Re: Push to remove Blaine Higgs as PC leader suffers setback
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Wed, Aug 2, 2023 at 6:44 PM |
| To: jean-pierre.ouellet@haut-madawaska.com, jpouelle21@gmail.com, john.williston@dplwireless.com, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca, mphillip@nbnet.nb.ca, edinnb@gmail.com | |
| Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, "Jacques.Poitras" <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, "Robert. Jones" <Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>, dominic.cardy@gnb.ca | |
https://davidraymondamos3. Monday, 31 July 2023 Push to remove Blaine Higgs as PC leader suffers setback | |
Push to remove Blaine Higgs as PC leader suffers setback
Party president says rebels fell short of threshold, sets Aug. 19 as deadline to try again
Party president Erika Hachey told members in a letter Monday morning that there weren't enough valid letters from party members to meet the threshold to trigger the next step in the process.
"I have determined that the requirements have not been satisfied," she wrote.
"The leadership review process has not been triggered."
But Hachey added that people who submitted letters — and other current PC members — will be given until Aug. 19 to submit valid letters.
John
Williston, a regional vice-president of the Progressive Conservative
Party, says the premier shouted at the member of the PC provincial
council on the weekend. (Submitted by John Williston)
The party's regional vice-president in southeast New Brunswick, John Williston, who wants Higgs removed, said he and others will "absolutely" try to meet that deadline.
"I firmly believe that we will make every effort possible to push forward with the process."
Madawaska Les Lacs-Edmundston PC riding president Jean-Pierre Ouellet, who signed one of the letters, said he was "surprised and not surprised" by the party's ruling.
Even so, he said, the letters show "that Premier Higgs has lost the confidence of most of the PC ridings in the province."
WATCH | Here's what the PC party must do to oust Higgs as leader:
Earlier this month, Tories unhappy with Higgs's leadership submitted what they believed were the required letters from at least 50 party members, including presidents of at least 20 PC riding associations.
They said the total from presidents was 26, representing a majority of the 49 ridings.
But Hachey says in her letter that after a review and some legal advice, "over 40" letters were from current party members, and only 15 were from actual riding association presidents.
Her letter doesn't explain why the other letters were ruled invalid.
More transparency needed
Ouellet said he believes the pro-review organizers can find five more riding presidents to sign letters, but he said he would talk to counterparts to see if it's worth continuing to fight what he called "a machine where we have no chance."
PC supporters wanting Higgs removed cited what they called his top-down management style and his straying from the values of the party.
The move followed the resignations of two ministers in the wake of a controversial review of Policy 713, which sets out minimum standards for safe, inclusive classrooms for LGBTQ students.
Ouellet and Williston said the party should be transparent and provide more of an explanation.
"We're really lacking detail," Williston said, questioning whether some memberships were out-of-date or whether there were other reasons some letters were invalidated.
Provincial council meets in September
Hachey said the party's provincial council, the body that would approve holding a leadership review convention, will meet Sept. 9.
That makes Aug. 19 the cutoff for submitting valid letters.
Under party rules, if enough letters are submitted, the provincial council must vote on whether to schedule a convention.
A two-thirds vote in favour would then require the party to schedule a convention within three months.
Hachey turned down an interview request. Her letter said that she would have no further comment "unless necessary."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
137 Comments
David Amos
The plot thickens
Paul Peacock
How about a story on how many people are supportive of the Premier? I wonder if there is a silent majority of supporters.
David Amos
Reply to Paul Peacock
They are Legion
Pete Parent
Reply to Paul Peacock
I would be silent too if i was supporting such ungracious people.
John Montgomery
Reply to Paul Peacock
According to the article, it's a minority of ridings.
Jos Allaire
It does not really matter. If they do not turf him, we'll do it for them at the next general election.
David Amos
Reply to Jos Allaire
You know who will be the next Premier as well as I
Murray Brown
Something smells fishy.
David Amos
Reply to Murray Brown
Its summertime in the Maritimes Everything smells fishy theses days
http://davidraymondamos3.
Wednesday, 21 June 2023
PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support ousting Higgs
Your post titled "PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support
ousting Higgs" has been reinstated
David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Mon, Jun 26, 2023 at 4:45 PM
To: john.williston@dplwireless.com, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Phillips <mphillip@nbnet.nb.ca>
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2023 19:57:55 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: RE PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support
ousting Higgs
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I'm not sure who you are David Amos, but you and most of your follows do
not seem to understand the procedure spelled out in the constitution of
the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick for making a
leadership review happen. If and when these so called letters are
delivered to the president of the Party and the numbers meet the
criteria then and only then will the process begins. The first step of
this procedure could be referred to as "a shot across the bow". When you
read the constitution you will see that the process maybe aborted at the
next step if a 2/3 majority of the Provincial Council is not achieved.
After attending the meeting on Saturday, I'm not sure if a 2/3 majority
can be achieved. In the mean time, Premier Higgs will be working on
resolving the rifts in his caucus. We will see how that goes. He does
appear to be remorseful and sincerely interested in changing his
management style. He does recognize many of his mistakes and I guess
that would be the first step.
I also want to tell you that under no circumstances is Dominic Cardy or
Jody Carr spokesmen for the PC Party of New Brunswick. Even though they
are members of PCNB, both of these gentleman are in the political
wilderness and are only commenting to the media for their own self
interests, not the Party. Mr Cardy claims he is a member in good
standing of PCNB. Member yes, good standing NO. I have talked with many,
many members of the Party in the past year and only one admits to being
an ally of Mr Cardy. I have no idea why the media flocks to him each
time there is a new development in New Brunswick politics. His opinion
has zero value to most people in the Province. If the media wanted to
renew their credibility they would stop interviewing him.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Blogger <no-reply@google.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2023 19:42:19 +0000
Subject: Your post titled "PC rebels say majority of riding presidents
support ousting Higgs" has been reinstated
To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Hello,
We have re-evaluated the post titled "PC rebels say majority of riding
presidents support ousting Higgs" against Community Guidelines
https://blogger.com/go/
reinstated. You may access the post at
http://davidraymondamos3.
Sincerely,
The Blogger Team
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: edinnb <edinnb@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 12:54:48 -0300
Subject: RE: Hey Eddy why play dumb? You know who I am and what I have
been up to in a very public fashion in our neck of the woods for the
past 20 years
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Ok, I just didn't get the reference, yea you've been stirring the pot
for year's and I did watch a few of your YouTube videos. Ya can't
fight the man alone.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: edinnb <edinnb@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 11:36:35 -0300
Subject: RE: Hey Eddy did you forget I side with Higgy on 713 or the
letter I got from BHP before he was elected in 2010 and CBC published
your opinion?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
713 is a bullshit policy for all this controversy, in reality it
relaxed the rules for older kids. As for the rest of the email, I'm
not sure what you are saying.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: edinnb <edinnb@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 10:50:22 -0300
Subject: RE: Hey Higgy Why can't anyone see this for what it is?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Do you really think school districts have the power to change policy?
Thisisnothing more than sabre rattling by people who think they are
above the rule of law. BTW current policy is, all students can request
teachers, staff, and administrators address them by their chosen
pronouns and preferred name but require parental permission to change
said names and pronouns on their Official Record. The new policy
allows those that are 16 and up to change their Official Record but
those under 16 still require Parental Consent.See how the media has
misrepresented the facts of this?
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: edinnb <edinnb@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 10:09:46 -0300
Subject: Re: RE PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support
ousting Higgs
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Rebels are full of crap
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Auto-reply from gamfarms@nb.sympatico.ca" <gamfarms@nb.sympatico.ca>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 08:03:15 -0400
Subject: Re: RE PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support
ousting Higgs
- Hide quoted text -
To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Please not that this email is no longer in service.
Send all future emails to:
marcel@gampotatoesinc.com
Thank you!
Marcel Michaud
GAM Potato farms inc.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:03:12 -0300
Subject: Re: RE PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support
ousting Higgs
To: "Bill.Oliver" <Bill.Oliver@gnb.ca>, jeremy_salgado@hotmail.com,
eolsen@quispamsis.ca, grantbrenan@hotmail.ca,
jacobstackhouse@hotmail.com, corbenp@hotmail.com,
brooklyn.galbraith@gmail.com, balcomb@nbnet.nb.ca,
glennhawkins224@gmail.com, jenniferurquhart992@gmail.com,
chrisamcmorrow@gmail.com, markpe32@gmail.com, mphillip@nbnet.nb.ca,
willforall@mail.com, andrewtkeezer@gmail.com,
kellywilson9294@gmail.com, toolsofengagement@gmail.com,
jd.grant@rogers.com, snd_mcisaac@hotmail.com, chasmac@nbnet.nb.ca,
gamfarms@nb.sympatico.ca, jacqueline.carrier@bellaliant.
jpouelle21@gmail.com
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, David.Coon@gnb.ca,
"Arseneau, Kevin (LEG)" <kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca>, "Mitton, Megan
(LEG)" <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, "Holland, Mike (LEG)"
<mike.holland@gnb.ca>, "Bill.Hogan" <Bill.Hogan@gnb.ca>, "kris.austin"
<kris.austin@gnb.ca>, "michelle.conroy" <michelle.conroy@gnb.ca>
- Hide quoted text -
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Blaine Higgs drops 2 rebellious ministers in cabinet shuffle
Daniel Allain and Jeff Carr are out, replaced by newcomers
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 27, 2023 9:27 AM ADT
Collage of two photos of two men in blue suits MLAs Jeff Carr, left,
and Daniel Allain are no longer on Premier Blaine Higgs' cabinet.
(CBC)
Premier Blaine Higgs has reasserted his authority over his fractured
Progressive Conservative government by dumping two ministers who voted
against him on the contentious issue of New Brunswick's school
gender-identity policy.
In a cabinet shuffle Tuesday, Higgs dropped Local Government Minister
Daniel Allain and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Jeff
Carr, sending them to the backbenches.
He made it clear that their breaking ranks in a key vote on Policy 713
had cost them their jobs, violating the principle of cabinet
solidarity.
"To go outside of that and to basically feel that it doesn't matter if
you're in cabinet or not — it does matter. And to not address the
situation is really putting the government in a very vulnerable
position," Higgs told reporters after a 9 a.m. swearing-in.
"We have to respect the parliamentary system that we're in, the
sanctity of cabinet, and the fact we'll have very frank and open
discussion in cabinet or in caucus, but in cabinet you have to have
solidarity."
Man in blue suit stepping out of black car Premier Blaine Higgs
arrives at Government House for a cabinet shuffle on Tuesday. (Jacques
Poitras/CBC)
The new additions to cabinet are Carleton-York MLA Richard Ames,
Moncton South MLA Greg Turner and St. Croix MLA Kathy Bockus. All are
first-timers as ministers.
Rejoining cabinet are Moncton Southwest MLA Sherry Wilson, who was in
cabinet from 2018 to 2020, and Oromocto-Lincoln-Fredericton MLA Mary
Wilson, who was shuffled out of cabinet last fall.
Allain and Carr make four ministers no longer in Higgs's cabinet.
WATCH | 'Cabinet support is paramount,' Higgs says:
Blaine Higgs explains why he dropped two cabinet ministers
Duration 1:20
Daniel Allain and Jeff Carr are out of New Brunswick’s cabinet.
Replacing them are new additions including Carleton-York MLA Richard
Ames, Moncton South MLA Greg Turner and St. Croix MLA Kathy Bockus.
The two other ministers, Dorothy Shephard and Trevor Holder, resigned,
both of them citing Higgs's leadership style that they said was at
odds with the values and traditions of the PC party.
All four voted with the opposition parties on June 15 to help pass a
Liberal motion calling for more consultations on Policy 713, which
sets out protections for LGBTQ students in provincial schools.
Higgs claimed that day that the vote was not whipped, but he said
Tuesday "I never made it a free vote, either."
WATCH | Catch up on why the N.B. government changed a policy aimed at
protecting LGBTQ students:
CBC News Explains: How did the New Brunswick government change Policy 713?
Duration 2:19
New Brunswick's Department of Education made several changes to a
policy designed to protect LGBTQ students, affecting sections on
self-identification, extracurricular activities and washrooms.
In the past, the premier has often tolerated minor acts of dissent in
his cabinet and caucus, referring to it as "a diverse group" that has
pushed the envelope the same way he did when he was the outspoken
finance minister in the Alward government.
But on Policy 713 Higgs has signalled he was losing patience.
"To take a position against the government in the legislature, voting
in the legislature, is very significant," he said Tuesday.
Carr and Allain both said Tuesday they understood from Higgs that it
was to be a free vote.
"Obviously the definition of free vote differs from one individual to
another," Allain said.
Both former ministers said they were questioning their futures in politics.
Allain said he was pondering whether "maybe there are other ways" for
him to serve, given the party "is in a crisis. … I'm asking the
question: is it worth the fight?"
He wouldn't say whether he supports the push for a review of Higgs's
leadership.
Medium shot of woman in grey suit smiling at a person off camera
Moncton Southwest MLA Sherry Wilson at Government House on Tuesday,
where she was appointed to cabinet. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Carr said he won't run in next year's provincial election if the
premier is still leading the party.
He said he was disappointed but understands why he was removed from
cabinet and did not regret his vote on Policy 713.
Carr insisted that the opposition motion called for exactly what the
PC caucus had been promised by Higgs — a role for the child and youth
advocate in determining if the policy changes were legally sound.
He also wished the new ministers well in Higgs's cabinet.
"If they feel satisfied with that type of leadership and governing,
then that's okay. I don't judge them for that."
Higgs told reporters after the shuffle he'll try to reach out to
unhappy grassroots members of the Progressive Conservative party, some
of whom are organizing to remove him as leader
"I think we have some building to do, there's no question of that," Higgs said.
"I need to play a key role in that, reaching out to the membership,
the executives throughout the province, and be able to sit down and
have some very good discussions."
New ministers proclaim support for premier
"I can guarantee you he doesn't have to ask me" about my loyalty, Mary
Wilson told reporters.
"I have no problem with our premier. I think he does a great job."
Ames proclaimed that "it's a new day, a new team, new cabinet, great
caucus — we're moving forward."
And Turner, who chaired the PC caucus until Tuesday, rejected the
claims by Shephard and Holder that Higgs didn't listen to his MLAs.
WATCH | The CBC's Jacques Poitras explains the process the governing
PC party must follow for dissenters to remove Blaine Higgs as leader:
CBC Explains: How does a leadership review work?
Duration 1:19
The CBC’s Jacques Poitras walks us through each step the PC party must
go through to remove a sitting premier.
"In any caucus meetings I was in, absolutely. I was in all the caucus
meetings. Absolutely," he said.
"Like any team, there has been a leader and there has been people who
support the leader," Turner said. "I have full confidence in his
leadership abilities for sure. There's no question about that."
Ames replaces Carr as minister of transportation and infrastructure,
while Saint John East MLA Glen Savoie gets a promotion by taking over
Allain's local government portfolio.
Allain was the senior francophone minister in government, representing
a language community with few MLAs in the PC caucus.
"He'll continue to be a valued member in our caucus and I'm sure he'll
continue to represent the community," Higgs said.
Woman in blue suit and yellow shirt, walking with umbrella and smiling
at camera Arlene Dunn arrives at Government House for a cabinet
shuffle on Tuesday. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Carr, Allain, Shephard, Holder and two other ministers, Arlene Dunn
and Jill Green, signed a statement earlier this month complaining
about a lack of transparency and process in the government's review of
Policy 713.
Dunn, who missed the June 15 vote but said the next day she'd have
voted with the opposition, remains in cabinet and takes over the
post-secondary education, labour and training duties that Holder held.
Asked why he kept her in cabinet, Higgs told reporters that "I know if
someone had been there, they might have done differently … but the
fact is they weren't there and they didn't stand against the
government."
Dunn told reporters after the cabinet shuffle that her issue had been
with Policy 713.
"I didn't think we should have touched that. I think we should have
stayed away from it," she said.
But beyond that, "I do have confidence in the leadership of the premier."
Poilievre tells Trudeau to 'butt out' of New Brunswick's policy on
LGBTQ students
Green also missed the June 15 vote and later said she didn't know how
she would have voted.
She's been promoted to minister of social development and also holds
on to the housing file, with her provincial housing strategy expected
to be released this week.
Opposition Liberal leader Susan Holt did not mention the internal PC
party turmoil in a tweet congratulating the new ministers.
"Our team is ready to work with you to address the issues most
important to New Brunswickers," she wrote.
New minister responsibilities:
Richard Ames — Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure,
former backbencher.
Jill Green — Minister of Social Development and responsible for
Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation; still responsible for New
Brunswick Housing Corporation,but no longer the Minister of Service
New Brunswick.
Arlene Dunn — Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and
Labour, remains Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Minister
responsible for Immigration; no longer responsible for Economic
Development and Small Business and Opportunities N.B.
Greg Turner — Minister responsible for Opportunities N.B. and
Economic Development and Small Business, former backbencher.
Glen Savoie — Minister of Local Government and still responsible
for la Francophonie.
Mary Wilson — Minister of Service New Brunswick and responsible
for Military Affairs; former backbencher shuffled out of cabinet last
fall.
Tammy Scott-Wallace — remains Minister of Tourism, Heritage and
Culture, but no longer Minister responsible for Women's Equality.
Sherry Wilson — Minister responsible for Women's Equality and for
Addictions and Mental Health Services; minister from 2018 to 2020 who
became a backbencher after the 2020 election.
Kathy Bockus — Minister responsible for Seniors, former backbencher.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jacques Poitras
Provincial Affairs reporter
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.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
780 Comments
David Amos
"We serve at the pleasure of the premier."
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Food for thought on the BBQ circuit this summer.
What if a new right wing political party is created in NB and Higgy
dissolves the PC Party like his buddy Austin did with the PANB
recently and MacKay did 20 years ago?
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to David Amos
Methinks quite a circus would begin if Higgy joined the new party as
its interim leader N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Methinks Higgy just sealed the deal to go to war with Mr Allian and
his pals Now they will battle for the Leadership N'esy Pas?
David Amos
I maintain Danny Boy will win the battle for leadership
Ed Armstrong
Reply to David Amos
If there is a leadership convention than that is a distinct
possibility but there has to be a vacancy at the top first and with 15
months to go before an election, there is no way to dispose of the
current leader, hold a leadership race and convention and have the new
leader prepared to fight an election and win. Danny Boy is not stupid
enough to cut off his nose to spite his face. He's a much smarter man
than I am (I think), if I can read the timeline, I'm sure he can as
well. He would be in much better shape to wait till after the Sept
2024 election and step into a leadership race at that point if a
vacancy at the top occurs.
David Amos
Reply to Ed Armstrong
Are you dudes gonna send me some more butter tarts if I am right?
David Amos
Reply to Ed Armstrong
BTW The caucus can get rid of Higgy and appoint an interim leader
Ed Armstrong
Reply to David Amos
No, only the party can dump the leader. That is the big difference
between Britian's Westminster System and Canada's. Britian's Caucus
does elect the leader and can dump them at any time. In Canada all
Party Members have the right to vote for their leader and under the
rules can bit them out as well. I definitely like our rules better.
David Amos
Reply to Ed Armstrong
There more than one way to skin a cat
Dee MacDonald
The silent majority has the final say.
David Amos
Reply to Dee MacDonald
I concur
Marcel Belanger
Reply to Dee MacDonald
Not yet...not yet.
Robert Borden
Reply to Dee MacDonald
Over half the party ridings want a leadership review. Seems the
majority isn't silent, and so far haven't the say.
Craig McMaster
Reply to Dee MacDonald
When Higgs' own Party is turning on him, I don't think he has the
majority anymore...
val harris
Higgs has added to his Puppet show .. NB is in for a real treat...
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to val harris
I will trade you some popcorn for peanuts
Sterling Wright
Reply to val harris
Well we are in for something. But I don't think treat is quite the right word.
David Amos
Reply to Sterling Wright
Not for you perhaps but lots of us are getting quite a chuckle
Dacre Gushue
I still think Arlene Dunn should be out as well. She did sign the
letter and "missed" the vote.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Dacre Gushue
Why not ask the Fat Fred City Finest why her position is secure?
Rachel Woods
Content Deactivated
Reply to Dacre Gushue
Sterling Wright
Reply to Rachel Woods
That has always been the case for the old parties
val harris
Where is Lou Bell?
Ben Haroldson
Reply to val harris
He's in Freddy getting sworn in.
David Amos
Reply to val harris
Hiding under a rock
Mac Isaac
What I see as most disappointing...let's face it: Higgs is a huge
disappointment, but what is most disappointing is that the provincial
cabinet is now completely filled with a bunch of Higgs sycophants who
will toe the party line but not really offer new thoughts or hopes for
the people of New Brunswick.
David Amos
Reply to Mac Isaac
Welcome back to the circus
Andrew Martin
Reply to Mac Isaac
You may believe Higgs is a disappointment, but that is your opinion,
not fact. If he was such a disappointment, he wouldn't have been
re-elected with a majority. Opinions dont equate to fact.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Andrew Martin
Methinks Higgy won because Vickers lost N'esy Pas?
Jake Quinlan
Reply to Andrew Martin
Rode the Covid wave (or lack of Covid in NB in 2020).
Benny Swim
Reply to Mac Isaac
That was then and this is now. Even Poitras now seems to understand
who Higgs is. Half the PCs in the province (over half of the local
riding presidents have asked him to resign) will stay home if an
election is called. That is an opinion and not fact.
They will be bolstered by the fact that Susan Holt and the Liberals
have not given any reason for them or us to think she/they will govern
much differently then the PCs. In that they will keep the fee cuts for
billionaires on crown land, and tax free living for the Irving
enterprises.
NBers should make sure that neither the Liberals or the Conservatives
get a majority the next time we vote. Look what happens when we don't
do that. The premier of the day begins to think that the province
belongs to him/her and their advisors.
Benny Swim
Reply to Benny Swim
The above comment was meant for Andrew Martin, not Mac Isaac.
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to Andrew Martin
How is your opinion fact?
Roland Stewart
Reply to Mac Isaac
None of them could care less about Higgs or his policies or the people
of the province. They are there for the money and perks that come with
the job.
