https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/melanson-won-t-run-for-leadership-1.6318880
Melanson says no to N.B. Liberal leadership run
Interim leader says he'll leave position on Aug. 6
In a written statement, Melanson acknowledged he'd been thinking of running but said he had decided against it.
"After careful consideration and conversations with family and close friends, I have decided that I will not put my name forward in this leadership race," he said.
In a media scrum at the legislature in December, Melanson would not rule out becoming a candidate.
Traditionally, interim party leaders commit when they're selected to not run for the permanent leadership position, but there's no rule prohibiting it.
Melanson, a former finance minister and an MLA since 2010, became interim leader after the party lost the 2020 provincial election, which saw then-leader Kevin Vickers fail to win a seat in the legislature.
The Liberals will choose a new leader Aug. 6.
There are three declared candidates for the leadership now. Former Tobique-Mactaquac MP T.J. Harvey and former MLA and cabinet minister Donald Arseneault have launched campaigns, and Saint John-area entrepreneur Seamus Byrne has told other media organizations he is running.
None of them are current MLAs.
Melanson also said in his statement that he'll no longer be leader of the Official Opposition as of Aug. 6.
That will allow the new leader of the party, if they're not an MLA themselves, to choose a sitting, elected member for the parliamentary role.
In the email to reporters with Melanson's statement, Liberal director of communications Ashley Beaudin said Melanson would not be granting interviews about his decision.
I hear Shaun Graham may throw his hat into the ring.
Saint John, NB, Canada / The Wave
Robert Lothian
Jan 18, 2022 | 7:08 AM
"New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs continues to find himself in the doghouse, at least according to the results of a recent poll.
Findings from an Angus Reid Institute survey published Monday revealed the premier’s approval rating has reached an all-time low of 34 per cent.
This drop places Higgs in the same territory as Ontario Premier Doug Ford (30 per cent) and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney (26 per cent)."
Marcel Belanger
No comments:
Post a Comment