologiques [...] les gens prennent la
parole là où ils peuvent.
Le
président de la Chambre, Chris Collins, a envoyé récemment une lettre à
Kevin Arseneau pour lui annoncer que sa présence était à nouveau
autorisée à l'Assemblée législative.
« Dans le cadre de vos
nouvelles fonctions en tant que président de la Société de l'Acadie du
Nouveau-Brunswick, vous représentez un large segment de la population du
Nouveau-Brunswick. Par conséquent, en vertu des pouvoirs qui me sont
conférés en tant que président de l'Assemblée législative et avec vos
nouvelles fonctions, j'ai décidé de faire une exception et d'annuler
votre interdiction de séjour », peut-on lire dans la lettre de Chris
Collins à Kevin Arseneau.
Les députés du Nouveau-Brunswick
entreprennent mercredi après-midi une nouvelle session de travaux
législatifs. Kevin Arseneau sera présent, mais les députés n'ont pas à
craindre de sa part un nouveau geste d'éclat. « Aujourd'hui, on va
écouter le discours du Trône et on commentera par après », dit-il.
Liberal Brian Gallant was premier of New Brunswick from 2014 to 2018. (CBC)
Wed, Apr 5, 2023 at 12:38 PM
Green
candidate Kevin Arseneau is the high-profile Green candidate running in
Kent North. The Greens finished second in the eastern riding in 2014. (Tori Weldon/CBC)
Kevin Arseneau ne croit pas que le projet Énergie Est soit la meilleure
façon de développer l'économie de la province. Photo : TransCanada 
Kevin Arseneau, nouveau président de la Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick Photo : Twitter/@SANB2012