Sterling Wright
Reply to Mac Isaac
You nailed it
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to Benny Swim
You’re right, the Liberals under Holt need to prove that they are not
the Party of the past. They have to show NBers that the billionaires
will finally lose power, that regular folks will not be footing the
bills while watching our services collapse. Watching the Legislature
(as little of it there is) there seems to be hope in some of these new
Liberal MLAs and Leader. Now they have to start proving it’s for real,
not something that disappears the minute they take power. NBs are fed
up with that scenario.
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to Benny Swim
And you’re absolutely right on the need for a Minority Government.
Ross Wetmore said in the Legislature that for all his years (13) in
Government, the 2018 Minority Government was the best he had worked
in. He seemed very emotional about what has become of Government in
NB.
Robert Borden
Reply to Andrew Martin
Over half the party ridings are calling for a leadership review,
that's a fact, and also shows significant disappointment within the
party. At least a third of his Cabinet, at least until this move, was
also in open rebellion against him. That certainly shows a significant
level of disappointment within his own elected members.
Your provided "fact" is a vote that is only for his riding, not for
him as leader. In Alberta Kenney's UPC got elected with a strong
majority yet he was ousted by his party. What you've outlined as
"fact" is basically the scenario that happened in Alberta.
Andrew Martin
Reply to Robert Borden
I guess we'll see what happen with the next election. The ridings may
be calling for a review, but are the actual voters calling for it? We
dont really know 100%, we can estimate, poll etc, but we dont really
know whats on every voters mind until election time.
Andrew Martin
Reply to Donald LeBlanc
Winning a democratically instituted voting system where you win the
majority of votes should be enough evidence of the majority agreeing.
Therefore its not an opinion, but a fact.
Ross Mills
Reply to Andrew Martin
Higgs's job is to represent the views of the people who voted for him.
If he caves, it will be a huge disappointment for those who voted for
him. If necessary, he may need to call an election to prove this.
Robert Borden
Reply to Andrew Martin
Again, voters vote for their MLA, the party votes for the leader. Even
if voters want the conservatives to remain in power, it doesn't mean
they want Higgs as their premier.
Same thing happened in Alberta with Kenney, and quite possibly will
happen with Smith, and I'd even go so far as including the federal
Liberals with Trudeau.
Higgs doesn't seem to have the support of his party and it could be
completely irrelevant what the voters want. If the party wants him
out, he'll be gone.
Andrew Martin
Reply to Robert Borden
And if the voters wanted him running it and the party votes him out,
then they may get voted out
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to Andrew Martin
It’s also a fact that the unvaccinated Pandemic Election Majority was
won with 26% of eligible voters. This was after success in a Minority
Government scenario with Higgs near the top in the approval rating
polls. The opinion is that after receiving his Majority it seems that
was the beginning of his missteps and downward trend, IMO.
claude bourgeois
Can't call them Progressive Conservatives anymore. Just Conservatives.
Jake Quinlan
Reply to claude bourgeois
Chip off the federal block. They hired that consultant from western
canada - here we are.
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to claude bourgeois
Just what Higgs wants. Guess PP is in the area, two peas in a pod.
Another use for the initials PP.
David Amos
Reply to claude bourgeois
C'est Vrai
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Higgs accused of launching 'vicious' attack on PC critic during Saturday meeting
Former president tells premier to ‘get over it’ ahead of Tuesday cabinet shuffle
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 26, 2023 11:04 AM ADT
A man with grey hair and glasses, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and
tie, speaks to reporters. New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is facing
a revolt within his Progressive Conservative caucus and in the party.
(CBC)
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has been accused of launching "a
vicious verbal attack" against a member of the provincial Progressive
Conservative party's governing body who questioned his leadership.
Regional vice-president John Williston said the premier was "over the
top" and "aggressive" when he shouted at the member of the PC
provincial council on the weekend.
"He was clearly in a complete rage," Williston told CBC's Information
Morning Fredericton.
"If this is how the premier speaks to his cabinet, if this is how the
premier communicates with his caucus, it's clearly a toxic work
environment that none of us would be willing to accept in our own
places of business."
Higgs is facing a revolt within his PC caucus and in the party over
his leadership style, which critics say is a top-down system that
ignores expertise and allows little input from ministers and MLAs.
Medium shot of man smiling at camera John Williston, a regional
vice-president of the Progressive Conservative Party, says the premier
shouted at a member of the PC provincial council on the weekend.
(Submitted by John Williston)
Two ministers, Dorothy Shephard and Trevor Holder, have resigned from
his cabinet in the last two weeks over their concerns about his
approach.
Higgs's spokesperson Nicolle Carlin told CBC News on Monday morning
that the premier will shuffle his cabinet on Tuesday.
Two other ministers, Daniel Allain and Jeff Carr, joined Shephard and
Holder in voting against the government on June 15.
WATCH | Daniel Allain on current state of the PC party:
PC arguments about Higgs are 'arduous, tumultuous and in the public,'
minister says
Duration 1:10
Daniel Allain comments on an internal battle within New Brunswick's
governing Progressive Conservative party. Premier Blaine Higgs has
come under fire inside caucus and across the party.
Allain said Monday afternoon he hadn't been told yet if he'd still be
a minister on Tuesday.
"There's a process," he said at a news conference in Grand Bouctouche.
"We serve at the pleasure of the premier."
Allain and the three other ministers helped to pass an opposition
Liberal motion calling for further consultations on the government's
Policy 713, which sets out protections for LGBTQ+ students in schools.
WATCH | Jacques Poitras breaks down what rebelling PCs need to do to
remove a sitting premier:
CBC Explains: How does a leadership review work?
Duration 1:19
The CBC’s Jacques Poitras walks us through each step the PC party must
go through to remove a sitting premier.
All four helped to pass an opposition Liberal motion calling for
further consultations on the government's Policy 713, which sets out
protections for LGBTQ students in schools.
That vote crystallized a growing discontent within the party that
Shephard said goes far beyond just Policy 713.
School year wraps up with bitterness and uncertainty among teachers
Premier Higgs says he won't resign after calls for his removal
Former party president Claude Williams said last week that there are
letters from presidents of 26 PC riding associations asking for a
leadership review — more than the 20 required to force the provincial
council to vote on whether to hold a vote.
Higgs looks at 'path forward'
Williston said the letters weren't submitted at Saturday's meeting
because the number continues to grow, with two more presidents signing
on after the meeting because of the premier's behaviour.
Higgs said on Saturday that there was "a good frank open discussion
here and I think we have a path forward."
Asked about Williams telling reporters he was disappointed in comments
by the premier in the meeting, Higgs said his remarks were "about team
building, it was about us working together and having good discussions
internally."
But Williston said Higgs's comments were "almost borderline shocking."
WATCH | In May, Higgs called for a controversial review of Policy 713:
Premier Blaine Higgs defends his government's review of Policy 713
Duration 2:03
Higgs says schools should have to inform parents if a child under 16
wants to change their names or pronouns, and young children should not
be exposed to drag queen storytimes.
He also said the premier's critics tried to introduce a motion to
schedule a special meeting of the council before the fall to deal with
the leadership review issue but were ruled out of order based on
procedure.
"Some people in the party are trying to to rag the puck," he said.
PC party president Erika Hachey, who ran Saturday's meeting, said
Monday morning she had no comment on Williston's description of the
discussion.
Williston said Higgs claimed in the meeting he was blameless for the
party's poor election showings in francophone New Brunswick, pointing
the finger instead at what he called negative coverage in the
French-language newspaper L'Acadie Nouvelle.
LISTEN | John Williston and Brian Harquail tell Information Morning
host Jeanne Armstrong it's time for Blaine Higgs to resign:
Information Morning - Fredericton15:12
PC party rebellion
Are the days numbered for Blaine Higgs as leader of New Brunswick's
PC party? Jeanne Armstrong spoke to two party members who say it's
time for the Premier to take a final bow. John Williston, a regional
vice-president with the party, and Brian Harquail, former PC party
president and one of the people who signed the letter calling for
Higgs to resign.
Former PC party president Brian Harquail, who did not attend the
meeting, told Information Morning that if Higgs can't unite his caucus
and his party, he doesn't deserve to be governing New Brunswick.
"I was elected twice as president and we have a reputation of eating
our young, and blaming somebody else for our own mistakes," he said.
"Well, it's time we took control and started to lead the party in the
right direction."
'Things are going to escalate'
Harquail was one of four former presidents who signed a letter last
week calling on Higgs to resign to avoid a divisive, drawn-out
leadership review fight.
He scoffed at Higgs blaming negative media coverage for his lack of
popularity in francophone New Brunswick.
Another N.B. cabinet minister quits as turmoil over Higgs's
leadership deepens
5 questions answered about the LGBTQ school policy debate
"To attack the newspaper for doing their job is childish and shows a
very, very strong lack of leadership," he said.
"Get over it, Blaine, because that's life and that's the way it is.
And you wanted the job, so let's get on with it."
Mediu shot of man in suit Former Progressive Conservative party
president Claude Williams previously said there are letters from
presidents of 26 PC riding associations asking for a leadership
review. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Williston said far from calming down, he believes that "things are
going to escalate" in the party's internal battle.
He said the premier will eventually have to realize that he can no
longer govern and that an election would be a risk now because many PC
members in local riding associations won't work for him as leader.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jacques Poitras
Provincial Affairs reporter
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.
With files from CBC Information Morning Fredericton
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
1109 Comments
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Methinks Higgy's beloved caucus may turn on him in short order now
that only 17 of them got a new car and a big raise N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Somebody has attacked my blog about this nonsense 11 times since
yesterday afternoon and I have a pretty good idea who is doing it
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Methinks Higgy just sealed the deal to go to war with Mr Allian and
his pals Now they will battle for the Leadership N'esy Pas?
David Amos
"We serve at the pleasure of the premier."
I continue to maintain that Daniel Allain will be the next Leader/Premier
Kyle Woodman
Reply to David Amos
You might be on to something. He managed the optics of municipal
reform fairly well given how unpopular it was.
Don Corey
Reply to David Amos
I hope you’re right on the next leader. If indeed it’s Allain, he’ll
also win the next election and the libs will no longer have Higgs to
continually complain about.
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
More importantly he is French Minister in Moncton and a Bernie Lord buddy
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Ya think lol?
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Ben Haroldson
It could have been a complete disaster given how angry people were.
Given the context I think he handled it with some competency. I don't
really know much about Allain. Seems to know when to keep his head
down.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Hanwell man sues NB Liquor over agency store contract
Moncton's Power Plus Technology won the agency store contract
CBC News · Posted: Apr 23, 2013 9:35 AM ADT
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
Alward appoints faithful to key positions
CBC News · Posted: Oct 14, 2010 6:49 AM ADT
New Brunswick Premier David Alward appointed Tory faithful to key
deputy minister posts Thursday, reversing a vow to change the way in
which appointments are made by the provincial government.
The appointments include Daniel Allain to the key position of
president and chief executive officer of NB Liquor. Dana Clendenning,
the Liberal-appointed president of the Crown corporation, left his
position last week with a taxpayer-funded severance package.
Previous premiers Shawn Graham and Bernard Lord both selected party
loyalists for the job, which pays between $150,000 and $175,000 per
year.
David Amos
"But Mark Paul-Elias, the president of the PC's Fredericton-Grand Lake
Riding Association, said the majority of the party stands behind the
premier"
Mack Leigh
Reply to David Amos
And that speaks volumes....
Graham McCormack
Reply to David Amos
And Trump say she was the best president ever. People say a lot of
things, doesn't mean they are true.
Andrew Hebda
Reply to David Amos
He has unique insight (outside of the Fredericton-Grand Lake riding)?
Gregory Pittaway
Reply to David Amos
I think that's going to be proven fantacy very shortly. Lol.
David Amos
Reply to Gregory Pittaway
Trust that I don't trust anything a lawyer says particularly one who
is supporting our latest Justice Minister
Rhys Philbin
Lol. Caucus revolt.
Two ministers stand down yet hold on to the golden paycheque
David Amos
Reply to Rhys Philbin
Oh My MY Are you having as much fun as I?
Daniel Franklin
Higgs is bad for NB and is giving us a bad name. He's worse for NB
than Jason Kenney was for Alberta.
Andrew Martin
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Best leader NB has had in decades..... maybe are envious that higgs is
taking a stand against the nonsense.
Inger Nielsen
Reply to Andrew Martin
sorry you feel that way I feel that childrens lives matter childrens
voices matter and childrens rights matter
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Relax and enjoy the circus
Ken Hastings
Reply to Daniel Franklin
But, Danielle Smith is worse than Higgs and Kenney put together!
Fred Brewer
What has Higgs done for renewables in NB?
2016 was the first year when there were more people employed in
renewable energy worldwide than there were in oil and gas worldwide.
Since then the job growth in renewables has continued to grow. But
Higgs head was firmly stuck in the oilsands and NB has lost out on
huge, well-paid job growth opportunities in renewables. Time for him
to go.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Fred Brewer
Our total renewable capacity in 2018 stood at 30.6%, in 2023 it now
stands at 40.4%. Conversely, our Oil and Diesel was at 35.2%, it is
now 15.5%. Looks like that debt clock needs another adjustment.
Andrew Martin
Reply to Fred Brewer
The cost of renewables is not as attractive to NB due to our already
low rates. The shift in job demographics you mention is not born of
something other than government making O n G job extinct due to
hindering policies.
David Amos
Reply to Ronald Miller
Say Hey to Little Lou for me will ya?
Shawn Tabor
This just keeps on getting better and better. The drama of it all.
Shows you the ( cracks ). What should these folks really be doing.
David Amos
Reply to Shawn Tabor
Welcome back to the circus
Frank Brace
Perhaps Higgs could be sent to a psychologist for counselling
David Amos
Reply to Frank Brace
Why not just put the old goat out to pasture? The Conservatives may
need him again in the future
Michael Hutton
Reply to Frank Brace
Only if his parents approve
Andrew Hebda
Reply to Frank Brace
In all honesty.. we all have our days... when we have to vent...
however, in this case, based on what we have seen in the news during
the last several weeks seems to be something more "persistent"
Frank Brace
Reply to Michael Hutton
Touche, make him tell them
Walter Alison
Reply to Frank Brace
Don't you really mean social conditioning and brainwashing?
Benny Swim
Reply to Frank Brace
But not one in a school as there are none.
Michael Cain
Reply to Frank Brace
anger mangement problem; makes decisions in the heat of the moment.
Frank Brace
Reply to Walter Alison
That's already occurred and why he needs help
Mike Carruthers
Any leader will have a nasty streak when subordinates decide to not
follow their instructions. Just ask Jody Wilson-Raybould.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Mike Carruthers
While you are at it why not ask Jody about my lawsuit which I filed
and began arguing before she was elected?
Michael Murphy
Reply to Mike Carruthers
So Trudeau was right, or Higgs is wrong?
Walter Alison
Reply to Michael Murphy
Trudeau is never right. Hence, Higgs is not wrong.
Andrew Hebda
Reply to Mike Carruthers
In Minister Wilson Raybould's case she was offered a choice... In this
case... no choice.. just public berating.
Michael Cain
Reply to Mike Carruthers
She failed at the job miserably.
Robt Greene
'Vicious verbal attack.'
'He was clearly in a complete rage'
We've had hints of this from Ottawa. One incident, about six yrs ago,
that made it to a couple of papers, was the time when he jumped up on
a desk and started screaming a profanity laden 10 min outburst at an
MP who dared to voice what his constituents wanted.
No story on this site about it though. And you can be damned sure they
knew all about it.
David Amos
Reply to Robt Greene
Reporters witnessed our little hoedown in public in October and said
nothing either
Dacre Gushue
Reply to Robt Greene
You need to add more context here. Not sure who or what you're talking about.
David Amos
Reply to Dacre Gushue
I finally got a Health Care Card Correct?
Benny Swim
So because Trudeau does it, it is fine for Higgs? Whataboutism is a
weak argument. Like kids saying "well Mary and Mark did it so why am I
being given a hard time"". BTW, Trudeau is a lousy leader too.
David Amos
Reply to Benny Swim
They both replaced their Health Ministers Correct?
Robt Greene
Reply to Benny Swim
Not at all what I was saying.
One is front page news on here.
The other incidents are totally ignored by this site.
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
PC official wants Blaine Higgs's leadership put to review
PC party official hopes for discussion of N.B. premier's leadership at
annual general meeting
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Oct 18, 2022 6:15 PM AT
Blaine Higgs recently told Brunswick News that he’ll announce during
his State of the Province speech in the new year whether he plans to
retire ahead of the next election in 2024 or seek another mandate.
(Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Bruce Dagsvik
At this rate NB will see a COR comeback with Higgs as leader taking
them into the 2024 election.
Dacre Gushue
Reply to Bruce Dagsvik
That's not all bad.
David Amos
Reply to Bruce Dagsvik
Methinks many would agree that you are more right than wrong N'esy Pas?
Toby Tolly
jacques ... the 1 hit wonder
Emmanuel Rochon
Reply to Toby Tolly
Oh how some like to blame the messenger!
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Emmanuel Rochon
C'est Vrai
Zoe Richmond
Premier Higgs has won two elections, of course the media is all over
him like the plague.
Elliott Stranger
Reply to Zoe Richmond
It’s not the media he has to worry about. His own party wants him gone.
Andrew Hebda
Reply to Zoe Richmond
It is not the media that is confronting him... It is (what were
formerly his own people
Emmanuel Rochon
Reply to Zoe Richmond
Well that's quite the leap!
Roosevelt Smith
Reply to Emmanuel Rochon
seems blaming the media is pretty on par for these folks:
pointing the finger instead at what he called negative coverage in the
French-language newspaper L'Acadie Nouvelle.
Sam Crawford
Reply to Zoe Richmond
Hoodwinking an electorate in no means equates to good governance.
Craig McMaster
Reply to Zoe Richmond
Premier Higgs is losing the support of his own Party and the press is
doing their job by telling us about it...
David Amos
Reply to Sam Crawford
Oh So True
Rick Rheubottom
When cornered the typical politician will lash out in a defensive
tactic disguised as aggression. If ignored the hackles come down and
typically they rest.
Andrew Hebda
Reply to Rick Rheubottom
I prefer politicians who can control their temper (and their hackles)
David Amos
Reply to Andrew Hebda
Clive Gibbons
Judging by the contempt he has for his team, imagine how he feels
about what regular New Brunswickers think.
David Amos
Reply to Clive Gibbons
Imagine?
James Smythe
And here I thought conservatives detested top-down governance and
centralized power
13 older comments.
David Novak
Reply to Craig McMaster
This article is about internal party frictions. How is Trudeau acting
like a Conservative? There is little comparable internal friction
within the Liberal Party. Alberta's Premier is watching behind her
back and Higgs seems to be now too, both conservatives. And of course
we can imagine that there might still be a few real conservatives out
there who might fundamentally disagree with the direction the federal
party is headed.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to James Smythe
Imagine?
On 6/25/23, David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
> BTW Higgy's old buddy Dominic Cardy is about to speak about 713 on
> CBC Radio's Cross Country Checkup
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/radio/
>
> Is Canada becoming more or less accepting of LGBTQ rights?
>
> What conversations are you having? Call us: 1-888-416-8333
> CBC Radio · Posted: Jun 23, 2023 1:35 PM ADT
>
> Cross Country Checkup: Is Canada becoming more or less accepting of
> LGBTQ rights?
> 54 minutes ago
> Live
> It's Pride weekend in Toronto, but it comes at a time where advocates
> say trans people are being targeted and harmful rhetoric is on the
> rise. What conversations are you having?
>
> Toronto is hosting Pride celebrations this weekend, but it comes at a
> time where advocates say trans people are being targeted and harmful
> rhetoric is on the rise.
>
> In New Brunswick, the provincial government's decision to change an
> education policy on gender identity has caused significant controversy
> and even turmoil within the government. The changes make it mandatory
> for teachers to get parental consent before using a student's chosen
> name and pronouns.
>
> School psychologists as well as child welfare, education and human
> rights experts have all come out against these changes.
>
> Our question this week: Is Canada becoming more or less accepting of
> LGBTQ rights? What conversations are you having?
>
> Our Ask Me Anything segment this week features former Conservative
> leader Erin O'Toole. O'Toole resigned his seat as an MP at the end of
> the House of Commons' spring session this past Wednesday. What
> questions do you have?
>
> Join host Ian Hanomansing on CBC Radio One and CBC Listen and CBC News
> Network. Call Checkup at 1-888-416-8333, send an email text
> (226-758-8924) or find us on Facebook.
>
> https://davidraymondamos3.
>
> Wednesday, 21 June 2023
>
> PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support ousting Higgs
>
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
> Premier Higgs says he won't resign after calls for his removal
> Higgs intends to stay on even after the resignations of 2 cabinet ministers
>
> CBC News · Posted: Jun 24, 2023 5:30 PM ADT
>
>
> Premier Blaine Higgs Premier Blaine Higgs said a resignation isn't in
> the cards. (Lars Schwarz/CBC)
>
> Premier Blaine Higgs said he's not going anywhere after a Progressive
> Conservative party meeting in Fredericton on Saturday.
>
> When asked what's next for him and the party, Higgs batted down any
> suggestion of stepping aside.
>
> "It won't be a resignation," Higgs said.
>
> The premier has been under pressure to step aside after changes to
> Policy 713 — a policy designed to protect LGBTQ students in schools —
> prompted the resignations of two cabinet ministers and letters from
> more than 20 riding presidents calling on Higgs to resign.
>
> Higgs said there was no formal discussion at the meeting about a
> possible leadership review, but did say he wants to work with the
> party and his caucus to resolve any issues behind closed doors.
>
> "I think we have a path forward here as we work through some of our
> issues," he said.
>
> Another N.B. cabinet minister quits as turmoil over Higgs's
> leadership deepens
>
> 5 questions answered about the LGBTQ school policy debate
>
> Claude Williams, a former president of the party who attended the
> meeting, said the reason there was no formal discussion about a
> leadership review is because the rules of the meeting made it
> impossible.
>
> He also said he was disappointed in the premier's closing remarks to
> the meeting, but didn't elaborate further.
> Support cloudy
>
> The amount of support the premier has in caucus, and in the party, is
> up for debate.
>
> On Wednesday, CBC News reported at least 22 riding presidents have
> written letters calling for a leadership review vote.
>
> But Mark Paul-Elias, the president of the PC's Fredericton-Grand Lake
> Riding Association, said the majority of the party stands behind the
> premier.
>
> While he admitted not everyone was supportive of Higgs — mentioning at
> least one person who walked out of the meeting — Paul-Elias maintained
> the premier has the party's support.
>
> "You don't have a family that doesn't have the odd person who doesn't
> agree with what's going on. But the party is really united and we
> intend to stay united," he said.
>
> With files from Lars Schwarz
> CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
>
>
>
> 198 Comments
>
>
>
> David Amos
> "The turmoil within New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative Party
> was deepening Friday morning as another minister quit Premier Blaine
> Higgs's cabinet and four former top party officials demanded the
> premier resign.
>
> Portland-Simonds MLA Trevor Holder, the longest-serving MLA in the
> legislature, announced in an open letter he was quitting as minister
> of post-secondary education, training and labour.
>
> "Under the leadership of Premier Higgs, caucus has been less about
> consensus and more about him getting his own way," Holder wrote.
>
> Holder's letter was sent out just one hour after four past presidents
> of the party called on Higgs to resign immediately.
>
> "We ask that you avoid a disruptive, public battle that could tear the
> party apart. We ask that you leave graciously," the letter says.
>
> The letter is signed by Claude Williams, Lester Young, Brian Harquail
> and Jason Stephen, all former presidents of the New Brunswick party."
>
>
>
>
> David Amos
> Imagine if Higgy as Leader decides to dissolve the PC Party like his
> buddy Austin did to the PANB recently and MacKay did to the federal PC
> Party in 20 years ago?
>
>
>
>
> David Amos
> "Higgs's past involvement with the anti-bilingualism Confederation of
> Regions party — alarming to many francophones — underscored that he
> was truly different."
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to David Amos
> "Only three sitting PC MLAs endorsed him, an indicator of how his more
> conventional colleagues saw his maverickness.
>
> So he signed up countless new party members to go around them.
>
> He told those recruits that "it doesn't matter what the party's called
> — use the PC Party as a conduit to change politics in New Brunswick."
>
> David Amos
> Reply to David Amos
> "Most MLAs who worked with Higgs in the Alward cabinet endorsed other
> leadership candidates in 2016 and chafed at his open disdain for
> old-fashioned party ways.
>
> "When it's done right … politics is what makes things happen," veteran
> Portland-Simonds member Trevor Holder said at the time.
>
> "Sometimes that takes political friendships and alliances to get that
> done."
>
> David Amos
> Reply to David Amos
> "The main accusation by his caucus critics is that he cuts them out of
> his decision-making process.
>
> His 2020 push for health reforms — including the proposed closure of
> small hospital emergency departments — cost him his only francophone
> MLA at the time, Robert Gauvin.
>
> Gauvin's father was the late Jean Gauvin, a longtime member of Richard
> Hatfield's cabinet who helped keep the embers of PC support flickering
> in Shippagan during the party's 12-year exile from power.
>
> Jean Gauvin also stood by Hatfield when party rebels tried to remove
> him from the leadership in 1985 — so his son's move to the Liberals is
> another symbol of Higgs's break with party history. "
>
> David Amos
> Content Deactivated
> Reply to David Amos
> "Another francophone who backed Hatfield during that battle,
> Jean-Pierre Ouellet from Madawaska-Les Lacs-Edmundston, is now part of
> the push to dump Higgs, arguing the premier is advancing ideas
> inimical to the PC Party.
>
> "As far as I'm concerned, he's trying to implement a platform that was
> the CoR platform when he was campaigning for the CoR party in the
> 1980s," Ouellete said."
>
> Jos Allaire
> Reply to David Amos
> He was and still is different!
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Jos Allaire
> Methinks many folks in Madawaska-Les Lacs-Edmundston agree with you N'esy
> Pas?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> David Amos
> "Former PC cabinet minister Jody Carr, whose brother Jeff Carr is a
> minister in the government and among those who voted for the motion,
> tweeted Thursday that it was sad to see Higgs "lose the confidence of
> his party, caucus and citizens, and be the last one to realize it."
>
>
>
>
> David Amos
> On June 21st PC Party president Erika Hachey said in an email she had
> not received any letters yet from riding presidents calling for a
> review.
>
>
>
>
>
> David Amos
> "But Mark Paul-Elias, the president of the PC's Fredericton-Grand Lake
> Riding Association, said the majority of the party stands behind the
> premier"
>
>
> Gregory Pittaway
> Reply to David Amos
> Jeez, never seen this much turmoil in a party that has such confidence
> in its leader.
>
>
> David Amos
> Content Deactivated
> Reply to Gregory Pittaway
> Check out the circus in the Ottawa or England or Scotland or Russia or
> the USA etc Methinks New Brunswick is small potatoes N'esy Pas?
>
>
> Christine White
> Reply to David Amos
> Who is Mark speaking for?
>
> Not the voting public.
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Christine White
> Higgy
>
>
>
>
> Wilbur Ross
> Call the Irving complaint line and tell them to fire this guy.
>
>
> Buford Wilson
> Reply to Wilbur Ross
> (Hilarious!)
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Wilbur Ross
> Good luck with that
>
>
>
>
>
> Doug kirby
> His past employment has taught him to never back down
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Doug kirby
> No doubt
>
>
> Gregory Pittaway
> Reply to Doug kirby
> His past employment certainly didn't teach him to consult with experts
> so this is what we get. An uneducated leader who does not care to
> consult with those who know more than him. Just mine a vein of half
> truths for cheap political points, children be damned.
>
>
> Michael Cain
> Reply to Doug kirby
> His past employment taught him that a bully gets things done.
>
>
> G. Timothy Walton
> Reply to Doug kirby
> Elect political outsiders, get people with politics outside their skillset.
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to G. Timothy Walton
> I resemble that remark
>
>
>
>
>
> Keith McLellan
> The most divisive premier ever! Higgs has to go!
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Keith McLellan
> Amen
>
>
>
>
> Lorelei Stott
> great news, hold the hill Mr. Higgs, appreciate your stance and common
> sense middle ground
>
>
> David Amos
> Content Deactivated
> Reply to Lorelei Stott
> No doubt Humpty Dumpty had his fans too
>
>
> Gregory Pittaway
> Reply to Lorelei Stott
> That you call this "middle ground" is hilarious and telling. Lol.
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Gregory Pittaway
> I continue to maintain that Daniel J. Allain will be the next PC
> Leader/Premier in short order
>
>
>
>
>
> Kat Jo
> Imagine, believing parents should be involved in the rearing of their
> children.
>
>
> Rachel Woods
> Reply to Kat Jo
> A child’s gender identity has no impact on the “rearing” aspect of a
> parent. Their support, love, and attention should not be impacted by
> their gender identity.
>
> That’s why in this one singular niche situation the parent should be
> left out, if the child specifically requests it.
>
> Parents are still informed and involved in literally everything else.
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Kat Jo
> Imagine
>
>
> Graham McCormack
> Reply to Kat Jo
> Nobody said they shouldn't be involved. Nice try in confusing the issue.
>
>
> Michael Cain
> Reply to Kat Jo
> Parents are a part of the rearing of children; babysitters, day care
> and school all have a part to play.
>
>
>
>
>
> Murray Brown
> Mr. Higgs was obviously never a student of Parliamentary democracy....
> You don't decide whether or not your are the leader of your party...
> Your party decides. And if they decide that you are not the leader...
> Then you aren't the leader. And if you aren't the leader, then you
> aren't the Premier. Get used to it Mr. Higgs. You do not control the
> keys to the Premier's office... Your party does.
>
>
> Sterling Wright
> Reply to Murray Brown
> I thought the voters decided.
>
>
> David Amos
> Content Deactivated
> Reply to Sterling Wright
> What did Higgy and his new buddy do to your beloved party?
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Murray Brown
> Close but no cigar
>
>
>
>
> Benny Swim
> Mark Paul-Elias does not apparently read the news. This is like Higgs'
> family has put all his worldly possessions on the sidewalk and changed
> the locks on the door. In that this is no small family disagreement.
>
> No surprise that Higgs would put himself ahead of his party and his
> province. He is a bitter ender of there ever was one. This is going to
> get much worse in the days ahead.
>
> Donald LeBlanc
> Reply to Benny Swim
> Agree, other than his party is the Higgs Party, not the PC Party and
> his Province is the Irving’s Province, IMO of course.
>
>
> David Amos
> Content Deactivated
> Reply to Benny Swim
> When was the last time you believed a lawyer working with a politician
> who is currently the Justice Minister?
>
>
>
>
>
> Rhys Philbin
> This topic has run its course.
>
> Next!
>
> Stephen Robertson
> Reply to Rhys Philbin
> You can only hope.
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Rhys Philbin
> Dream on
>
>
>
>
> Alison Jackson
> "I think we have a path forward here as we work through some of our
> issues," he said.
>
> -
>
> But YOU are the issue McFly!
>
> Rick Grayson
> Reply to Alison Jackson
> I think the premier fails to realize that the govt works as a
> democracy and not a dictatorship. 3 cabinet ministers resign. 1 the
> longest standing member of the legislature. Seems like there is a
> common denominator.
>
>
> Ed Armstrong
> Reply to Alison Jackson
> Just remember the last two resignations and the caucus revolt were
> from people that never supported Highs from day one. He knew it and
> they knew it. The first one was insubordination, he quit seconds
> before he would have been fired.
>
>
> Rachel Woods
> Reply to Ed Armstrong
> “They never supported him since day one”
>
> That is false. He wouldn’t have made them cabinet ministers if they
> didn’t support him.
>
> Matt Steele
> Reply to Ed Armstrong
> Exactly right .
>
>
> Ed Armstrong
> Reply to Rachel Woods
> They both supported someone else for the leadership right up to and
> including the last ballot. They got in cabinet because they were 2 of
> the most experienced MLAs he had. Who had more Cabinet Experience that
> was excluded from cabinet?
>
>
> Doug Cochran
> Reply to Alison Jackson
> "But the party is really united and we intend to stay united" says it
> all. I think Mr Higgs is in tune with the majority and the majority is
> in tune with him.
>
>
> Rachel Woods
> Reply to Doug Cochran
> Is that why his approval ratings have plummeted and are the lowest of
> any Premier in the country?
>
>
> Doug Cochran
> Reply to Alison Jackson
> Won't matter much when he wins next election
>
>
> David Webb
> Reply to Rachel Woods
> You do know that there is only one poll that counts. Polling done for
> any party (paid for) are easily manipulated to get the result they
> desire, which they then advertise as the definitive authority. For
> example a poll done in only liberal held ridings would look quite
> different in conservative held ridings.
>
>
> Michael Cain
> Reply to Doug Cochran
> That tune you hear must be "(Na Na Hey Hey) Kiss Him Goodbye".
>
>
> Donald LeBlanc
> Reply to Doug Cochran
> Are you referring to the majority of right wing Western separatists?
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Ed Armstrong
> Why not explain to the folks why I ran in Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins in 2018?
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Ed Armstrong
> Howcome you dudes quit sending me butter tarts?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
>
> Another N.B. cabinet minister quits as turmoil over Higgs's leadership
> deepens
> Trevor Holder resigns not long after 4 former party presidents call
> for premier to leave
>
> Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 23, 2023 9:28 AM ADT
>
>
> Bald man with glasses stands in lobby of legislature with reporters
> around him. Longtime Progressive Conservative MLA Trevor Holder has
> stepped down from the New Brunswick cabinet. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
>
> The turmoil within New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative Party was
> deepening Friday morning as another minister quit Premier Blaine
> Higgs's cabinet and four former top party officials demanded the
> premier resign.
>
> Portland-Simonds MLA Trevor Holder, the longest-serving MLA in the
> legislature, announced in an open letter he was quitting as minister
> of post-secondary education, training and labour.
>
> "Under the leadership of Premier Higgs, caucus has been less about
> consensus and more about him getting his own way," Holder wrote.
>
> Holder said he has tried many times to explain to the premier the
> importance of working more collaboratively but to no avail.
>
> "While I have tried my best to continue to work to maintain the
> integrity of the caucus system, I have finally come to the conclusion
> that this is no longer possible."
>
> A man with grey hair and glasses, wearing a blue suit, white collared
> shirt and blue tie, speaks into several reporters' microphones as a
> number of other people behind him look on. Premier Blaine Higgs has
> been facing backlash from his own MLAs. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
>
> He also rapped the premier for "his lack of empathy as well as his
> inability to listen to valid concerns from all members of his caucus."
>
> Holder was first elected in the 1999 election and has been a minister
> under three different PC premiers.
>
> He said he plans to stay on as MLA for Portland-Simonds and called on
> party members to "build a thoughtful conservative movement in this
> province that brings people together rather than divide them."
>
> Holder's letter was sent out just one hour after four past presidents
> of the party called on Higgs to resign immediately.
>
> They wrote in their statement that Higgs has achieved a lot during his
> more than four years as premier but also lacks the ability to achieve
> "the delicate balance" required to govern New Brunswick.
>
> "We ask that you avoid a disruptive, public battle that could tear the
> party apart. We ask that you leave graciously," the letter says.
>
> "You have had some important successes as Premier of New Brunswick.
> But the moment now demands that you pass the baton and the PCNB
> reorient itself to face the future and move forward."
>
> PC caucus members voice support for Higgs amid push for leadership
> review
>
> Analysis
> Blaine Higgs, a visitor to the PC Party, may soon be shown the door
>
> The letter is signed by Claude Williams, Lester Young, Brian Harquail
> and Jason Stephen, all former presidents of the New Brunswick party.
>
> The four former presidents accused Higgs of trying to make the
> internal fight a fight about Policy 713, the policy on protections for
> LGBTQ students in provincial schools that the government recently
> revised.
>
> But they said the problems run deeper and include the premier's
> attempts to replace French immersion and weaken district education
> councils and to eliminate elected members of regional health authority
> boards.
>
> "Policy 713 was just the tipping point in a long line of disrespect he
> has shown to our Party, its values and its traditions," they wrote.
>
> Stephen said in an interview that as a party volunteer for more than
> three decades, it was hard for him to sign the letter.
>
> But he believes the party's future is at stake, including in the next
> election in October 2024.
>
> "This is going to turn into a very divisive program, I believe. That's
> why I'm asking him to retire and pass the torch. He can leave a legacy
> of doing some very good things. But that legacy will be different if
> he tries to carry a fractured party into the election."
>
> Medium shot of man in suit speakingJason Stephen, former president of
> the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick, says Higgs should
> resign or else he will divide the party. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian
> Press)
>
> Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin MLA Mike Dawson said he's "behind
> Blaine Higgs 100 per cent" and doesn't understand what Holder's
> resignation will accomplish.
>
> Since he was elected in a byelection last year, Dawson said, he's been
> in the Premier's Office many times, discussing issues with Higgs.
>
> "Instead of letting the pot simmer and boil over, you go into the
> office, you have the discussions and you come out of the office on a
> level playing field, and everyone understands where each other
> stands," he said.
>
> Dawson also defended the premier's hands-on approach to governing,
> which former cabinet minister Dorothy Shephard and others have
> complained about.
>
> "Blaine Higgs is the boss of the PC party. He's the CEO," Dawson said.
> WATCH | Dorothy Shephard, minister of social development, resigns from
> cabinet:
> Dorothy Shephard resigns from cabinet
> Duration 2:00
> In a note addressed to the premier, the social development minister
> said, ‘I can no longer remain in your cabinet.’
>
> Holder's resignation follows that of Shephard, his Saint John
> colleague who quit last week after she, Holder, two other ministers
> and two backbench PC MLA defied Higgs during a vote in the
> legislature.
>
> They joined with the opposition parties to pass a Liberal motion
> calling for more consultations on Policy 713.
>
> Holder said in his letter he now has to do "some significant soul
> searching" after a 24-year career in the legislature.
>
> Critics of Higgs within the party have collected 26 letters from
> presidents of party riding presidents calling for a leadership review.
>
> That's six more than the threshold under the party constitution for
> the PC provincial council to debate it at an upcoming meeting.
>
> It also represents a majority of the 49 riding organizations in the
> province.
>
> Earlier this week Higgs called the push for a review "a strategically
> planned political drama" that has been "a focus from a certain group
> for a few years now" and that was heightened by the Policy 713 debate.
>
> On Thursday two PC caucus members, cabinet minister Réjean Savoie and
> backbench MLA Sherry Wilson, said they support Higgs staying on.
>
> Wilson said PC MLAs who can't support his leadership "need to go and
> just retire, just get out of politics, if that's the way they think."
>
> Cross Country Checkup wants to know if you think Canada is becoming
> more or less accepting of LGBTQ rights. What conversations are you
> having? Fill out the details on this form and send us your thoughts
> and stories.
> ABOUT THE AUTHOR
>
> Jacques Poitras
>
> Provincial Affairs reporter
>
> 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.
> CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
>
>
>
> 932 Comments
>
>
>
> David Amos
> I wonder if Trevor Holder conferred with his former assistant who is
> now the Global Director Harper & Associates?
>
>
>
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
> PC caucus members voice support for Higgs amid push for leadership review
> Moncton Southwest MLA says rebels should quit politics if they don’t
> like premier’s approach
>
> Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 22, 2023 4:40 PM ADT
>
>
> A man with grey hair and glasses, wearing a blue suit, white collared
> shirt and blue tie, speaks into several reporters' microphones as a
> number of other people behind him look on. Premier Blaine Higgs fields
> questions from reporters, backed by caucus members who supported him
> on Policy 713, including Réjean Savoie (with briefcase). (Jacques
> Poitras/CBC)
>
> Premier Blaine Higgs is getting vocal support from some members of his
> cabinet and caucus as he faces a growing push to remove him as leader
> of New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative party.
>
> Moncton Southwest PC MLA Sherry Wilson says Higgs's record on fiscal
> management and improving health care is a strong one, and members of
> the PC caucus who don't like his leadership should quit.
>
> "For the people who don't support our premier, and don't look at the
> good work and the big picture and what's best for the people we serve
> here in New Brunswick, I think maybe it's time for them to step away,"
> she said.
>
> Critics of Higgs within the party say they have gathered letters from
> 26 presidents of PC riding associations and 50 rank-and-file members
> overall — more than enough to start the process of seeking to remove
> Higgs.
>
> A woman stands at a CBC microphone in an art gallery. Sherry Wilson,
> former minister of Service New Brunswick, said those Tory MLAs should
> leave if they can't endorse Higgs's approach. (CBC)
>
> Those letters were gathered over the last 10 days as a debate over
> Policy 713, on the protection of LGBTQ students in provincial schools,
> erupted at the legislature.
>
> Four cabinet ministers and two backbench PC MLAs voted with a Liberal
> opposition motion calling for consultations, helping to carry the
> motion 26-20.
>
> Analysis
> Blaine Higgs, a visitor to the PC Party, may soon be shown the door
>
> Wilson said those Tory MLAs should leave if they can't endorse Higgs's
> approach.
>
> "To me it's a Conservative value that parents are involved in their
> children's lives. How do we fix it? I think maybe some of them maybe
> need to step down. They need to go and just retire, just get out of
> politics if that's the way they think."
>
> A woman with short grey hair and glasses glances to the left of the
> photo with a serious expression. It's fairly close-up and only the
> collar of a black blouse with aqua squares and some red patterning is
> visible. Former cabinet minister Dorothy Shephard warned Premier Higgs
> in October 2021 that his hands-on management style was alienating
> members of his cabinet and threatened to "destroy" his government.
> (Shane Magee/CBC)
>
> Former minister Dorothy Shephard quit the cabinet last week but
> remains a PC MLA.
>
> She said Higgs's handling of Policy 713 was "the last straw" and the
> latest in a string of examples where he has cut the cabinet and caucus
> out of decision-making and instead micromanaged issues.
>
> But Wilson defended that approach.
>
> "Blaine has his own leadership style. He does. But look at the work
> that's been done under his leadership. … He is the premier and he
> needs to know what's going on in every sector in government," she
> said.
>
> "In any of the departments, if something were to go wrong, the bucks
> stops with him. He needs to know so he can work with us and guide us."
>
> Two men hold hands, raising hands above their heads in victory signal.
> Premier Blaine Higgs celebrating with Miramichi Bay-Neguac MLA-elect
> Réjean Savoie after Savoie won a byelection last year. (Jacques
> Poitras/CBC)
>
> Regional Development Corporation Minister Réjean Savoie, elected last
> year in a byelection in Miramichi Bay-Neguac, also defended Higgs.
>
> "The premier has done his job well," Savoie said. "We've never been in
> such a strong financial position."
>
> He said he worried that the public split would damage the PC party.
>
> "When we have a family disagreement, it should happen behind closed
> doors. … and the Progressive Conservative party is a family."
>
> Savoie was among the MLAs who stood behind Higgs in a media scrum
> minutes after the government lost the vote on the Policy 713 motion
> last Thursday.
>
> PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support ousting Higgs
>
> Minister quits as legislature condemns N.B. premier's LGBTQ policy
> change
>
> He said the impact of the changes to the policy have been exaggerated.
>
> "I hope this will end well and we can try to calm things down," he said.
>
> Former PC cabinet minister Jody Carr, whose brother Jeff Carr is a
> minister in the government and among those who voted for the motion,
> tweeted Thursday that it was sad to see Higgs "lose the confidence of
> his party, caucus and citizens, and be the last one to realize it."
>
> Wilson was one of the few PC MLAs who supported Higgs in his campaign
> for the party leadership in 2016.
>
> She became minister of women's equality and minister of Service New
> Brunswick when the party took power after the 2018 election, but was
> shuffled out of the cabinet when the PCs were re-elected in 2020.
> ABOUT THE AUTHOR
>
> Jacques Poitras
>
> Provincial Affairs reporter
>
> 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.
> CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
>
>
>
> 93 Comments
>
>
>
> David Amos
> The former minister of Service New Brunswick Sherry Wilson never did
> find my Harley. Perhaps she will now?
>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Phillips <mphillip@nbnet.nb.ca>
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2023 19:57:55 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: RE PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support
ousting Higgs
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I'm not sure who you are David Amos, but you and most of your follows do
not seem to understand the procedure spelled out in the constitution of
the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick for making a
leadership review happen. If and when these so called letters are
delivered to the president of the Party and the numbers meet the
criteria then and only then will the process begins. The first step of
this procedure could be referred to as "a shot across the bow". When you
read the constitution you will see that the process maybe aborted at the
next step if a 2/3 majority of the Provincial Council is not achieved.
After attending the meeting on Saturday, I'm not sure if a 2/3 majority
can be achieved. In the mean time, Premier Higgs will be working on
resolving the rifts in his caucus. We will see how that goes. He does
appear to be remorseful and sincerely interested in changing his
management style. He does recognize many of his mistakes and I guess
that would be the first step.
I also want to tell you that under no circumstances is Dominic Cardy or
Jody Carr spokesmen for the PC Party of New Brunswick. Even though they
are members of PCNB, both of these gentleman are in the political
wilderness and are only commenting to the media for their own self
interests, not the Party. Mr Cardy claims he is a member in good
standing of PCNB. Member yes, good standing NO. I have talked with many,
many members of the Party in the past year and only one admits to being
an ally of Mr Cardy. I have no idea why the media flocks to him each
time there is a new development in New Brunswick politics. His opinion
has zero value to most people in the Province. If the media wanted to
renew their credibility they would stop interviewing him.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Blogger <no-reply@google.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2023 19:42:19 +0000
Subject: Your post titled "PC rebels say majority of riding presidents
support ousting Higgs" has been reinstated
To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Hello,
We have re-evaluated the post titled "PC rebels say majority of riding
presidents support ousting Higgs" against Community Guidelines
https://blogger.com/go/
reinstated. You may access the post at
http://davidraymondamos3.
Sincerely,
The Blogger Team
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: edinnb <edinnb@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 12:54:48 -0300
Subject: RE: Hey Eddy why play dumb? You know who I am and what I have
been up to in a very public fashion in our neck of the woods for the
past 20 years
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Ok, I just didn't get the reference, yea you've been stirring the pot
for year's and I did watch a few of your YouTube videos. Ya can't
fight the man alone.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: edinnb <edinnb@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 11:36:35 -0300
Subject: RE: Hey Eddy did you forget I side with Higgy on 713 or the
letter I got from BHP before he was elected in 2010 and CBC published
your opinion?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
713 is a bullshit policy for all this controversy, in reality it
relaxed the rules for older kids. As for the rest of the email, I'm
not sure what you are saying.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: edinnb <edinnb@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 10:50:22 -0300
Subject: RE: Hey Higgy Why can't anyone see this for what it is?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Do you really think school districts have the power to change policy?
Thisisnothing more than sabre rattling by people who think they are
above the rule of law. BTW current policy is, all students can request
teachers, staff, and administrators address them by their chosen
pronouns and preferred name but require parental permission to change
said names and pronouns on their Official Record. The new policy
allows those that are 16 and up to change their Official Record but
those under 16 still require Parental Consent.See how the media has
misrepresented the facts of this?
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: edinnb <edinnb@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 10:09:46 -0300
Subject: Re: RE PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support
ousting Higgs
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Rebels are full of crap
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Auto-reply from gamfarms@nb.sympatico.ca" <gamfarms@nb.sympatico.ca>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 08:03:15 -0400
Subject: Re: RE PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support
ousting Higgs
- Hide quoted text -
To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Please not that this email is no longer in service.
Send all future emails to:
marcel@gampotatoesinc.com
Thank you!
Marcel Michaud
GAM Potato farms inc.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:03:12 -0300
Subject: Re: RE PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support
ousting Higgs
To: "Bill.Oliver" <Bill.Oliver@gnb.ca>, jeremy_salgado@hotmail.com,
eolsen@quispamsis.ca, grantbrenan@hotmail.ca,
jacobstackhouse@hotmail.com, corbenp@hotmail.com,
brooklyn.galbraith@gmail.com, balcomb@nbnet.nb.ca,
glennhawkins224@gmail.com, jenniferurquhart992@gmail.com,
chrisamcmorrow@gmail.com, markpe32@gmail.com, mphillip@nbnet.nb.ca,
willforall@mail.com, andrewtkeezer@gmail.com,
kellywilson9294@gmail.com, toolsofengagement@gmail.com,
jd.grant@rogers.com, snd_mcisaac@hotmail.com, chasmac@nbnet.nb.ca,
gamfarms@nb.sympatico.ca, jacqueline.carrier@bellaliant.
jpouelle21@gmail.com
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, David.Coon@gnb.ca,
"Arseneau, Kevin (LEG)" <kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca>, "Mitton, Megan
(LEG)" <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, "Holland, Mike (LEG)"
<mike.holland@gnb.ca>, "Bill.Hogan" <Bill.Hogan@gnb.ca>, "kris.austin"
<kris.austin@gnb.ca>, "michelle.conroy" <michelle.conroy@gnb.ca>
- Hide quoted text -
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Blaine Higgs drops 2 rebellious ministers in cabinet shuffle
Daniel Allain and Jeff Carr are out, replaced by newcomers
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 27, 2023 9:27 AM ADT
Collage of two photos of two men in blue suits MLAs Jeff Carr, left,
and Daniel Allain are no longer on Premier Blaine Higgs' cabinet.
(CBC)
Premier Blaine Higgs has reasserted his authority over his fractured
Progressive Conservative government by dumping two ministers who voted
against him on the contentious issue of New Brunswick's school
gender-identity policy.
In a cabinet shuffle Tuesday, Higgs dropped Local Government Minister
Daniel Allain and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Jeff
Carr, sending them to the backbenches.
He made it clear that their breaking ranks in a key vote on Policy 713
had cost them their jobs, violating the principle of cabinet
solidarity.
"To go outside of that and to basically feel that it doesn't matter if
you're in cabinet or not — it does matter. And to not address the
situation is really putting the government in a very vulnerable
position," Higgs told reporters after a 9 a.m. swearing-in.
"We have to respect the parliamentary system that we're in, the
sanctity of cabinet, and the fact we'll have very frank and open
discussion in cabinet or in caucus, but in cabinet you have to have
solidarity."
Man in blue suit stepping out of black car Premier Blaine Higgs
arrives at Government House for a cabinet shuffle on Tuesday. (Jacques
Poitras/CBC)
The new additions to cabinet are Carleton-York MLA Richard Ames,
Moncton South MLA Greg Turner and St. Croix MLA Kathy Bockus. All are
first-timers as ministers.
Rejoining cabinet are Moncton Southwest MLA Sherry Wilson, who was in
cabinet from 2018 to 2020, and Oromocto-Lincoln-Fredericton MLA Mary
Wilson, who was shuffled out of cabinet last fall.
Allain and Carr make four ministers no longer in Higgs's cabinet.
WATCH | 'Cabinet support is paramount,' Higgs says:
Blaine Higgs explains why he dropped two cabinet ministers
Duration 1:20
Daniel Allain and Jeff Carr are out of New Brunswick’s cabinet.
Replacing them are new additions including Carleton-York MLA Richard
Ames, Moncton South MLA Greg Turner and St. Croix MLA Kathy Bockus.
The two other ministers, Dorothy Shephard and Trevor Holder, resigned,
both of them citing Higgs's leadership style that they said was at
odds with the values and traditions of the PC party.
All four voted with the opposition parties on June 15 to help pass a
Liberal motion calling for more consultations on Policy 713, which
sets out protections for LGBTQ students in provincial schools.
Higgs claimed that day that the vote was not whipped, but he said
Tuesday "I never made it a free vote, either."
WATCH | Catch up on why the N.B. government changed a policy aimed at
protecting LGBTQ students:
CBC News Explains: How did the New Brunswick government change Policy 713?
Duration 2:19
New Brunswick's Department of Education made several changes to a
policy designed to protect LGBTQ students, affecting sections on
self-identification, extracurricular activities and washrooms.
In the past, the premier has often tolerated minor acts of dissent in
his cabinet and caucus, referring to it as "a diverse group" that has
pushed the envelope the same way he did when he was the outspoken
finance minister in the Alward government.
But on Policy 713 Higgs has signalled he was losing patience.
"To take a position against the government in the legislature, voting
in the legislature, is very significant," he said Tuesday.
Carr and Allain both said Tuesday they understood from Higgs that it
was to be a free vote.
"Obviously the definition of free vote differs from one individual to
another," Allain said.
Both former ministers said they were questioning their futures in politics.
Allain said he was pondering whether "maybe there are other ways" for
him to serve, given the party "is in a crisis. … I'm asking the
question: is it worth the fight?"
He wouldn't say whether he supports the push for a review of Higgs's
leadership.
Medium shot of woman in grey suit smiling at a person off camera
Moncton Southwest MLA Sherry Wilson at Government House on Tuesday,
where she was appointed to cabinet. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Carr said he won't run in next year's provincial election if the
premier is still leading the party.
He said he was disappointed but understands why he was removed from
cabinet and did not regret his vote on Policy 713.
Carr insisted that the opposition motion called for exactly what the
PC caucus had been promised by Higgs — a role for the child and youth
advocate in determining if the policy changes were legally sound.
He also wished the new ministers well in Higgs's cabinet.
"If they feel satisfied with that type of leadership and governing,
then that's okay. I don't judge them for that."
Higgs told reporters after the shuffle he'll try to reach out to
unhappy grassroots members of the Progressive Conservative party, some
of whom are organizing to remove him as leader
"I think we have some building to do, there's no question of that," Higgs said.
"I need to play a key role in that, reaching out to the membership,
the executives throughout the province, and be able to sit down and
have some very good discussions."
New ministers proclaim support for premier
"I can guarantee you he doesn't have to ask me" about my loyalty, Mary
Wilson told reporters.
"I have no problem with our premier. I think he does a great job."
Ames proclaimed that "it's a new day, a new team, new cabinet, great
caucus — we're moving forward."
And Turner, who chaired the PC caucus until Tuesday, rejected the
claims by Shephard and Holder that Higgs didn't listen to his MLAs.
WATCH | The CBC's Jacques Poitras explains the process the governing
PC party must follow for dissenters to remove Blaine Higgs as leader:
CBC Explains: How does a leadership review work?
Duration 1:19
The CBC’s Jacques Poitras walks us through each step the PC party must
go through to remove a sitting premier.
"In any caucus meetings I was in, absolutely. I was in all the caucus
meetings. Absolutely," he said.
"Like any team, there has been a leader and there has been people who
support the leader," Turner said. "I have full confidence in his
leadership abilities for sure. There's no question about that."
Ames replaces Carr as minister of transportation and infrastructure,
while Saint John East MLA Glen Savoie gets a promotion by taking over
Allain's local government portfolio.
Allain was the senior francophone minister in government, representing
a language community with few MLAs in the PC caucus.
"He'll continue to be a valued member in our caucus and I'm sure he'll
continue to represent the community," Higgs said.
Woman in blue suit and yellow shirt, walking with umbrella and smiling
at camera Arlene Dunn arrives at Government House for a cabinet
shuffle on Tuesday. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Carr, Allain, Shephard, Holder and two other ministers, Arlene Dunn
and Jill Green, signed a statement earlier this month complaining
about a lack of transparency and process in the government's review of
Policy 713.
Dunn, who missed the June 15 vote but said the next day she'd have
voted with the opposition, remains in cabinet and takes over the
post-secondary education, labour and training duties that Holder held.
Asked why he kept her in cabinet, Higgs told reporters that "I know if
someone had been there, they might have done differently … but the
fact is they weren't there and they didn't stand against the
government."
Dunn told reporters after the cabinet shuffle that her issue had been
with Policy 713.
"I didn't think we should have touched that. I think we should have
stayed away from it," she said.
But beyond that, "I do have confidence in the leadership of the premier."
Poilievre tells Trudeau to 'butt out' of New Brunswick's policy on
LGBTQ students
Green also missed the June 15 vote and later said she didn't know how
she would have voted.
She's been promoted to minister of social development and also holds
on to the housing file, with her provincial housing strategy expected
to be released this week.
Opposition Liberal leader Susan Holt did not mention the internal PC
party turmoil in a tweet congratulating the new ministers.
"Our team is ready to work with you to address the issues most
important to New Brunswickers," she wrote.
New minister responsibilities:
Richard Ames — Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure,
former backbencher.
Jill Green — Minister of Social Development and responsible for
Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation; still responsible for New
Brunswick Housing Corporation,but no longer the Minister of Service
New Brunswick.
Arlene Dunn — Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and
Labour, remains Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Minister
responsible for Immigration; no longer responsible for Economic
Development and Small Business and Opportunities N.B.
Greg Turner — Minister responsible for Opportunities N.B. and
Economic Development and Small Business, former backbencher.
Glen Savoie — Minister of Local Government and still responsible
for la Francophonie.
Mary Wilson — Minister of Service New Brunswick and responsible
for Military Affairs; former backbencher shuffled out of cabinet last
fall.
Tammy Scott-Wallace — remains Minister of Tourism, Heritage and
Culture, but no longer Minister responsible for Women's Equality.
Sherry Wilson — Minister responsible for Women's Equality and for
Addictions and Mental Health Services; minister from 2018 to 2020 who
became a backbencher after the 2020 election.
Kathy Bockus — Minister responsible for Seniors, former backbencher.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jacques Poitras
Provincial Affairs reporter
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.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
780 Comments
David Amos
"We serve at the pleasure of the premier."
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Food for thought on the BBQ circuit this summer.
What if a new right wing political party is created in NB and Higgy
dissolves the PC Party like his buddy Austin did with the PANB
recently and MacKay did 20 years ago?
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to David Amos
Methinks quite a circus would begin if Higgy joined the new party as
its interim leader N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Methinks Higgy just sealed the deal to go to war with Mr Allian and
his pals Now they will battle for the Leadership N'esy Pas?
David Amos
I maintain Danny Boy will win the battle for leadership
Ed Armstrong
Reply to David Amos
If there is a leadership convention than that is a distinct
possibility but there has to be a vacancy at the top first and with 15
months to go before an election, there is no way to dispose of the
current leader, hold a leadership race and convention and have the new
leader prepared to fight an election and win. Danny Boy is not stupid
enough to cut off his nose to spite his face. He's a much smarter man
than I am (I think), if I can read the timeline, I'm sure he can as
well. He would be in much better shape to wait till after the Sept
2024 election and step into a leadership race at that point if a
vacancy at the top occurs.
David Amos
Reply to Ed Armstrong
Are you dudes gonna send me some more butter tarts if I am right?
David Amos
Reply to Ed Armstrong
BTW The caucus can get rid of Higgy and appoint an interim leader
Ed Armstrong
Reply to David Amos
No, only the party can dump the leader. That is the big difference
between Britian's Westminster System and Canada's. Britian's Caucus
does elect the leader and can dump them at any time. In Canada all
Party Members have the right to vote for their leader and under the
rules can bit them out as well. I definitely like our rules better.
David Amos
Reply to Ed Armstrong
There more than one way to skin a cat
Dee MacDonald
The silent majority has the final say.
David Amos
Reply to Dee MacDonald
I concur
Marcel Belanger
Reply to Dee MacDonald
Not yet...not yet.
Robert Borden
Reply to Dee MacDonald
Over half the party ridings want a leadership review. Seems the
majority isn't silent, and so far haven't the say.
Craig McMaster
Reply to Dee MacDonald
When Higgs' own Party is turning on him, I don't think he has the
majority anymore...
val harris
Higgs has added to his Puppet show .. NB is in for a real treat...
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to val harris
I will trade you some popcorn for peanuts
Sterling Wright
Reply to val harris
Well we are in for something. But I don't think treat is quite the right word.
David Amos
Reply to Sterling Wright
Not for you perhaps but lots of us are getting quite a chuckle
Dacre Gushue
I still think Arlene Dunn should be out as well. She did sign the
letter and "missed" the vote.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Dacre Gushue
Why not ask the Fat Fred City Finest why her position is secure?
Rachel Woods
Content Deactivated
Reply to Dacre Gushue
Sterling Wright
Reply to Rachel Woods
That has always been the case for the old parties
val harris
Where is Lou Bell?
Ben Haroldson
Reply to val harris
He's in Freddy getting sworn in.
David Amos
Reply to val harris
Hiding under a rock
Mac Isaac
What I see as most disappointing...let's face it: Higgs is a huge
disappointment, but what is most disappointing is that the provincial
cabinet is now completely filled with a bunch of Higgs sycophants who
will toe the party line but not really offer new thoughts or hopes for
the people of New Brunswick.
David Amos
Reply to Mac Isaac
Welcome back to the circus
Andrew Martin
Reply to Mac Isaac
You may believe Higgs is a disappointment, but that is your opinion,
not fact. If he was such a disappointment, he wouldn't have been
re-elected with a majority. Opinions dont equate to fact.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Andrew Martin
Methinks Higgy won because Vickers lost N'esy Pas?
Jake Quinlan
Reply to Andrew Martin
Rode the Covid wave (or lack of Covid in NB in 2020).
Benny Swim
Reply to Mac Isaac
That was then and this is now. Even Poitras now seems to understand
who Higgs is. Half the PCs in the province (over half of the local
riding presidents have asked him to resign) will stay home if an
election is called. That is an opinion and not fact.
They will be bolstered by the fact that Susan Holt and the Liberals
have not given any reason for them or us to think she/they will govern
much differently then the PCs. In that they will keep the fee cuts for
billionaires on crown land, and tax free living for the Irving
enterprises.
NBers should make sure that neither the Liberals or the Conservatives
get a majority the next time we vote. Look what happens when we don't
do that. The premier of the day begins to think that the province
belongs to him/her and their advisors.
Benny Swim
Reply to Benny Swim
The above comment was meant for Andrew Martin, not Mac Isaac.
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to Andrew Martin
How is your opinion fact?
Roland Stewart
Reply to Mac Isaac
None of them could care less about Higgs or his policies or the people
of the province. They are there for the money and perks that come with
the job.
Sterling Wright
Reply to Mac Isaac
You nailed it
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to Benny Swim
You’re right, the Liberals under Holt need to prove that they are not
the Party of the past. They have to show NBers that the billionaires
will finally lose power, that regular folks will not be footing the
bills while watching our services collapse. Watching the Legislature
(as little of it there is) there seems to be hope in some of these new
Liberal MLAs and Leader. Now they have to start proving it’s for real,
not something that disappears the minute they take power. NBs are fed
up with that scenario.
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to Benny Swim
And you’re absolutely right on the need for a Minority Government.
Ross Wetmore said in the Legislature that for all his years (13) in
Government, the 2018 Minority Government was the best he had worked
in. He seemed very emotional about what has become of Government in
NB.
Robert Borden
Reply to Andrew Martin
Over half the party ridings are calling for a leadership review,
that's a fact, and also shows significant disappointment within the
party. At least a third of his Cabinet, at least until this move, was
also in open rebellion against him. That certainly shows a significant
level of disappointment within his own elected members.
Your provided "fact" is a vote that is only for his riding, not for
him as leader. In Alberta Kenney's UPC got elected with a strong
majority yet he was ousted by his party. What you've outlined as
"fact" is basically the scenario that happened in Alberta.
Andrew Martin
Reply to Robert Borden
I guess we'll see what happen with the next election. The ridings may
be calling for a review, but are the actual voters calling for it? We
dont really know 100%, we can estimate, poll etc, but we dont really
know whats on every voters mind until election time.
Andrew Martin
Reply to Donald LeBlanc
Winning a democratically instituted voting system where you win the
majority of votes should be enough evidence of the majority agreeing.
Therefore its not an opinion, but a fact.
Ross Mills
Reply to Andrew Martin
Higgs's job is to represent the views of the people who voted for him.
If he caves, it will be a huge disappointment for those who voted for
him. If necessary, he may need to call an election to prove this.
Robert Borden
Reply to Andrew Martin
Again, voters vote for their MLA, the party votes for the leader. Even
if voters want the conservatives to remain in power, it doesn't mean
they want Higgs as their premier.
Same thing happened in Alberta with Kenney, and quite possibly will
happen with Smith, and I'd even go so far as including the federal
Liberals with Trudeau.
Higgs doesn't seem to have the support of his party and it could be
completely irrelevant what the voters want. If the party wants him
out, he'll be gone.
Andrew Martin
Reply to Robert Borden
And if the voters wanted him running it and the party votes him out,
then they may get voted out
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to Andrew Martin
It’s also a fact that the unvaccinated Pandemic Election Majority was
won with 26% of eligible voters. This was after success in a Minority
Government scenario with Higgs near the top in the approval rating
polls. The opinion is that after receiving his Majority it seems that
was the beginning of his missteps and downward trend, IMO.
claude bourgeois
Can't call them Progressive Conservatives anymore. Just Conservatives.
Jake Quinlan
Reply to claude bourgeois
Chip off the federal block. They hired that consultant from western
canada - here we are.
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to claude bourgeois
Just what Higgs wants. Guess PP is in the area, two peas in a pod.
Another use for the initials PP.
David Amos
Reply to claude bourgeois
C'est Vrai
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Higgs accused of launching 'vicious' attack on PC critic during Saturday meeting
Former president tells premier to ‘get over it’ ahead of Tuesday cabinet shuffle
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 26, 2023 11:04 AM ADT
A man with grey hair and glasses, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and
tie, speaks to reporters. New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is facing
a revolt within his Progressive Conservative caucus and in the party.
(CBC)
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has been accused of launching "a
vicious verbal attack" against a member of the provincial Progressive
Conservative party's governing body who questioned his leadership.
Regional vice-president John Williston said the premier was "over the
top" and "aggressive" when he shouted at the member of the PC
provincial council on the weekend.
"He was clearly in a complete rage," Williston told CBC's Information
Morning Fredericton.
"If this is how the premier speaks to his cabinet, if this is how the
premier communicates with his caucus, it's clearly a toxic work
environment that none of us would be willing to accept in our own
places of business."
Higgs is facing a revolt within his PC caucus and in the party over
his leadership style, which critics say is a top-down system that
ignores expertise and allows little input from ministers and MLAs.
Medium shot of man smiling at camera John Williston, a regional
vice-president of the Progressive Conservative Party, says the premier
shouted at a member of the PC provincial council on the weekend.
(Submitted by John Williston)
Two ministers, Dorothy Shephard and Trevor Holder, have resigned from
his cabinet in the last two weeks over their concerns about his
approach.
Higgs's spokesperson Nicolle Carlin told CBC News on Monday morning
that the premier will shuffle his cabinet on Tuesday.
Two other ministers, Daniel Allain and Jeff Carr, joined Shephard and
Holder in voting against the government on June 15.
WATCH | Daniel Allain on current state of the PC party:
PC arguments about Higgs are 'arduous, tumultuous and in the public,'
minister says
Duration 1:10
Daniel Allain comments on an internal battle within New Brunswick's
governing Progressive Conservative party. Premier Blaine Higgs has
come under fire inside caucus and across the party.
Allain said Monday afternoon he hadn't been told yet if he'd still be
a minister on Tuesday.
"There's a process," he said at a news conference in Grand Bouctouche.
"We serve at the pleasure of the premier."
Allain and the three other ministers helped to pass an opposition
Liberal motion calling for further consultations on the government's
Policy 713, which sets out protections for LGBTQ+ students in schools.
WATCH | Jacques Poitras breaks down what rebelling PCs need to do to
remove a sitting premier:
CBC Explains: How does a leadership review work?
Duration 1:19
The CBC’s Jacques Poitras walks us through each step the PC party must
go through to remove a sitting premier.
All four helped to pass an opposition Liberal motion calling for
further consultations on the government's Policy 713, which sets out
protections for LGBTQ students in schools.
That vote crystallized a growing discontent within the party that
Shephard said goes far beyond just Policy 713.
School year wraps up with bitterness and uncertainty among teachers
Premier Higgs says he won't resign after calls for his removal
Former party president Claude Williams said last week that there are
letters from presidents of 26 PC riding associations asking for a
leadership review — more than the 20 required to force the provincial
council to vote on whether to hold a vote.
Higgs looks at 'path forward'
Williston said the letters weren't submitted at Saturday's meeting
because the number continues to grow, with two more presidents signing
on after the meeting because of the premier's behaviour.
Higgs said on Saturday that there was "a good frank open discussion
here and I think we have a path forward."
Asked about Williams telling reporters he was disappointed in comments
by the premier in the meeting, Higgs said his remarks were "about team
building, it was about us working together and having good discussions
internally."
But Williston said Higgs's comments were "almost borderline shocking."
WATCH | In May, Higgs called for a controversial review of Policy 713:
Premier Blaine Higgs defends his government's review of Policy 713
Duration 2:03
Higgs says schools should have to inform parents if a child under 16
wants to change their names or pronouns, and young children should not
be exposed to drag queen storytimes.
He also said the premier's critics tried to introduce a motion to
schedule a special meeting of the council before the fall to deal with
the leadership review issue but were ruled out of order based on
procedure.
"Some people in the party are trying to to rag the puck," he said.
PC party president Erika Hachey, who ran Saturday's meeting, said
Monday morning she had no comment on Williston's description of the
discussion.
Williston said Higgs claimed in the meeting he was blameless for the
party's poor election showings in francophone New Brunswick, pointing
the finger instead at what he called negative coverage in the
French-language newspaper L'Acadie Nouvelle.
LISTEN | John Williston and Brian Harquail tell Information Morning
host Jeanne Armstrong it's time for Blaine Higgs to resign:
Information Morning - Fredericton15:12
PC party rebellion
Are the days numbered for Blaine Higgs as leader of New Brunswick's
PC party? Jeanne Armstrong spoke to two party members who say it's
time for the Premier to take a final bow. John Williston, a regional
vice-president with the party, and Brian Harquail, former PC party
president and one of the people who signed the letter calling for
Higgs to resign.
Former PC party president Brian Harquail, who did not attend the
meeting, told Information Morning that if Higgs can't unite his caucus
and his party, he doesn't deserve to be governing New Brunswick.
"I was elected twice as president and we have a reputation of eating
our young, and blaming somebody else for our own mistakes," he said.
"Well, it's time we took control and started to lead the party in the
right direction."
'Things are going to escalate'
Harquail was one of four former presidents who signed a letter last
week calling on Higgs to resign to avoid a divisive, drawn-out
leadership review fight.
He scoffed at Higgs blaming negative media coverage for his lack of
popularity in francophone New Brunswick.
Another N.B. cabinet minister quits as turmoil over Higgs's
leadership deepens
5 questions answered about the LGBTQ school policy debate
"To attack the newspaper for doing their job is childish and shows a
very, very strong lack of leadership," he said.
"Get over it, Blaine, because that's life and that's the way it is.
And you wanted the job, so let's get on with it."
Mediu shot of man in suit Former Progressive Conservative party
president Claude Williams previously said there are letters from
presidents of 26 PC riding associations asking for a leadership
review. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Williston said far from calming down, he believes that "things are
going to escalate" in the party's internal battle.
He said the premier will eventually have to realize that he can no
longer govern and that an election would be a risk now because many PC
members in local riding associations won't work for him as leader.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jacques Poitras
Provincial Affairs reporter
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.
With files from CBC Information Morning Fredericton
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
1109 Comments
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Methinks Higgy's beloved caucus may turn on him in short order now
that only 17 of them got a new car and a big raise N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Somebody has attacked my blog about this nonsense 11 times since
yesterday afternoon and I have a pretty good idea who is doing it
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Methinks Higgy just sealed the deal to go to war with Mr Allian and
his pals Now they will battle for the Leadership N'esy Pas?
David Amos
"We serve at the pleasure of the premier."
I continue to maintain that Daniel Allain will be the next Leader/Premier
Kyle Woodman
Reply to David Amos
You might be on to something. He managed the optics of municipal
reform fairly well given how unpopular it was.
Don Corey
Reply to David Amos
I hope you’re right on the next leader. If indeed it’s Allain, he’ll
also win the next election and the libs will no longer have Higgs to
continually complain about.
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
More importantly he is French Minister in Moncton and a Bernie Lord buddy
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Ya think lol?
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Ben Haroldson
It could have been a complete disaster given how angry people were.
Given the context I think he handled it with some competency. I don't
really know much about Allain. Seems to know when to keep his head
down.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Hanwell man sues NB Liquor over agency store contract
Moncton's Power Plus Technology won the agency store contract
CBC News · Posted: Apr 23, 2013 9:35 AM ADT
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
Alward appoints faithful to key positions
CBC News · Posted: Oct 14, 2010 6:49 AM ADT
New Brunswick Premier David Alward appointed Tory faithful to key
deputy minister posts Thursday, reversing a vow to change the way in
which appointments are made by the provincial government.
The appointments include Daniel Allain to the key position of
president and chief executive officer of NB Liquor. Dana Clendenning,
the Liberal-appointed president of the Crown corporation, left his
position last week with a taxpayer-funded severance package.
Previous premiers Shawn Graham and Bernard Lord both selected party
loyalists for the job, which pays between $150,000 and $175,000 per
year.
David Amos
"But Mark Paul-Elias, the president of the PC's Fredericton-Grand Lake
Riding Association, said the majority of the party stands behind the
premier"
Mack Leigh
Reply to David Amos
And that speaks volumes....
Graham McCormack
Reply to David Amos
And Trump say she was the best president ever. People say a lot of
things, doesn't mean they are true.
Andrew Hebda
Reply to David Amos
He has unique insight (outside of the Fredericton-Grand Lake riding)?
Gregory Pittaway
Reply to David Amos
I think that's going to be proven fantacy very shortly. Lol.
David Amos
Reply to Gregory Pittaway
Trust that I don't trust anything a lawyer says particularly one who
is supporting our latest Justice Minister
Rhys Philbin
Lol. Caucus revolt.
Two ministers stand down yet hold on to the golden paycheque
David Amos
Reply to Rhys Philbin
Oh My MY Are you having as much fun as I?
Daniel Franklin
Higgs is bad for NB and is giving us a bad name. He's worse for NB
than Jason Kenney was for Alberta.
Andrew Martin
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Best leader NB has had in decades..... maybe are envious that higgs is
taking a stand against the nonsense.
Inger Nielsen
Reply to Andrew Martin
sorry you feel that way I feel that childrens lives matter childrens
voices matter and childrens rights matter
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Relax and enjoy the circus
Ken Hastings
Reply to Daniel Franklin
But, Danielle Smith is worse than Higgs and Kenney put together!
Fred Brewer
What has Higgs done for renewables in NB?
2016 was the first year when there were more people employed in
renewable energy worldwide than there were in oil and gas worldwide.
Since then the job growth in renewables has continued to grow. But
Higgs head was firmly stuck in the oilsands and NB has lost out on
huge, well-paid job growth opportunities in renewables. Time for him
to go.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Fred Brewer
Our total renewable capacity in 2018 stood at 30.6%, in 2023 it now
stands at 40.4%. Conversely, our Oil and Diesel was at 35.2%, it is
now 15.5%. Looks like that debt clock needs another adjustment.
Andrew Martin
Reply to Fred Brewer
The cost of renewables is not as attractive to NB due to our already
low rates. The shift in job demographics you mention is not born of
something other than government making O n G job extinct due to
hindering policies.
David Amos
Reply to Ronald Miller
Say Hey to Little Lou for me will ya?
Shawn Tabor
This just keeps on getting better and better. The drama of it all.
Shows you the ( cracks ). What should these folks really be doing.
David Amos
Reply to Shawn Tabor
Welcome back to the circus
Frank Brace
Perhaps Higgs could be sent to a psychologist for counselling
David Amos
Reply to Frank Brace
Why not just put the old goat out to pasture? The Conservatives may
need him again in the future
Michael Hutton
Reply to Frank Brace
Only if his parents approve
Andrew Hebda
Reply to Frank Brace
In all honesty.. we all have our days... when we have to vent...
however, in this case, based on what we have seen in the news during
the last several weeks seems to be something more "persistent"
Frank Brace
Reply to Michael Hutton
Touche, make him tell them
Walter Alison
Reply to Frank Brace
Don't you really mean social conditioning and brainwashing?
Benny Swim
Reply to Frank Brace
But not one in a school as there are none.
Michael Cain
Reply to Frank Brace
anger mangement problem; makes decisions in the heat of the moment.
Frank Brace
Reply to Walter Alison
That's already occurred and why he needs help
Mike Carruthers
Any leader will have a nasty streak when subordinates decide to not
follow their instructions. Just ask Jody Wilson-Raybould.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Mike Carruthers
While you are at it why not ask Jody about my lawsuit which I filed
and began arguing before she was elected?
Michael Murphy
Reply to Mike Carruthers
So Trudeau was right, or Higgs is wrong?
Walter Alison
Reply to Michael Murphy
Trudeau is never right. Hence, Higgs is not wrong.
Andrew Hebda
Reply to Mike Carruthers
In Minister Wilson Raybould's case she was offered a choice... In this
case... no choice.. just public berating.
Michael Cain
Reply to Mike Carruthers
She failed at the job miserably.
Robt Greene
'Vicious verbal attack.'
'He was clearly in a complete rage'
We've had hints of this from Ottawa. One incident, about six yrs ago,
that made it to a couple of papers, was the time when he jumped up on
a desk and started screaming a profanity laden 10 min outburst at an
MP who dared to voice what his constituents wanted.
No story on this site about it though. And you can be damned sure they
knew all about it.
David Amos
Reply to Robt Greene
Reporters witnessed our little hoedown in public in October and said
nothing either
Dacre Gushue
Reply to Robt Greene
You need to add more context here. Not sure who or what you're talking about.
David Amos
Reply to Dacre Gushue
I finally got a Health Care Card Correct?
Benny Swim
So because Trudeau does it, it is fine for Higgs? Whataboutism is a
weak argument. Like kids saying "well Mary and Mark did it so why am I
being given a hard time"". BTW, Trudeau is a lousy leader too.
David Amos
Reply to Benny Swim
They both replaced their Health Ministers Correct?
Robt Greene
Reply to Benny Swim
Not at all what I was saying.
One is front page news on here.
The other incidents are totally ignored by this site.
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
PC official wants Blaine Higgs's leadership put to review
PC party official hopes for discussion of N.B. premier's leadership at
annual general meeting
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Oct 18, 2022 6:15 PM AT
Blaine Higgs recently told Brunswick News that he’ll announce during
his State of the Province speech in the new year whether he plans to
retire ahead of the next election in 2024 or seek another mandate.
(Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Bruce Dagsvik
At this rate NB will see a COR comeback with Higgs as leader taking
them into the 2024 election.
Dacre Gushue
Reply to Bruce Dagsvik
That's not all bad.
David Amos
Reply to Bruce Dagsvik
Methinks many would agree that you are more right than wrong N'esy Pas?
Toby Tolly
jacques ... the 1 hit wonder
Emmanuel Rochon
Reply to Toby Tolly
Oh how some like to blame the messenger!
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Emmanuel Rochon
C'est Vrai
Zoe Richmond
Premier Higgs has won two elections, of course the media is all over
him like the plague.
Elliott Stranger
Reply to Zoe Richmond
It’s not the media he has to worry about. His own party wants him gone.
Andrew Hebda
Reply to Zoe Richmond
It is not the media that is confronting him... It is (what were
formerly his own people
Emmanuel Rochon
Reply to Zoe Richmond
Well that's quite the leap!
Roosevelt Smith
Reply to Emmanuel Rochon
seems blaming the media is pretty on par for these folks:
pointing the finger instead at what he called negative coverage in the
French-language newspaper L'Acadie Nouvelle.
Sam Crawford
Reply to Zoe Richmond
Hoodwinking an electorate in no means equates to good governance.
Craig McMaster
Reply to Zoe Richmond
Premier Higgs is losing the support of his own Party and the press is
doing their job by telling us about it...
David Amos
Reply to Sam Crawford
Oh So True
Rick Rheubottom
When cornered the typical politician will lash out in a defensive
tactic disguised as aggression. If ignored the hackles come down and
typically they rest.
Andrew Hebda
Reply to Rick Rheubottom
I prefer politicians who can control their temper (and their hackles)
David Amos
Reply to Andrew Hebda
Clive Gibbons
Judging by the contempt he has for his team, imagine how he feels
about what regular New Brunswickers think.
David Amos
Reply to Clive Gibbons
Imagine?
James Smythe
And here I thought conservatives detested top-down governance and
centralized power
13 older comments.
David Novak
Reply to Craig McMaster
This article is about internal party frictions. How is Trudeau acting
like a Conservative? There is little comparable internal friction
within the Liberal Party. Alberta's Premier is watching behind her
back and Higgs seems to be now too, both conservatives. And of course
we can imagine that there might still be a few real conservatives out
there who might fundamentally disagree with the direction the federal
party is headed.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to James Smythe
Imagine?
On 6/25/23, David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
> BTW Higgy's old buddy Dominic Cardy is about to speak about 713 on
> CBC Radio's Cross Country Checkup
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/radio/
>
> Is Canada becoming more or less accepting of LGBTQ rights?
>
> What conversations are you having? Call us: 1-888-416-8333
> CBC Radio · Posted: Jun 23, 2023 1:35 PM ADT
>
> Cross Country Checkup: Is Canada becoming more or less accepting of
> LGBTQ rights?
> 54 minutes ago
> Live
> It's Pride weekend in Toronto, but it comes at a time where advocates
> say trans people are being targeted and harmful rhetoric is on the
> rise. What conversations are you having?
>
> Toronto is hosting Pride celebrations this weekend, but it comes at a
> time where advocates say trans people are being targeted and harmful
> rhetoric is on the rise.
>
> In New Brunswick, the provincial government's decision to change an
> education policy on gender identity has caused significant controversy
> and even turmoil within the government. The changes make it mandatory
> for teachers to get parental consent before using a student's chosen
> name and pronouns.
>
> School psychologists as well as child welfare, education and human
> rights experts have all come out against these changes.
>
> Our question this week: Is Canada becoming more or less accepting of
> LGBTQ rights? What conversations are you having?
>
> Our Ask Me Anything segment this week features former Conservative
> leader Erin O'Toole. O'Toole resigned his seat as an MP at the end of
> the House of Commons' spring session this past Wednesday. What
> questions do you have?
>
> Join host Ian Hanomansing on CBC Radio One and CBC Listen and CBC News
> Network. Call Checkup at 1-888-416-8333, send an email text
> (226-758-8924) or find us on Facebook.
>
> https://davidraymondamos3.
>
> Wednesday, 21 June 2023
>
> PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support ousting Higgs
>
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
> Premier Higgs says he won't resign after calls for his removal
> Higgs intends to stay on even after the resignations of 2 cabinet ministers
>
> CBC News · Posted: Jun 24, 2023 5:30 PM ADT
>
>
> Premier Blaine Higgs Premier Blaine Higgs said a resignation isn't in
> the cards. (Lars Schwarz/CBC)
>
> Premier Blaine Higgs said he's not going anywhere after a Progressive
> Conservative party meeting in Fredericton on Saturday.
>
> When asked what's next for him and the party, Higgs batted down any
> suggestion of stepping aside.
>
> "It won't be a resignation," Higgs said.
>
> The premier has been under pressure to step aside after changes to
> Policy 713 — a policy designed to protect LGBTQ students in schools —
> prompted the resignations of two cabinet ministers and letters from
> more than 20 riding presidents calling on Higgs to resign.
>
> Higgs said there was no formal discussion at the meeting about a
> possible leadership review, but did say he wants to work with the
> party and his caucus to resolve any issues behind closed doors.
>
> "I think we have a path forward here as we work through some of our
> issues," he said.
>
> Another N.B. cabinet minister quits as turmoil over Higgs's
> leadership deepens
>
> 5 questions answered about the LGBTQ school policy debate
>
> Claude Williams, a former president of the party who attended the
> meeting, said the reason there was no formal discussion about a
> leadership review is because the rules of the meeting made it
> impossible.
>
> He also said he was disappointed in the premier's closing remarks to
> the meeting, but didn't elaborate further.
> Support cloudy
>
> The amount of support the premier has in caucus, and in the party, is
> up for debate.
>
> On Wednesday, CBC News reported at least 22 riding presidents have
> written letters calling for a leadership review vote.
>
> But Mark Paul-Elias, the president of the PC's Fredericton-Grand Lake
> Riding Association, said the majority of the party stands behind the
> premier.
>
> While he admitted not everyone was supportive of Higgs — mentioning at
> least one person who walked out of the meeting — Paul-Elias maintained
> the premier has the party's support.
>
> "You don't have a family that doesn't have the odd person who doesn't
> agree with what's going on. But the party is really united and we
> intend to stay united," he said.
>
> With files from Lars Schwarz
> CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
>
>
>
> 198 Comments
>
>
>
> David Amos
> "The turmoil within New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative Party
> was deepening Friday morning as another minister quit Premier Blaine
> Higgs's cabinet and four former top party officials demanded the
> premier resign.
>
> Portland-Simonds MLA Trevor Holder, the longest-serving MLA in the
> legislature, announced in an open letter he was quitting as minister
> of post-secondary education, training and labour.
>
> "Under the leadership of Premier Higgs, caucus has been less about
> consensus and more about him getting his own way," Holder wrote.
>
> Holder's letter was sent out just one hour after four past presidents
> of the party called on Higgs to resign immediately.
>
> "We ask that you avoid a disruptive, public battle that could tear the
> party apart. We ask that you leave graciously," the letter says.
>
> The letter is signed by Claude Williams, Lester Young, Brian Harquail
> and Jason Stephen, all former presidents of the New Brunswick party."
>
>
>
>
> David Amos
> Imagine if Higgy as Leader decides to dissolve the PC Party like his
> buddy Austin did to the PANB recently and MacKay did to the federal PC
> Party in 20 years ago?
>
>
>
>
> David Amos
> "Higgs's past involvement with the anti-bilingualism Confederation of
> Regions party — alarming to many francophones — underscored that he
> was truly different."
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to David Amos
> "Only three sitting PC MLAs endorsed him, an indicator of how his more
> conventional colleagues saw his maverickness.
>
> So he signed up countless new party members to go around them.
>
> He told those recruits that "it doesn't matter what the party's called
> — use the PC Party as a conduit to change politics in New Brunswick."
>
> David Amos
> Reply to David Amos
> "Most MLAs who worked with Higgs in the Alward cabinet endorsed other
> leadership candidates in 2016 and chafed at his open disdain for
> old-fashioned party ways.
>
> "When it's done right … politics is what makes things happen," veteran
> Portland-Simonds member Trevor Holder said at the time.
>
> "Sometimes that takes political friendships and alliances to get that
> done."
>
> David Amos
> Reply to David Amos
> "The main accusation by his caucus critics is that he cuts them out of
> his decision-making process.
>
> His 2020 push for health reforms — including the proposed closure of
> small hospital emergency departments — cost him his only francophone
> MLA at the time, Robert Gauvin.
>
> Gauvin's father was the late Jean Gauvin, a longtime member of Richard
> Hatfield's cabinet who helped keep the embers of PC support flickering
> in Shippagan during the party's 12-year exile from power.
>
> Jean Gauvin also stood by Hatfield when party rebels tried to remove
> him from the leadership in 1985 — so his son's move to the Liberals is
> another symbol of Higgs's break with party history. "
>
> David Amos
> Content Deactivated
> Reply to David Amos
> "Another francophone who backed Hatfield during that battle,
> Jean-Pierre Ouellet from Madawaska-Les Lacs-Edmundston, is now part of
> the push to dump Higgs, arguing the premier is advancing ideas
> inimical to the PC Party.
>
> "As far as I'm concerned, he's trying to implement a platform that was
> the CoR platform when he was campaigning for the CoR party in the
> 1980s," Ouellete said."
>
> Jos Allaire
> Reply to David Amos
> He was and still is different!
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Jos Allaire
> Methinks many folks in Madawaska-Les Lacs-Edmundston agree with you N'esy
> Pas?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> David Amos
> "Former PC cabinet minister Jody Carr, whose brother Jeff Carr is a
> minister in the government and among those who voted for the motion,
> tweeted Thursday that it was sad to see Higgs "lose the confidence of
> his party, caucus and citizens, and be the last one to realize it."
>
>
>
>
> David Amos
> On June 21st PC Party president Erika Hachey said in an email she had
> not received any letters yet from riding presidents calling for a
> review.
>
>
>
>
>
> David Amos
> "But Mark Paul-Elias, the president of the PC's Fredericton-Grand Lake
> Riding Association, said the majority of the party stands behind the
> premier"
>
>
> Gregory Pittaway
> Reply to David Amos
> Jeez, never seen this much turmoil in a party that has such confidence
> in its leader.
>
>
> David Amos
> Content Deactivated
> Reply to Gregory Pittaway
> Check out the circus in the Ottawa or England or Scotland or Russia or
> the USA etc Methinks New Brunswick is small potatoes N'esy Pas?
>
>
> Christine White
> Reply to David Amos
> Who is Mark speaking for?
>
> Not the voting public.
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Christine White
> Higgy
>
>
>
>
> Wilbur Ross
> Call the Irving complaint line and tell them to fire this guy.
>
>
> Buford Wilson
> Reply to Wilbur Ross
> (Hilarious!)
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Wilbur Ross
> Good luck with that
>
>
>
>
>
> Doug kirby
> His past employment has taught him to never back down
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Doug kirby
> No doubt
>
>
> Gregory Pittaway
> Reply to Doug kirby
> His past employment certainly didn't teach him to consult with experts
> so this is what we get. An uneducated leader who does not care to
> consult with those who know more than him. Just mine a vein of half
> truths for cheap political points, children be damned.
>
>
> Michael Cain
> Reply to Doug kirby
> His past employment taught him that a bully gets things done.
>
>
> G. Timothy Walton
> Reply to Doug kirby
> Elect political outsiders, get people with politics outside their skillset.
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to G. Timothy Walton
> I resemble that remark
>
>
>
>
>
> Keith McLellan
> The most divisive premier ever! Higgs has to go!
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Keith McLellan
> Amen
>
>
>
>
> Lorelei Stott
> great news, hold the hill Mr. Higgs, appreciate your stance and common
> sense middle ground
>
>
> David Amos
> Content Deactivated
> Reply to Lorelei Stott
> No doubt Humpty Dumpty had his fans too
>
>
> Gregory Pittaway
> Reply to Lorelei Stott
> That you call this "middle ground" is hilarious and telling. Lol.
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Gregory Pittaway
> I continue to maintain that Daniel J. Allain will be the next PC
> Leader/Premier in short order
>
>
>
>
>
> Kat Jo
> Imagine, believing parents should be involved in the rearing of their
> children.
>
>
> Rachel Woods
> Reply to Kat Jo
> A child’s gender identity has no impact on the “rearing” aspect of a
> parent. Their support, love, and attention should not be impacted by
> their gender identity.
>
> That’s why in this one singular niche situation the parent should be
> left out, if the child specifically requests it.
>
> Parents are still informed and involved in literally everything else.
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Kat Jo
> Imagine
>
>
> Graham McCormack
> Reply to Kat Jo
> Nobody said they shouldn't be involved. Nice try in confusing the issue.
>
>
> Michael Cain
> Reply to Kat Jo
> Parents are a part of the rearing of children; babysitters, day care
> and school all have a part to play.
>
>
>
>
>
> Murray Brown
> Mr. Higgs was obviously never a student of Parliamentary democracy....
> You don't decide whether or not your are the leader of your party...
> Your party decides. And if they decide that you are not the leader...
> Then you aren't the leader. And if you aren't the leader, then you
> aren't the Premier. Get used to it Mr. Higgs. You do not control the
> keys to the Premier's office... Your party does.
>
>
> Sterling Wright
> Reply to Murray Brown
> I thought the voters decided.
>
>
> David Amos
> Content Deactivated
> Reply to Sterling Wright
> What did Higgy and his new buddy do to your beloved party?
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Murray Brown
> Close but no cigar
>
>
>
>
> Benny Swim
> Mark Paul-Elias does not apparently read the news. This is like Higgs'
> family has put all his worldly possessions on the sidewalk and changed
> the locks on the door. In that this is no small family disagreement.
>
> No surprise that Higgs would put himself ahead of his party and his
> province. He is a bitter ender of there ever was one. This is going to
> get much worse in the days ahead.
>
> Donald LeBlanc
> Reply to Benny Swim
> Agree, other than his party is the Higgs Party, not the PC Party and
> his Province is the Irving’s Province, IMO of course.
>
>
> David Amos
> Content Deactivated
> Reply to Benny Swim
> When was the last time you believed a lawyer working with a politician
> who is currently the Justice Minister?
>
>
>
>
>
> Rhys Philbin
> This topic has run its course.
>
> Next!
>
> Stephen Robertson
> Reply to Rhys Philbin
> You can only hope.
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Rhys Philbin
> Dream on
>
>
>
>
> Alison Jackson
> "I think we have a path forward here as we work through some of our
> issues," he said.
>
> -
>
> But YOU are the issue McFly!
>
> Rick Grayson
> Reply to Alison Jackson
> I think the premier fails to realize that the govt works as a
> democracy and not a dictatorship. 3 cabinet ministers resign. 1 the
> longest standing member of the legislature. Seems like there is a
> common denominator.
>
>
> Ed Armstrong
> Reply to Alison Jackson
> Just remember the last two resignations and the caucus revolt were
> from people that never supported Highs from day one. He knew it and
> they knew it. The first one was insubordination, he quit seconds
> before he would have been fired.
>
>
> Rachel Woods
> Reply to Ed Armstrong
> “They never supported him since day one”
>
> That is false. He wouldn’t have made them cabinet ministers if they
> didn’t support him.
>
> Matt Steele
> Reply to Ed Armstrong
> Exactly right .
>
>
> Ed Armstrong
> Reply to Rachel Woods
> They both supported someone else for the leadership right up to and
> including the last ballot. They got in cabinet because they were 2 of
> the most experienced MLAs he had. Who had more Cabinet Experience that
> was excluded from cabinet?
>
>
> Doug Cochran
> Reply to Alison Jackson
> "But the party is really united and we intend to stay united" says it
> all. I think Mr Higgs is in tune with the majority and the majority is
> in tune with him.
>
>
> Rachel Woods
> Reply to Doug Cochran
> Is that why his approval ratings have plummeted and are the lowest of
> any Premier in the country?
>
>
> Doug Cochran
> Reply to Alison Jackson
> Won't matter much when he wins next election
>
>
> David Webb
> Reply to Rachel Woods
> You do know that there is only one poll that counts. Polling done for
> any party (paid for) are easily manipulated to get the result they
> desire, which they then advertise as the definitive authority. For
> example a poll done in only liberal held ridings would look quite
> different in conservative held ridings.
>
>
> Michael Cain
> Reply to Doug Cochran
> That tune you hear must be "(Na Na Hey Hey) Kiss Him Goodbye".
>
>
> Donald LeBlanc
> Reply to Doug Cochran
> Are you referring to the majority of right wing Western separatists?
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Ed Armstrong
> Why not explain to the folks why I ran in Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins in 2018?
>
>
> David Amos
> Reply to Ed Armstrong
> Howcome you dudes quit sending me butter tarts?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
>
> Another N.B. cabinet minister quits as turmoil over Higgs's leadership
> deepens
> Trevor Holder resigns not long after 4 former party presidents call
> for premier to leave
>
> Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 23, 2023 9:28 AM ADT
>
>
> Bald man with glasses stands in lobby of legislature with reporters
> around him. Longtime Progressive Conservative MLA Trevor Holder has
> stepped down from the New Brunswick cabinet. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
>
> The turmoil within New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative Party was
> deepening Friday morning as another minister quit Premier Blaine
> Higgs's cabinet and four former top party officials demanded the
> premier resign.
>
> Portland-Simonds MLA Trevor Holder, the longest-serving MLA in the
> legislature, announced in an open letter he was quitting as minister
> of post-secondary education, training and labour.
>
> "Under the leadership of Premier Higgs, caucus has been less about
> consensus and more about him getting his own way," Holder wrote.
>
> Holder said he has tried many times to explain to the premier the
> importance of working more collaboratively but to no avail.
>
> "While I have tried my best to continue to work to maintain the
> integrity of the caucus system, I have finally come to the conclusion
> that this is no longer possible."
>
> A man with grey hair and glasses, wearing a blue suit, white collared
> shirt and blue tie, speaks into several reporters' microphones as a
> number of other people behind him look on. Premier Blaine Higgs has
> been facing backlash from his own MLAs. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
>
> He also rapped the premier for "his lack of empathy as well as his
> inability to listen to valid concerns from all members of his caucus."
>
> Holder was first elected in the 1999 election and has been a minister
> under three different PC premiers.
>
> He said he plans to stay on as MLA for Portland-Simonds and called on
> party members to "build a thoughtful conservative movement in this
> province that brings people together rather than divide them."
>
> Holder's letter was sent out just one hour after four past presidents
> of the party called on Higgs to resign immediately.
>
> They wrote in their statement that Higgs has achieved a lot during his
> more than four years as premier but also lacks the ability to achieve
> "the delicate balance" required to govern New Brunswick.
>
> "We ask that you avoid a disruptive, public battle that could tear the
> party apart. We ask that you leave graciously," the letter says.
>
> "You have had some important successes as Premier of New Brunswick.
> But the moment now demands that you pass the baton and the PCNB
> reorient itself to face the future and move forward."
>
> PC caucus members voice support for Higgs amid push for leadership
> review
>
> Analysis
> Blaine Higgs, a visitor to the PC Party, may soon be shown the door
>
> The letter is signed by Claude Williams, Lester Young, Brian Harquail
> and Jason Stephen, all former presidents of the New Brunswick party.
>
> The four former presidents accused Higgs of trying to make the
> internal fight a fight about Policy 713, the policy on protections for
> LGBTQ students in provincial schools that the government recently
> revised.
>
> But they said the problems run deeper and include the premier's
> attempts to replace French immersion and weaken district education
> councils and to eliminate elected members of regional health authority
> boards.
>
> "Policy 713 was just the tipping point in a long line of disrespect he
> has shown to our Party, its values and its traditions," they wrote.
>
> Stephen said in an interview that as a party volunteer for more than
> three decades, it was hard for him to sign the letter.
>
> But he believes the party's future is at stake, including in the next
> election in October 2024.
>
> "This is going to turn into a very divisive program, I believe. That's
> why I'm asking him to retire and pass the torch. He can leave a legacy
> of doing some very good things. But that legacy will be different if
> he tries to carry a fractured party into the election."
>
> Medium shot of man in suit speakingJason Stephen, former president of
> the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick, says Higgs should
> resign or else he will divide the party. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian
> Press)
>
> Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin MLA Mike Dawson said he's "behind
> Blaine Higgs 100 per cent" and doesn't understand what Holder's
> resignation will accomplish.
>
> Since he was elected in a byelection last year, Dawson said, he's been
> in the Premier's Office many times, discussing issues with Higgs.
>
> "Instead of letting the pot simmer and boil over, you go into the
> office, you have the discussions and you come out of the office on a
> level playing field, and everyone understands where each other
> stands," he said.
>
> Dawson also defended the premier's hands-on approach to governing,
> which former cabinet minister Dorothy Shephard and others have
> complained about.
>
> "Blaine Higgs is the boss of the PC party. He's the CEO," Dawson said.
> WATCH | Dorothy Shephard, minister of social development, resigns from
> cabinet:
> Dorothy Shephard resigns from cabinet
> Duration 2:00
> In a note addressed to the premier, the social development minister
> said, ‘I can no longer remain in your cabinet.’
>
> Holder's resignation follows that of Shephard, his Saint John
> colleague who quit last week after she, Holder, two other ministers
> and two backbench PC MLA defied Higgs during a vote in the
> legislature.
>
> They joined with the opposition parties to pass a Liberal motion
> calling for more consultations on Policy 713.
>
> Holder said in his letter he now has to do "some significant soul
> searching" after a 24-year career in the legislature.
>
> Critics of Higgs within the party have collected 26 letters from
> presidents of party riding presidents calling for a leadership review.
>
> That's six more than the threshold under the party constitution for
> the PC provincial council to debate it at an upcoming meeting.
>
> It also represents a majority of the 49 riding organizations in the
> province.
>
> Earlier this week Higgs called the push for a review "a strategically
> planned political drama" that has been "a focus from a certain group
> for a few years now" and that was heightened by the Policy 713 debate.
>
> On Thursday two PC caucus members, cabinet minister Réjean Savoie and
> backbench MLA Sherry Wilson, said they support Higgs staying on.
>
> Wilson said PC MLAs who can't support his leadership "need to go and
> just retire, just get out of politics, if that's the way they think."
>
> Cross Country Checkup wants to know if you think Canada is becoming
> more or less accepting of LGBTQ rights. What conversations are you
> having? Fill out the details on this form and send us your thoughts
> and stories.
> ABOUT THE AUTHOR
>
> Jacques Poitras
>
> Provincial Affairs reporter
>
> 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.
> CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
>
>
>
> 932 Comments
>
>
>
> David Amos
> I wonder if Trevor Holder conferred with his former assistant who is
> now the Global Director Harper & Associates?
>
>
>
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
> PC caucus members voice support for Higgs amid push for leadership review
> Moncton Southwest MLA says rebels should quit politics if they don’t
> like premier’s approach
>
> Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 22, 2023 4:40 PM ADT
>
>
> A man with grey hair and glasses, wearing a blue suit, white collared
> shirt and blue tie, speaks into several reporters' microphones as a
> number of other people behind him look on. Premier Blaine Higgs fields
> questions from reporters, backed by caucus members who supported him
> on Policy 713, including Réjean Savoie (with briefcase). (Jacques
> Poitras/CBC)
>
> Premier Blaine Higgs is getting vocal support from some members of his
> cabinet and caucus as he faces a growing push to remove him as leader
> of New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative party.
>
> Moncton Southwest PC MLA Sherry Wilson says Higgs's record on fiscal
> management and improving health care is a strong one, and members of
> the PC caucus who don't like his leadership should quit.
>
> "For the people who don't support our premier, and don't look at the
> good work and the big picture and what's best for the people we serve
> here in New Brunswick, I think maybe it's time for them to step away,"
> she said.
>
> Critics of Higgs within the party say they have gathered letters from
> 26 presidents of PC riding associations and 50 rank-and-file members
> overall — more than enough to start the process of seeking to remove
> Higgs.
>
> A woman stands at a CBC microphone in an art gallery. Sherry Wilson,
> former minister of Service New Brunswick, said those Tory MLAs should
> leave if they can't endorse Higgs's approach. (CBC)
>
> Those letters were gathered over the last 10 days as a debate over
> Policy 713, on the protection of LGBTQ students in provincial schools,
> erupted at the legislature.
>
> Four cabinet ministers and two backbench PC MLAs voted with a Liberal
> opposition motion calling for consultations, helping to carry the
> motion 26-20.
>
> Analysis
> Blaine Higgs, a visitor to the PC Party, may soon be shown the door
>
> Wilson said those Tory MLAs should leave if they can't endorse Higgs's
> approach.
>
> "To me it's a Conservative value that parents are involved in their
> children's lives. How do we fix it? I think maybe some of them maybe
> need to step down. They need to go and just retire, just get out of
> politics if that's the way they think."
>
> A woman with short grey hair and glasses glances to the left of the
> photo with a serious expression. It's fairly close-up and only the
> collar of a black blouse with aqua squares and some red patterning is
> visible. Former cabinet minister Dorothy Shephard warned Premier Higgs
> in October 2021 that his hands-on management style was alienating
> members of his cabinet and threatened to "destroy" his government.
> (Shane Magee/CBC)
>
> Former minister Dorothy Shephard quit the cabinet last week but
> remains a PC MLA.
>
> She said Higgs's handling of Policy 713 was "the last straw" and the
> latest in a string of examples where he has cut the cabinet and caucus
> out of decision-making and instead micromanaged issues.
>
> But Wilson defended that approach.
>
> "Blaine has his own leadership style. He does. But look at the work
> that's been done under his leadership. … He is the premier and he
> needs to know what's going on in every sector in government," she
> said.
>
> "In any of the departments, if something were to go wrong, the bucks
> stops with him. He needs to know so he can work with us and guide us."
>
> Two men hold hands, raising hands above their heads in victory signal.
> Premier Blaine Higgs celebrating with Miramichi Bay-Neguac MLA-elect
> Réjean Savoie after Savoie won a byelection last year. (Jacques
> Poitras/CBC)
>
> Regional Development Corporation Minister Réjean Savoie, elected last
> year in a byelection in Miramichi Bay-Neguac, also defended Higgs.
>
> "The premier has done his job well," Savoie said. "We've never been in
> such a strong financial position."
>
> He said he worried that the public split would damage the PC party.
>
> "When we have a family disagreement, it should happen behind closed
> doors. … and the Progressive Conservative party is a family."
>
> Savoie was among the MLAs who stood behind Higgs in a media scrum
> minutes after the government lost the vote on the Policy 713 motion
> last Thursday.
>
> PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support ousting Higgs
>
> Minister quits as legislature condemns N.B. premier's LGBTQ policy
> change
>
> He said the impact of the changes to the policy have been exaggerated.
>
> "I hope this will end well and we can try to calm things down," he said.
>
> Former PC cabinet minister Jody Carr, whose brother Jeff Carr is a
> minister in the government and among those who voted for the motion,
> tweeted Thursday that it was sad to see Higgs "lose the confidence of
> his party, caucus and citizens, and be the last one to realize it."
>
> Wilson was one of the few PC MLAs who supported Higgs in his campaign
> for the party leadership in 2016.
>
> She became minister of women's equality and minister of Service New
> Brunswick when the party took power after the 2018 election, but was
> shuffled out of the cabinet when the PCs were re-elected in 2020.
> ABOUT THE AUTHOR
>
> Jacques Poitras
>
> Provincial Affairs reporter
>
> 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.
> CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
>
>
>
> 93 Comments
>
>
>
> David Amos
> The former minister of Service New Brunswick Sherry Wilson never did
> find my Harley. Perhaps she will now?
>
PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support ousting Higgs
More than 20 riding presidents signed letters, the first step in removing N.B. premier as leader of the party
A member of the party's provincial council says 25 presidents of PC riding associations have signed letters calling for a leadership review vote.
That's a majority out of the 49 ridings. It also surpasses a key threshold in the party's constitution to trigger the process.
"That number constitutes over 50 per cent of riding association presidents and I think it clearly shows there's a desire for a change of leadership amongst the membership," said John Williston, a regional vice-president of the party who supports the review.
"This is from every part of the province. … It's important that this reflects a wide scope of New Brunswick — anglophone, francophone, northern, southern. It shows unity among our party throughout the province."
Jean-Pierre
Ouellet, one of the riding association presidents who signed a letter,
says Higgs has made too many decisions without consultation.
(Radio-Canada) (Radio-Canada)
CBC News has seen and verified 22 of the letters, two more than the number required to advance the issue.
Jean-Pierre Ouellet, president of the Madawaska-Les Lacs-Edmundston riding association and one of the signatories, said Higgs has made too many decisions without consulting the public.
"It's 'my way or the highway,'" he said, pointing to an attempt to replace French immersion, legislation weakening the powers of anglophone district education councils and eliminating elected positions on regional health authority boards.
Surpassing the 20-letter threshold doesn't guarantee a membership vote on Higgs's leadership will be held.
The party constitution requires letters from 20 riding presidents, and 50 party members in total, for the party's provincial council — its governing body — to put the question on its agenda at its next meeting.
No more than five of the 50 members can be from any single riding.
Some of the signed letters, seen by CBC News, calling for a leadership review vote. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Former party president Claude Williams told Radio-Canada's La Matinale on Wednesday morning that those 50 letters were also in hand.
"We have the numbers," Williams said. "If I were in his place, I'd retire."
The council must vote by a two-thirds majority to schedule a convention within three months, where delegates would vote on whether to keep or remove Higgs.
Williston, a member of the council, said he believes a two-thirds vote is well within "striking distance."
"With approximately one-third of the caucus voting against the government and not willing to follow the premier at this point, it's quite obvious to me we need a change in leadership in the party."
Reviews are automatic if the party loses an election, but the process is elaborate and time-consuming when it's in power.
The move to dump Higgs is the first organized attempt to remove a sitting New Brunswick premier from their party's leadership since an effort against Premier Richard Hatfield in 1985.
Higgs was elected premier in September 2018 and re-elected two years later.
Former cabinet minister Dorothy Shephard, who resigned as social development minister last week, said last week that she'd rather see Higgs leave "amicably" than face being ousted.
"I know that the party is mobilizing to consider a leadership review," she said on CBC's Power and Politics. "I'm sure that weighs on his mind."
But Higgs indicated Monday the ball was in the membership's court.
"It won't be a call that I make, right?" he told reporters. "If the party decides to do that, it won't be a decision I make. So if it happens, I guess it happens."
Shephard quit after she and five other PC MLAs, including three other ministers, voted with the opposition for a Liberal motion calling for more consultations on Policy 713.
Dorothy Shephard explains to reporters her decision to quit cabinet on June 15. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
The premier said he was willing to face a party review process to defend his position on his controversial review of the policy, which sets out standards for providing safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ students in provincial schools.
PC Party president Erika Hachey said in an email she has not received any letters yet from riding presidents calling for a review.
The provincial council is scheduled to meet this weekend, but the party constitution requires letters to be submitted 21 days in advance, so the review would only appear on the agenda of the next meeting this fall.
Hachey was unsure exactly how many members sit on the provincial council and what number would constitute two-thirds support for calling a convention.
The council includes the 49 riding presidents, several party officials, including the president and nine regional vice-presidents, five MLAs whom she did not identify, and Higgs himself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
522 Comments
David Amos
IMHO The "Silent Majority" don't even bother to vote for rather obvious reasons
David Amos
Higgy will not resist this and I continue to maintain that Daniel J. Allain will be the next PC Leader/Premier in short order
Ray Skavinsky
Hang in there Premier. The silent majority is still alive and well.
Bill Green
Reply to Ray Skavinsky
He is finished, bro. Time to wake up and smell the flowers.
David Amos
Reply to Ray Skavinsky Dream on
Jim Graham
Reply to Ray Skavinsky
25 RA letters calling for his resignation ... that not so silent majority?
Ray Skavinsky
Reply to David Amos
David.you dont know me (remember I dont know you...) but I have some knowledge of what I say. Wait and see..lol
Ray Skavinsky
Reply to Bill Green
...wait and see...
G. Timothy Walton
Reply to Ray Skavinsky
This is Canada/New Brunswick.
The silent majority usually has no strong feelings on any particular issue.
William Peters
Reply to Ray Skavinsky
Listen to the local 18%? No, he's brought in the Alberta boys to strategize with.
Don Corey
Reply to Ray Skavinsky
Uh, no! The silent majority is starting to speak out. Why to you think the majority of the riding want a leadership review?
David Amos
Reply to Ray Skavinsky I am not laughing for the same reasons you are
Shawn Tabor
Just a thought,,, whats really going on, when everyone is focused on this issue.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Shawn Tabor
All is better again.
David Amos
Reply to Shawn Tabor William Peters
Reply to Shawn Tabor
Planners are planning. He's not paying his
advisers to lose him his job, and yet that's what appears to be
happening. Let that be a lesson to anyone else who thinks that we ought
to be advised by Western Conservatives. As is often the case with
Conservatives they do not have their finger on the pulse of the nation.
So many of the last federal elections have shown this.
Shawn Tabor
The gong show. LOL
David Amos
Reply to Shawn Tabor "Let me remind it was Blaine Higgs who embraced Dominic
Cardy and Kris Austin without any consultation with our party,"
Arsenault wrote.
PC official wants Blaine Higgs's leadership put to review
PC party official hopes for discussion of N.B. premier's leadership at annual general meeting
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Oct 18, 2022 6:15 PM ADT
Donald Smith
Reply to Shawn Tabor
lol
Shawn Tabor
Reply to David Amos
Going to be a reckoning lol
Matt Steele
It is all moot as there will have been a
provincial election before any type of Leadership review could even get
started in the fall . At this point , it is all up to Premier Higgs if
he wants an early election or not as he could easily win another
majority government .
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Matt Steele
lol...strategy..
Inger Nielsen
Reply to Matt Steele
you and about 7other people seem to be for Higgs just from reading comments
Sterling Wright
Reply to Matt Steele
So Higgs spends millions of tax dollars to win a
job he already has? Not to mention he would still have a caucus that
doesn't seem to want him. Maybe he should tackle the caucus issue
before all else.
Rob Sense
Reply to Matt Steele
easily...famous last words
David Amos
Reply to Rob Sense Those are not his last words
Kyle Woodman
All this comments section tells me is that civics education is severely lacking in NB.
SW Home
Reply to Kyle Woodman
depends on who you ask. Some are right and some are wrong
David Amos
Reply to SW Home Even a busted clock is correct twice a day
Matt Steele
Premier Higgs will lead the PC party into an
election this fall , and win a majority government as his popularity
surges among N.B.ers . Without Premier Higgs , the PC party would
implode from within as the People's Alliance party would be quickly
resurrected .
Wendy Simon
Reply to Matt Steele
Better the devil you know than not know
SW Home
Reply to Matt Steele
as long as Higgs is gone the rest is gravy
Fred Brewer
Reply to Matt Steele
I would wager you $100 that you are wrong.
claude bourgeois
Reply to Matt Steele
Who cares who wins the next election, as long as Higgs is gone!
Pete Parent
Reply to Matt Steele
Thats hilarious considering the PC party IS already imploding from within
Ferdinand Boudreau
Reply to claude bourgeois
Well said
Kevin Eastman
Reply to Wendy Simon
Sometimes the devil you don't know can be better than the devil you know.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Matt Steele
He's not gonna be in the race.
G. Timothy Walton
Reply to Matt Steele
Matt, the Keep It Simple Solutions party is looking for people.
David Amos
Reply to G. Timothy Walton Not True
David Amos
Reply to Ben Haroldson I concur
David Amos
Reply to Matt Steele Everybody knows the People's Alliance Party is already resurrected
Matt Steele
The PC party cannot win the next election
without Premier Higgs as Leader as PC members would leave the party ,
and resurrect the Peoples Alliance party , with former PC voters
following them . The PC party would implode if Premier Higgs left for
whatever reason .
kelly post
Reply to Matt Steele
You mean the Irvings can't win the next election if Higgs is gone.
William Peters
Reply to Matt Steele
Let him go to the COR where he came from and
see how electable he is. You need a wider base to get that ship off the
ground. What's wrong with not electing Conservatives may I ask? You
speak as if it is do or die. It doesn't matter what party we elect. When
there's trash accumulating it must be put to the door. We' ll try again
with some other bunch and avoid the pro business subsidy ideologies.
Sterling Wright
Reply to Matt Steele
Matt the People's Alliance was resurrected days
after the previous leader tried to destroy it. I must say though I
find your comments very entertaining.
David Amos
Reply to Sterling Wright
Me too but I find you pretty funny as well
Marc LeBlanc
Ms Shepard was wrong about one thing in that
Higgs ran the province like a business. Anyone running their business
like he is won't be running a business for long.
Scott Macdonald
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
Record surplus’, paying down debt, hmmmm. Much better job than the previous gov’t…
David Amos
Reply to Scott Macdonald
What was the source of the surplus?
Kat Burd
Fractures appearing in Canada's Conservative
parties both federally and Provincially can only end up being a good
thing for everyone. I don't disagree in principle with the fact that
parents have rights too, but this Premier seems to know no boundaries on
his own agenda-pushing.
Rob Kuiper
Reply to Kat Burd
Much like your PM
David Amos
Reply to Rob Kuiper C'est Vrai
Donald Smith
Don't leave Mr. Premier, Call a snap election.
David Amos
Reply to Donald Smith That would make my day
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Donald Smith
Oh, but Higgs has said he doesn't want an election.
Rene Cusson
Reply to SarahRose Werner
Oh course he doesn't...because he knows he will lose.
SW Home
Reply to Donald Smith
That would be great. That way we can rid of him sooner
Brent Grywinski
Time to make a dignified exit.
David Amos
Reply to Brent GrywinskiThats the plan
SW Home
Reply to Brent Grywinski
That ship has sailed for him. Just leave and don't look back
Allison Zane
The party has spoken - it's time for a new leader.
William Peters
Reply to Allison Zane
The only one right enough and COR enough would
be Chris Austin. Do you want to go there? If you think the COR are going
to hand over the party back to traditional Conservatives I think you
are overly optimistic.
David Amos
Too bad so sad that others are not permitted to speak
SarahRose Werner
Reply to William Peters
I wouldn't like to call that one either way. I
think that's the big question facing the PC party right now: do we or
do we not remain progressive?
Alexis thuillier
Reply to William Peters
It’s the “traditional Conservatives” who are calling for the review.
John Lawrence
That would be excellent! What has he done for anyone? Should definitely be ousted
John Stymiest
Reply to John Lawrence
He changed vehicle inspections from every year to every 2 years. That's a big plus for me..
David Amos
Reply to John Stymiest Me too
SW Home
Reply to John Stymiest
its about the only positive thing he has done
Ralph Steinberg
Reply to John Stymiest
Lol. That is your thing? Vehicle inspection time lines?
Wow.
John Smith
He was the first Premier of NB to be reelected
since Frank McKenna over 28 years ago (1995). It is shocking to think
that he might not even get to finish his second term. Looks like it
isn't just the electors who don't like second-term Premiers.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to John Smith
Higgs got re-elected in 2020, nine months after
the pandemic hit New Brunswick. Those are hardly normal circumstances.
People were still in shock, and at that point, Higgs appeared to be
doing a decent job of managing the pandemic.
Ferdinand Boudreau
Reply to John Smith
1st time he had a minority. One he gained a majority he did a 360 turn
David Amos
Reply to Ferdinand Boudreau I am happy to see that somebody noticed
Jack Anderson
More Reformer circus acts.
David Amos
Reply to Jack Anderson C'est Vrai
Kenneth Hewer
a premiership is not a kingship.
Danny Benny
Reply to Kenneth Hewer
Most of them if not all of them across the country think so. Doug Ford for sure.
David Amos
Reply to Danny Benny
Tell that to Humpty Dumpty
David Amos
Reply to David Amos or Boris Johnson
Patrick Richard
Shot across the bow, will the ship turn?
David Amos
Reply to Patrick Richard A wise Maritimer would
Ray Fox
Democracy in action.
Dacre Gushue
Reply to Ray Fox
It's not democracy if it's not the electorate.
These are riding presidents and they aren't elected by the electorate.
You get what I am saying, Ray?
Jody Melsom
Reply to Dacre Gushue
If voting is democratic, then the ousting of
the leader by the party will be voted on democratically. You get what I
am saying Dacre?
Jenn Gogan
Reply to Ray Fox
If voting is democratic, what gave Higgs the right to abolish the boards that I voted for in the last election?
David Amos
Reply to Jenn Gogan Good question
David Amos
Reply to Dacre Gushue I do
Ray Fox
Reply to Jenn Gogan
Higgs did not have the right to do so
Fred Brewer
My respect for Dorothy Shephard has gone up exponentially.
Matt Steele
Reply to Fred Brewer
No need to worry about Dorothy ; with her 13
years in government , she is entitled to a gold plated government
pension that most N.B.ers can only dream of ; and she can start
collecting it immediately after leaving government .
Bruce Dagsvik
Reply to Fred Brewer
Dorothy who? Her 15 minutes is up.
David Amos
Reply to Bruce Dagsvik Fred Brewer
Reply to Matt Steele
I have not heard any news of her retirement. Please share because I think she might make a good premier.
Michael Cain
Sunny days are here again!
Ray Fox
Reply to Michael Cain
Not really
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Michael Cain
The big guy will get his come upins too.
Michael Cain
Reply to Ray Fox
No, really!
David Amos
Reply to Ben Haroldson Yup
Michael Collins
"PC Party president Erika Hachey said in an email she
has not received any letters yet from riding presidents calling for a
review."
Or
"A member of the party's provincial council says 25 presidents of PC riding associations have signed letters calling for a leadership review vote."
Which is it?
Calling for a review is not the same as calling to push Higgs out as party leader. Seems like a political ploy that is based more on hearsay than fact. Lets see the names of those calling for this review.
Jason Martell
Reply to Michael Collins
You don't need to- 22/25 have been verified by CBC.
Michael Collins
Reply to Jason Martell
No letters have been submitted.Anyone can show you a letter they"intend" to submit.
David Amos
Reply to Michael Collins The plot thickens
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to Michael Collins
The hope may be he will resign with dignity and integrity and as Ms. Shephard said “amicably”.
Matt Steele
As we all know , don't believe everything that
you read on the internet ; but be prepared for a fall election as public
support for Premier Higgs increases , although most MLAs do not want
an election .
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Matt Steele
He won't be in the race.
Jody Melsom
Reply to Matt Steele
So far from the comments the best advice I can offer is you are correct and people should not believe what you keep saying.
David Amos
Reply to Matt Steele
Methinks that should include what you have to say N'esy Pas? Susan Power
This made my day!
Inger Nielsen
Reply to Susan Power
Me to
Dan Lee
Reply to Susan Power
me too.....been againts him since he manipulated Alward so bad ....................
David Amos
Reply to Inger Nielsen
Ditto Inger Nielsen
What a great wednesday morning
David Amos
Reply to Inger Nielsen
Welcome back to the circus
John Williston
VP, Business Development
Eastern to Central United States, Caribbean, and Puerto Rico.
Office: (506) 869-3629
Cell: (506) 381-8493
Municipal Council
Mayor
Jean-Pierre Ouellet
Jean-Pierre started his career as a teacher. He taught French classes at different schools: École régionale de Saint-Basile, École Cormier d’Edmundston, and the Cité des Jeunes A.-M. Sormany d’Edmundston.
Elected deputy of Madawaska-Les-Lacs from 1974 to 1987, he held the following positions under Hatfield’s government: Youth, Sports and Leisure Minister, Historical and Cultural Resources Minister, Education Minister, as well as Francophone and Interprovincial and International Agreements Minister. He was a member of the first francophone summit committee held in Paris in 1985, and in Quebec in 1987. As Minister responsible for the Francophones, it is under his leadership that the New Brunswick government became a “participating government” to the Agence de coopération culturelle et technique, known today as the OIF, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
Mr. Ouellet was decorated as Commandeur of the Ordre de la Pléiade. Created in 1976 by parliamentary assembly, this distinction is awarded by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie to reward prominent contributions to the OIF’s ideals of cooperation and friendship.
Defeated at the 1987 elections, Mr. Ouellet pursued his career as a business and government relations consultant as well as a technology transfer consultant.
He was elected Mayor of the Community of Haut-Madawaska on May 15th, 2017 and is the President of the CSRNO (a regional service council representing the municipalities of northwestern New Brunswick).
The Community of Haut-Madawaska is experiencing a remarkable economic boom, and its main challenge is to attract workers in the Community to settle and fill vacant positions. The francophone immigration is the proposed solution.
(506) 739-3606 jean-pierre.ouellet@haut-madawaska.com
Hey Higgy John Williston and Maurice Arsenault seem to agree about you EH?
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Tue, Jun 27, 2023 at 4:24 PM |
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| Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, teilor@nizhtimes.com, newsdesk@thesaxon.org, i@thesaxon.org, Newsroom <Newsroom@globeandmail.com>, "Jacques.Poitras" <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca> | |
BTW My blog has been under a constant attack since I posted the email about Maurice Arsenault and Dominic Cardy Surprise Surprise Surprise N'esy Pas? http://davidraymondamos3. Wednesday, 21 June 2023 PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support ousting Higgs https://www.youtube.com/watch? N.B. Premier Blaine Higgs faces growing revolt CBC News 3.31M subscribers 4,405 views Jun 21, 2023 'It's been brewing for quite some time,' said New Brunswick MLA Dominic Cardy, who resigned from the premier's cabinet in October. 'You've got a significant caucus rebellion, a significant cabinet revolt and the party itself.' 113 Comments @davidamos7114 Somebody has attacked my blog about this nonsense 11 times since yesterday afternoon and I have a pretty good idea who is doing it Your post titled "PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support ousting Higgs" has been unpublished @davidamos7114 Enjoy Mr Cardy and Higgy et al can feel free to send me some more butter tarts http://davidraymondamos3. https://www.youtube.com/watch? N.B. Premier Blaine Higgs faces resignation pressure from within PC Party cpac 133K subscribers 675 views Jun 22, 2023 Dominic Cardy, an independent New Brunswick MLA who previously served as education minister under Premier Blaine Higgs Progressive Conservatives, joins CPAC's Andrew Thomson to discuss the push from within the party to oust Higgs as its leader. (June 22, 2023) https://www.cbc.ca/news/ Blaine Higgs drops 2 rebellious ministers in cabinet shuffle Daniel Allain and Jeff Carr are out, replaced by newcomers Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jun 27, 2023 9:27 AM ADT Collage of two photos of two men in blue suits MLAs Jeff Carr, left, and Daniel Allain are no longer on Premier Blaine Higgs' cabinet. (CBC) Premier Blaine Higgs has reasserted his authority over his fractured Progressive Conservative government by dumping two ministers who voted against him on the contentious issue of New Brunswick's school gender-identity policy. In a cabinet shuffle Tuesday, Higgs dropped Local Government Minister Daniel Allain and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Jeff Carr, sending them to the backbenches. Two other ministers who had opposed Higgs — Dorothy Shephard and Trevor Holder —had already resigned, both of them citing Higgs's leadership style that they said was at odds with the values and traditions of the PC party. Replacing them are new additions to cabinet including Carleton-York MLA Richard Ames, Moncton South MLA Greg Turner and St. Croix MLA Kathy Bockus. Man in blue suit stepping out of black car Premier Blaine Higgs arrives at Government House for a cabinet shuffle on Tuesday. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) They were seen arriving at Government House for a swearing-in, as was Moncton Southwest MLA Sherry Wilson, who was in cabinet from 2018 to 2020, and Oromocto-Lincoln-Fredericton MLA Mary Wilson, who was shuffled out of cabinet last fall. Like Shephard and Holder, Allain and Carr voted with the opposition parties on June 15 to help pass a Liberal motion calling for more consultations on Policy 713, which sets out protections for LGBTQ students in provincial schools. Medium shot of woman in grey suit smiling at a person off camera Moncton Southwest MLA Sherry Wilson at Government House on Tuesday, where she was appointment to cabinet. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) Higgs claimed that day that the vote was not whipped, meaning his caucus was free to vote the way they wanted. WATCH | Catch up on why the N.B. government changed a policy aimed at protecting LGBTQ students: CBC News Explains: How did the New Brunswick government change Policy 713? Duration 2:19 New Brunswick's Department of Education made several changes to a policy designed to protect LGBTQ students, affecting sections on self-identification, extracurricular activities and washrooms. In the past, the premier has often tolerated minor acts of dissent in his cabinet and caucus, referring to it as "a diverse group" that has pushed the envelope the same way he did when he was the outspoken finance minister in the Alward government. Woman in blue suit and yellow shirt, walking with umbrella and smiling at camera Arlene Dunn arrives at Government House for a cabinet shuffle on Tuesday. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) But on Policy 713 Higgs has signalled he was losing patience. "Obviously, it was certainly breaking the conventions of the British parliamentary system," he said earlier this month of a statement signed by Carr, Allain and other ministers and backbenchers complaining about a lack of transparency and process in the government's review of the policy. WATCH | The CBC's Jacques Poitras explains the process the governing PC party must follow for dissenters to remove Blaine Higgs as leader: CBC Explains: How does a leadership review work? Duration 1:19 The CBC’s Jacques Poitras walks us through each step the PC party must go through to remove a sitting premier. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Arlene Dunn, who missed the June 15 vote but said the next day she'd have voted with the opposition, remains in cabinet. Dunn co-signed the letter with Shephard, Holder, Carr, Allain and backbench MLAs Andrea Anderson-Mason and Ross Wetmore on Policy 713. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jacques Poitras Provincial Affairs reporter 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. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices 434 Comments David Amos Content Deactivated Methinks Higgy just sealed the deal to go to war with Mr Allian and his pals Now they will battle for the Leadership N'esy Pas? David Amos I maintain Danny Boy will win the battle for leadership Ed Armstrong Reply to David Amos If there is a leadership convention than that is a distinct possibility but there has to be a vacancy at the top first and with 15 months to go before an election, there is no way to dispose of the current leader, hold a leadership race and convention and have the new leader prepared to fight an election and win. Danny Boy is not stupid enough to cut off his nose to spite his face. He's a much smarter man than I am (I think), if I can read the timeline, I'm sure he can as well. He would be in much better shape to wait till after the Sept 2024 election and step into a leadership race at that point if a vacancy at the top occurs. David Amos Reply to Ed Armstrong Are you dudes gonna send me some more butter tarts if I am right? David Amos Reply to Ed Armstrong BTW The caucus can get rid of Higgy and appoint an interim leader Ed Armstrong Reply to David Amos No, only the party can dump the leader. That is the big difference between Britian's Westminster System and Canada's. Britian's Caucus does elect the leader and can dump them at any time. In Canada all Party Members have the right to vote for their leader and under the rules can bit them out as well. I definitely like our rules better. David Amos Reply to Ed Armstrong There more than one way to skin a cat Dee MacDonald The silent majority has the final say. David Amos Reply to Dee MacDonald I concur Marcel Belanger Reply to Dee MacDonald Not yet...not yet. Robert Borden Reply to Dee MacDonald Over half the party ridings want a leadership review. Seems the majority isn't silent, and so far haven't the say. Craig McMaster Reply to Dee MacDonald When Higgs' own Party is turning on him, I don't think he has the majority anymore... Mac Isaac What I see as most disappointing...let's face it: Higgs is a huge disappointment, but what is most disappointing is that the provincial cabinet is now completely filled with a bunch of Higgs sycophants who will toe the party line but not really offer new thoughts or hopes for the people of New Brunswick. David Amos Reply to Mac Isaac Welcome back to the circus Andrew Martin Reply to Mac Isaac You may believe Higgs is a disappointment, but that is your opinion, not fact. If he was such a disappointment, he wouldn't have been re-elected with a majority. Opinions dont equate to fact. David Amos Content Deactivated Reply to Andrew Martin Methinks Higgy won because Vickers lost N'esy Pas? Jake Quinlan Reply to Andrew Martin Rode the Covid wave (or lack of Covid in NB in 2020). Benny Swim Reply to Mac Isaac That was then and this is now. Even Poitras now seems to understand who Higgs is. Half the PCs in the province (over half of the local riding presidents have asked him to resign) will stay home if an election is called. That is an opinion and not fact. They will be bolstered by the fact that Susan Holt and the Liberals have not given any reason for them or us to think she/they will govern much differently then the PCs. In that they will keep the fee cuts for billionaires on crown land, and tax free living for the Irving enterprises. NBers should make sure that neither the Liberals or the Conservatives get a majority the next time we vote. Look what happens when we don't do that. The premier of the day begins to think that the province belongs to him/her and their advisors. Benny Swim Reply to Benny Swim The above comment was meant for Andrew Martin, not Mac Isaac. Donald LeBlanc Reply to Andrew Martin How is your opinion fact? Roland Stewart Reply to Mac Isaac None of them could care less about Higgs or his policies or the people of the province. They are there for the money and perks that come with the job. Sterling Wright Reply to Mac Isaac You nailed it Donald LeBlanc Reply to Benny Swim You’re right, the Liberals under Holt need to prove that they are not the Party of the past. They have to show NBers that the billionaires will finally lose power, that regular folks will not be footing the bills while watching our services collapse. Watching the Legislature (as little of it there is) there seems to be hope in some of these new Liberal MLAs and Leader. Now they have to start proving it’s for real, not something that disappears the minute they take power. NBs are fed up with that scenario. Donald LeBlanc Reply to Benny Swim And you’re absolutely right on the need for a Minority Government. Ross Wetmore said in the Legislature that for all his years (13) in Government, the 2018 Minority Government was the best he had worked in. He seemed very emotional about what has become of Government in NB. Robert Borden Reply to Andrew Martin Over half the party ridings are calling for a leadership review, that's a fact, and also shows significant disappointment within the party. At least a third of his Cabinet, at least until this move, was also in open rebellion against him. That certainly shows a significant level of disappointment within his own elected members. Your provided "fact" is a vote that is only for his riding, not for him as leader. In Alberta Kenney's UPC got elected with a strong majority yet he was ousted by his party. What you've outlined as "fact" is basically the scenario that happened in Alberta. Andrew Martin Reply to Robert Borden I guess we'll see what happen with the next election. The ridings may be calling for a review, but are the actual voters calling for it? We dont really know 100%, we can estimate, poll etc, but we dont really know whats on every voters mind until election time. Andrew Martin Reply to Donald LeBlanc Winning a democratically instituted voting system where you win the majority of votes should be enough evidence of the majority agreeing. Therefore its not an opinion, but a fact. Ross Mills Reply to Andrew Martin Higgs's job is to represent the views of the people who voted for him. If he caves, it will be a huge disappointment for those who voted for him. If necessary, he may need to call an election to prove this. Robert Borden Reply to Andrew Martin Again, voters vote for their MLA, the party votes for the leader. Even if voters want the conservatives to remain in power, it doesn't mean they want Higgs as their premier. Same thing happened in Alberta with Kenney, and quite possibly will happen with Smith, and I'd even go so far as including the federal Liberals with Trudeau. Higgs doesn't seem to have the support of his party and it could be completely irrelevant what the voters want. If the party wants him out, he'll be gone. Andrew Martin Reply to Robert Borden And if the voters wanted him running it and the party votes him out, then they may get voted out Donald LeBlanc Reply to Andrew Martin It’s also a fact that the unvaccinated Pandemic Election Majority was won with 26% of eligible voters. This was after success in a Minority Government scenario with Higgs near the top in the approval rating polls. The opinion is that after receiving his Majority it seems that was the beginning of his missteps and downward trend, IMO. claude bourgeois Can't call them Progressive Conservatives anymore. Just Conservatives. Jake Quinlan Reply to claude bourgeois Chip off the federal block. They hired that consultant from western canada - here we are. Donald LeBlanc Reply to claude bourgeois Just what Higgs wants. Guess PP is in the area, two peas in a pod. Another use for the initials PP. David Amos Reply to claude bourgeois C'est Vrai val harris Higgs has added to his Puppet show .. NB is in for a real treat... David Amos Content Deactivated Reply to val harris I will trade you some popcorn for peanuts Sterling Wright Reply to val harris Well we are in for something. But I don't think treat is quite the right word. David Amos Reply to Sterling Wright Not for you perhaps but lots of us are getting quite a chuckle | |
RE PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support ousting Higgs
PC rebels say majority of riding presidents support ousting Higgs
More than 20 riding presidents signed letters, the first step in removing N.B. premier as leader of the party
A member of the party's provincial council says 25 presidents of PC riding associations have signed letters calling for a leadership review vote.
That's a majority out of the 49 ridings. It also surpasses a key threshold in the party's constitution to trigger the process.
"That number constitutes over 50 per cent of riding association presidents and I think it clearly shows there's a desire for a change of leadership amongst the membership," said John Williston, a regional vice-president of the party who supports the review.
"This is from every part of the province. … It's important that this reflects a wide scope of New Brunswick — anglophone, francophone, northern, southern. It shows unity among our party throughout the province."
Jean-Pierre
Ouellet, one of the riding association presidents who signed a letter,
says Higgs has made too many decisions without consultation.
(Radio-Canada) (Radio-Canada)
CBC News has seen and verified 22 of the letters, two more than the number required to advance the issue.
Jean-Pierre Ouellet, president of the Madawaska-Les Lacs-Edmundston riding association and one of the signatories, said Higgs has made too many decisions without consulting the public.
"It's 'my way or the highway,'" he said, pointing to an attempt to replace French immersion, legislation weakening the powers of anglophone district education councils and eliminating elected positions on regional health authority boards.
Surpassing the 20-letter threshold doesn't guarantee a membership vote on Higgs's leadership will be held.
The party constitution requires letters from 20 riding presidents, and 50 party members in total, for the party's provincial council — its governing body — to put the question on its agenda at its next meeting.
No more than five of the 50 members can be from any single riding.
Some of the signed letters, seen by CBC News, calling for a leadership review vote. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Former party president Claude Williams told Radio-Canada's La Matinale on Wednesday morning that those 50 letters were also in hand.
"We have the numbers," Williams said. "If I were in his place, I'd retire."
The council must vote by a two-thirds majority to schedule a convention within three months, where delegates would vote on whether to keep or remove Higgs.
Williston, a member of the council, said he believes a two-thirds vote is well within "striking distance."
"With approximately one-third of the caucus voting against the government and not willing to follow the premier at this point, it's quite obvious to me we need a change in leadership in the party."
Reviews are automatic if the party loses an election, but the process is elaborate and time-consuming when it's in power.
The move to dump Higgs is the first organized attempt to remove a sitting New Brunswick premier from their party's leadership since an effort against Premier Richard Hatfield in 1985.
Higgs was elected premier in September 2018 and re-elected two years later.
Former cabinet minister Dorothy Shephard, who resigned as social development minister last week, said last week that she'd rather see Higgs leave "amicably" than face being ousted.
"I know that the party is mobilizing to consider a leadership review," she said on CBC's Power and Politics. "I'm sure that weighs on his mind."
But Higgs indicated Monday the ball was in the membership's court.
"It won't be a call that I make, right?" he told reporters. "If the party decides to do that, it won't be a decision I make. So if it happens, I guess it happens."
Shephard quit after she and five other PC MLAs, including three other ministers, voted with the opposition for a Liberal motion calling for more consultations on Policy 713.
Dorothy Shephard explains to reporters her decision to quit cabinet on June 15. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
The premier said he was willing to face a party review process to defend his position on his controversial review of the policy, which sets out standards for providing safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ students in provincial schools.
PC Party president Erika Hachey said in an email she has not received any letters yet from riding presidents calling for a review.
The provincial council is scheduled to meet this weekend, but the party constitution requires letters to be submitted 21 days in advance, so the review would only appear on the agenda of the next meeting this fall.
Hachey was unsure exactly how many members sit on the provincial council and what number would constitute two-thirds support for calling a convention.
The council includes the 49 riding presidents, several party officials, including the president and nine regional vice-presidents, five MLAs whom she did not identify, and Higgs himself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
522 Comments
David Amos
IMHO The "Silent Majority" don't even bother to vote for rather obvious reasons
David Amos
Higgy will not resist this and I continue to maintain that Daniel J. Allain will be the next PC Leader/Premier in short order
Ray Skavinsky
Hang in there Premier. The silent majority is still alive and well.
Bill Green
Reply to Ray Skavinsky
He is finished, bro. Time to wake up and smell the flowers.
David Amos
Reply to Ray Skavinsky Dream on
Jim Graham
Reply to Ray Skavinsky
25 RA letters calling for his resignation ... that not so silent majority?
Ray Skavinsky
Reply to David Amos
David.you dont know me (remember I dont know you...) but I have some knowledge of what I say. Wait and see..lol
Ray Skavinsky
Reply to Bill Green
...wait and see...
G. Timothy Walton
Reply to Ray Skavinsky
This is Canada/New Brunswick.
The silent majority usually has no strong feelings on any particular issue.
William Peters
Reply to Ray Skavinsky
Listen to the local 18%? No, he's brought in the Alberta boys to strategize with.
Don Corey
Reply to Ray Skavinsky
Uh, no! The silent majority is starting to speak out. Why to you think the majority of the riding want a leadership review?
David Amos
Reply to Ray Skavinsky I am not laughing for the same reasons you are
Shawn Tabor
Just a thought,,, whats really going on, when everyone is focused on this issue.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Shawn Tabor
All is better again.
David Amos
Reply to Shawn Tabor William Peters
Reply to Shawn Tabor
Planners are planning. He's not paying his
advisers to lose him his job, and yet that's what appears to be
happening. Let that be a lesson to anyone else who thinks that we ought
to be advised by Western Conservatives. As is often the case with
Conservatives they do not have their finger on the pulse of the nation.
So many of the last federal elections have shown this.
Shawn Tabor
The gong show. LOL
David Amos
Reply to Shawn Tabor "Let me remind it was Blaine Higgs who embraced Dominic
Cardy and Kris Austin without any consultation with our party,"
Arsenault wrote.
PC official wants Blaine Higgs's leadership put to review
PC party official hopes for discussion of N.B. premier's leadership at annual general meeting
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Oct 18, 2022 6:15 PM ADT
Donald Smith
Reply to Shawn Tabor
lol
Shawn Tabor
Reply to David Amos
Going to be a reckoning lol
Matt Steele
It is all moot as there will have been a
provincial election before any type of Leadership review could even get
started in the fall . At this point , it is all up to Premier Higgs if
he wants an early election or not as he could easily win another
majority government .
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Matt Steele
lol...strategy..
Inger Nielsen
Reply to Matt Steele
you and about 7other people seem to be for Higgs just from reading comments
Sterling Wright
Reply to Matt Steele
So Higgs spends millions of tax dollars to win a
job he already has? Not to mention he would still have a caucus that
doesn't seem to want him. Maybe he should tackle the caucus issue
before all else.
Rob Sense
Reply to Matt Steele
easily...famous last words
David Amos
Reply to Rob Sense Those are not his last words
Kyle Woodman
All this comments section tells me is that civics education is severely lacking in NB.
SW Home
Reply to Kyle Woodman
depends on who you ask. Some are right and some are wrong
David Amos
Reply to SW Home Even a busted clock is correct twice a day
Matt Steele
Premier Higgs will lead the PC party into an
election this fall , and win a majority government as his popularity
surges among N.B.ers . Without Premier Higgs , the PC party would
implode from within as the People's Alliance party would be quickly
resurrected .
Wendy Simon
Reply to Matt Steele
Better the devil you know than not know
SW Home
Reply to Matt Steele
as long as Higgs is gone the rest is gravy
Fred Brewer
Reply to Matt Steele
I would wager you $100 that you are wrong.
claude bourgeois
Reply to Matt Steele
Who cares who wins the next election, as long as Higgs is gone!
Pete Parent
Reply to Matt Steele
Thats hilarious considering the PC party IS already imploding from within
Ferdinand Boudreau
Reply to claude bourgeois
Well said
Kevin Eastman
Reply to Wendy Simon
Sometimes the devil you don't know can be better than the devil you know.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Matt Steele
He's not gonna be in the race.
G. Timothy Walton
Reply to Matt Steele
Matt, the Keep It Simple Solutions party is looking for people.
David Amos
Reply to G. Timothy Walton Not True
David Amos
Reply to Ben Haroldson I concur
David Amos
Reply to Matt Steele Everybody knows the People's Alliance Party is already resurrected
Matt Steele
The PC party cannot win the next election
without Premier Higgs as Leader as PC members would leave the party ,
and resurrect the Peoples Alliance party , with former PC voters
following them . The PC party would implode if Premier Higgs left for
whatever reason .
kelly post
Reply to Matt Steele
You mean the Irvings can't win the next election if Higgs is gone.
William Peters
Reply to Matt Steele
Let him go to the COR where he came from and
see how electable he is. You need a wider base to get that ship off the
ground. What's wrong with not electing Conservatives may I ask? You
speak as if it is do or die. It doesn't matter what party we elect. When
there's trash accumulating it must be put to the door. We' ll try again
with some other bunch and avoid the pro business subsidy ideologies.
Sterling Wright
Reply to Matt Steele
Matt the People's Alliance was resurrected days
after the previous leader tried to destroy it. I must say though I
find your comments very entertaining.
David Amos
Reply to Sterling Wright
Me too but I find you pretty funny as well
Marc LeBlanc
Ms Shepard was wrong about one thing in that
Higgs ran the province like a business. Anyone running their business
like he is won't be running a business for long.
Scott Macdonald
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
Record surplus’, paying down debt, hmmmm. Much better job than the previous gov’t…
David Amos
Reply to Scott Macdonald
What was the source of the surplus?
Kat Burd
Fractures appearing in Canada's Conservative
parties both federally and Provincially can only end up being a good
thing for everyone. I don't disagree in principle with the fact that
parents have rights too, but this Premier seems to know no boundaries on
his own agenda-pushing.
Rob Kuiper
Reply to Kat Burd
Much like your PM
David Amos
Reply to Rob Kuiper C'est Vrai
Donald Smith
Don't leave Mr. Premier, Call a snap election.
David Amos
Reply to Donald Smith That would make my day
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Donald Smith
Oh, but Higgs has said he doesn't want an election.
Rene Cusson
Reply to SarahRose Werner
Oh course he doesn't...because he knows he will lose.
SW Home
Reply to Donald Smith
That would be great. That way we can rid of him sooner
Brent Grywinski
Time to make a dignified exit.
David Amos
Reply to Brent GrywinskiThats the plan
SW Home
Reply to Brent Grywinski
That ship has sailed for him. Just leave and don't look back
Allison Zane
The party has spoken - it's time for a new leader.
William Peters
Reply to Allison Zane
The only one right enough and COR enough would
be Chris Austin. Do you want to go there? If you think the COR are going
to hand over the party back to traditional Conservatives I think you
are overly optimistic.
David Amos
Too bad so sad that others are not permitted to speak
SarahRose Werner
Reply to William Peters
I wouldn't like to call that one either way. I
think that's the big question facing the PC party right now: do we or
do we not remain progressive?
Alexis thuillier
Reply to William Peters
It’s the “traditional Conservatives” who are calling for the review.
John Lawrence
That would be excellent! What has he done for anyone? Should definitely be ousted
John Stymiest
Reply to John Lawrence
He changed vehicle inspections from every year to every 2 years. That's a big plus for me..
David Amos
Reply to John Stymiest Me too
SW Home
Reply to John Stymiest
its about the only positive thing he has done
Ralph Steinberg
Reply to John Stymiest
Lol. That is your thing? Vehicle inspection time lines?
Wow.
John Smith
He was the first Premier of NB to be reelected
since Frank McKenna over 28 years ago (1995). It is shocking to think
that he might not even get to finish his second term. Looks like it
isn't just the electors who don't like second-term Premiers.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to John Smith
Higgs got re-elected in 2020, nine months after
the pandemic hit New Brunswick. Those are hardly normal circumstances.
People were still in shock, and at that point, Higgs appeared to be
doing a decent job of managing the pandemic.
Ferdinand Boudreau
Reply to John Smith
1st time he had a minority. One he gained a majority he did a 360 turn
David Amos
Reply to Ferdinand Boudreau I am happy to see that somebody noticed
Jack Anderson
More Reformer circus acts.
David Amos
Reply to Jack Anderson C'est Vrai
Kenneth Hewer
a premiership is not a kingship.
Danny Benny
Reply to Kenneth Hewer
Most of them if not all of them across the country think so. Doug Ford for sure.
David Amos
Reply to Danny Benny
Tell that to Humpty Dumpty
David Amos
Reply to David Amos or Boris Johnson
Patrick Richard
Shot across the bow, will the ship turn?
David Amos
Reply to Patrick Richard A wise Maritimer would
Ray Fox
Democracy in action.
Dacre Gushue
Reply to Ray Fox
It's not democracy if it's not the electorate.
These are riding presidents and they aren't elected by the electorate.
You get what I am saying, Ray?
Jody Melsom
Reply to Dacre Gushue
If voting is democratic, then the ousting of
the leader by the party will be voted on democratically. You get what I
am saying Dacre?
Jenn Gogan
Reply to Ray Fox
If voting is democratic, what gave Higgs the right to abolish the boards that I voted for in the last election?
David Amos
Reply to Jenn Gogan Good question
David Amos
Reply to Dacre Gushue I do
Ray Fox
Reply to Jenn Gogan
Higgs did not have the right to do so
Fred Brewer
My respect for Dorothy Shephard has gone up exponentially.
Matt Steele
Reply to Fred Brewer
No need to worry about Dorothy ; with her 13
years in government , she is entitled to a gold plated government
pension that most N.B.ers can only dream of ; and she can start
collecting it immediately after leaving government .
Bruce Dagsvik
Reply to Fred Brewer
Dorothy who? Her 15 minutes is up.
David Amos
Reply to Bruce Dagsvik Fred Brewer
Reply to Matt Steele
I have not heard any news of her retirement. Please share because I think she might make a good premier.
Michael Cain
Sunny days are here again!
Ray Fox
Reply to Michael Cain
Not really
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Michael Cain
The big guy will get his come upins too.
Michael Cain
Reply to Ray Fox
No, really!
David Amos
Reply to Ben Haroldson Yup
Michael Collins
"PC Party president Erika Hachey said in an email she
has not received any letters yet from riding presidents calling for a
review."
Or
"A member of the party's provincial council says 25 presidents of PC riding associations have signed letters calling for a leadership review vote."
Which is it?
Calling for a review is not the same as calling to push Higgs out as party leader. Seems like a political ploy that is based more on hearsay than fact. Lets see the names of those calling for this review.
Jason Martell
Reply to Michael Collins
You don't need to- 22/25 have been verified by CBC.
Michael Collins
Reply to Jason Martell
No letters have been submitted.Anyone can show you a letter they"intend" to submit.
David Amos
Reply to Michael Collins The plot thickens
Donald LeBlanc
Reply to Michael Collins
The hope may be he will resign with dignity and integrity and as Ms. Shephard said “amicably”.
Matt Steele
As we all know , don't believe everything that
you read on the internet ; but be prepared for a fall election as public
support for Premier Higgs increases , although most MLAs do not want
an election .
Ben Haroldson
Reply to Matt Steele
He won't be in the race.
Jody Melsom
Reply to Matt Steele
So far from the comments the best advice I can offer is you are correct and people should not believe what you keep saying.
David Amos
Reply to Matt Steele
Methinks that should include what you have to say N'esy Pas? Susan Power
This made my day!
Inger Nielsen
Reply to Susan Power
Me to
Dan Lee
Reply to Susan Power
me too.....been againts him since he manipulated Alward so bad ....................
David Amos
Reply to Inger Nielsen
Ditto Inger Nielsen
What a great wednesday morning
David Amos
Reply to Inger Nielsen
Welcome back to the circus
Provincial Executive
Leader
Blaine W. Higgs
info@pcnb.ca
President
Erika Hachey
erika.hachey@pcnb.ca
Vice President
Roy Wiggins
jroywiggins@gmail.com
Past President
Claude Williams
claude.williams@pcnb.ca
Official Representative
Duncan MacDonald
duncan@dlmca.ca
Secretary
Andrew Dykeman
andrewjdykeman@gmail.com
Official Agent
Robert Hatheway
bobhatheway@gmail.com
President, PC Women Association
Sherry MacEachern
slmaceachern@gmail.com
President, PC Youth
Alex LeBrun
alex.lebrun@pcnb.ca
Capital Region VP
Shawn Douthwright
ssducks@xplornet.ca
Capital-Upper River Valley VP
James Grant
jd.grant@rogers.com
North-Northwest VP
Alex LeBrun
alex.lebrun@pcnb.ca
Péninsule-Chaleur VP
Diane Carey
info@careyconsultants.ca
Westmorland VP
Raymond Duplessis
raymond.duplessis2@gmail.com
Westmorland Albert VP
John Williston
john.williston@dplwireless.com
Miramichi VP
Andy Hardy
andy.hardy101@gmail.com
Saint John-Charlotte VP
Brian Cooke
Brian.Cooke@unb.ca
Saint John Kings VP
Francine Quinn-Steeves
francineqs@gmail.com
Executive Director
Andrea Johnson
andrea.johnson@pcnb.ca
Phone: (506) 453-3456
https://www.pcnb.ca/ridingpresidents
Riding Presidents
1. Restigouche West
Leopold Ouellet
worth@nbnet.nb.ca
2. Campbellton-Dalhousie
Alex LeBrun
awlebrun@hotmail.com
3. Restigouche-Chaleur
Joe Noel
djnoel@rogers.com
4. Bathurst West-Beresford
Ann Bard-Lavigne
annebard.lavigne@gmail.com
5. Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint Isidore
Lester Young
lwyou1@rogers.com
6. Caraquet
Vacant
7. Shippagan Lamèque Miscou
Noemie David-Gauvin
nomiedavidgauvin@hotmail.com
8. Tracadie-Sheila
Gertrude McLaughlin
gertrudemclaughlin@hotmail.com
9. Miramichi Bay- Neguac
Tom Jennings
tom.jennings506@gmail.com
10. Miramichi
Paul Hambrook
paulhambrook99@gmail.com
11. Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin
Troy MacDonnell
portly1a@gmail.com
12. Kent North
Huguette Sawyer
huguette_sawyer@hotmail.com
13. Kent South
Maurice Cormier
danjoproducts@rogers.com
14. Shediac Bay-Dieppe
Brian Baxter
brianehbaxter@gmail.com
15. Shediac Beaubassin Cap-Pelé
Marie-Paule Martin
mpmartin@nbnet.nb.ca
16. Memramcook Tantramar
Thelma Cormier
thelmacormier@hotmail.com
17. Dieppe
Sylvie Godin-Charest
sylvie@droitsgclaw.com
18. Moncton East
Jane Mitton-MacLean
janemittonmaclean@gmail.com
19. Moncton Centre
Vacant
20. Moncton South
Robert Charman
rcharman@rogers.com
21. Moncton Northwest
Loretta Savoie
lynn.savoie@bellaliant.net
22. Moncton Southwest
Sherry MacEachren
slmaceachern@gmail.com
23. Riverview
Mike Boushel
mikeboushel@nb.aibn.com
24. Albert
Parker Elliott
vandpelliott@gmail.com
25. Gagetown Petitcodiac
Emilie Matheson
bfmath@nb.sympatico.ca
26. Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins
Ed Armstrong
edinnb@gmail.com
27. Hampton
Jeremy Salgado
jeremy_salgado@hotmail.com
28. Quispamsis
Emil Olsen
eolsen@quispamsis.ca
29. Rothesay
Grant Brenan
grantbrenan@hotmail.ca
30. Saint John East
Jake Stackhouse
jacobstackhouse@hotmail.com
31. Portland Simonds
Corben P. Parker
corbenp@hotmail.com
32. Saint John Harbour
Vacant
33. Saint John Lancaster
Brooklyn Galbraith
brooklyn.galbraith@gmail.com
34. Kings Centre
Jim Balcomb
balcomb@nbnet.nb.ca
35. Fundy-the Isles-Saint John West
Glen Hawkins
glennhawkins224@gmail.com
36. Saint Croix
Jennifer Urquhart
jenniferurquhart992@gmail.com
37. Oromocto- Lincoln- Fredericton
Chris McMorrow
chrisamcmorrow@gmail.com
38. Fredericton Grand Lake
Mark Paul-Elias
markpe32@gmail.com
39. New Maryland-Sunbury
Michael Phillips
mphillip@nbnet.nb.ca
40. Fredericton South
William Forrestall
willforall@mail.com
41. Fredericton North
Andrew Keezer
andrewtkeezer@gmail.com
42. Fredericton-York
Kelly Wilson
kellywilson9294@gmail.com
43. Fredericton West-Hanwell
Jeannine St. Amand toolsofengagement@gmail.com
44. Carleton-York
James Grant
jd.grant@rogers.com
45. Carleton
Steve McIsaac
snd_mcisaac@hotmail.com
46. Carleton-Victoria
Charles MacDonald
chasmac@nbnet.nb.ca
47. Victoria-La Vallée
Marcel Michaud
gamfarms@nb.sympatico.ca
48. Edmundston-Madawaska Centre
Jacqueline Carrier
jacqueline.carrier@bellaliant.net
49. Madawaska-Les Lacs-Edmundston
Jean-Pierre Ouellet
jpouelle21@gmail.com
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