PC health minister says Higgs shouldn't call early election
Bruce Fitch says Tory caucus should try to work together before premier goes to the polls
Health Minister Bruce Fitch said he'd prefer to see Higgs work with his caucus, including six Progressive Conservative MLAs unhappy with his leadership, rather than going to the polls a year early.
"I don't think we need an election. There's another year in that mandate," Fitch told Radio-Canada, pointing out that it's up to Higgs to make the decision.
The premier has hinted he may need to call an election because of the six MLAs who voted with the opposition Liberals in June on Policy 713.
Premier
Blaine Higgs rejected a pledge by six Progressive Conservative MLAs to
support his legislation this fall so he can avoid an early election
call. (Pat Richard/CBC)
Those MLAs have committed to supporting PC legislation this fall but also say they want the caucus to have more input into decision-making.
Fitch says there should be a way to resolve that without an election.
"You know, we talked about needs and wants," he said, borrowing a phrase Higgs coined in 2010 to describe his fiscal philosophy.
"Do we need one? I think we could work in collaboration with our caucus before going into an election. But again, I will leave that up to the premier."
The six rebellious MLAs say Higgs has rebuffed their requests for a meeting of the full PC caucus since June.
Fitch, speaking after a ceremony to mark the naming of a bridge after the late MLA and minister Brenda Robertson, also hinted he won't run in the next election.
He was first elected as MLA for Riverview in 2003 and was a town councillor and mayor before that.
As an MLA he served in the cabinets of three PC premiers and was also interim leader of the party and the leader of the official opposition from 2014 to 2016.
"That's 35 years as an elected official altogether, so if I decide to take a break, I don't think anyone should fault me on that," he said.
Public Safety Minister Kris Austin says he's ready to go should the premier call an election. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Other ministers who attended Thursday's bridge announcement were more enthused about a snap election this fall.
"I've told him whatever he decides to do, I respect, and I'll certainly be ready to go," Public Safety Minister Kris Austin said.
"I support the premier and his vision and what he's been doing in New Brunswick."
Women's Equality Minister Sherry Wilson said she will "absolutely" run in the next election, whenever it is.
Her Moncton Southwest riding was split up in the new electoral boundaries map so Wilson plans to run in Arcadia-Butternut-Maple Hills, a riding that stretches from the outskirts of Moncton to the village of Gagetown, including the communities of Havelock and Cambridge Narrows.
Sherry
Wilson, the minister responsible for women’s equality, says she will
run again. Wilson backed Higgs during caucus turmoil over Policy 713. (Radio-Canada)
Wilson and Austin backed Higgs in the spring during caucus turmoil over Policy 713, which sets out guidelines for creating safe, inclusive spaces for LGBTQ students in provincial schools.
Fitch was less vocal but he opted not to join the group of six PC MLAs who voted against Higgs on the issue.
Fitch was shuffled into the health portfolio in July 2022 at the same time Higgs suspended the boards of the two provincial health authorities and fired Horizon Health CEO Dr. John Dornan.
The premier made those moves in the wake of a high-profile death in the emergency department of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton.
On Thursday Fitch wouldn't comment on the turmoil in the PC caucus since then.
"I think it's been described pretty well in the media and I don't think I can add anything, any more insights than have already been talked about."
The minister said he'd been suffering from a cold and said Higgs has also been ill this week.
"There's a lot of viruses going around now, at this point in time," he said.
Higgs's office did not respond immediately to a request for a comment on what Fitch said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Michèle Brideau, Radio-Canada
"Former education minister Dominic Cardy, who resigned last October and was ejected from the PC caucus, said an election isn't necessary to remove Higgs from office.
He told reporters that if the premier visits Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy and asked her to dissolve the house, she should instead ask the PC caucus if another of its members could take over and lead a government with majority support in the legislature.
Cardy acknowledged that move, while possible in the parliamentary system, is rare but not out of the question.
"The lieutenant-governor's job is to ascertain whether there's anybody else who can command the majority of the house," he said.
If indeed Higgs does go ahead with the intent to call an election, the ball would be in the lieutenant governor's court to (possibly) proceed as per Cardy's comments from last year.
Thanks Mr. Amos for pointing this out (again).
Higgs calls 3 byelections in former Liberal ridings for April 24
Race in Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore gives Liberal Leader Susan Holt a chance to enter legislature
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Mar 23, 2023 11:01 AM ADT
Chief of staff to N.B. Opposition leader quits ahead of possible snap election call
The Canadian Press
Published Oct. 2, 2023 1:40 p.m. ADT
'The chief of staff to New Brunswick Liberal Leader Susan Holt has resigned as speculation rises about an early election call.
A statement from the official Opposition says Alaina Lockhart's last day was Friday.
The statement says Lockhart's family beer business -- Sussex Ale Works -- is booming and needs her full-time attention.
Holt's office did not reply when asked how the resignation is affecting the party's preparations for a possible early election.'
After most Liberals had drifted away from their byelection victory party at a downtown Bathurst pub Monday night, the event took a surprising turn.
Defeated Green candidate Serge Brideau arrived with a small group of his campaign workers.
Brideau had stopped in earlier to congratulate Liberal leader Susan Holt on beating him in Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-St. Isidore.
For his second appearance, he brought his guitar. Soon he was performing Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash and songs by his own folk-rock band, Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire.
A man, left, plays guitar. Two women, one wearing white and the other in black, stand to the side and watch.
Brideau performs at the Liberal byelection victory party at a downtown Bathurst pub Monday night while Holt supporter Stephanie Tomlinson, in white, and Holt's chief of staff Alaina Lockhart stand by and watch. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
The remaining Liberals, including Holt's chief of staff Alaina Lockhart and former Bathurst MLA Brian Kenny, seemed alternately bemused and confused as their celebration started to look more like a Green hoedown.
Not a bad metaphor for Monday's byelection results, come to think of it.
Trust the voter to choose, as in Manitoba.
'Just hours after Kevin McCarthy was deposed as House speaker, the “draft Trump” movement began.
“I called him and I said, ‘Sir, I’m nominating you for the speaker of the House,’” said Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas), describing a Tuesday call to former President Donald Trump. “I said, ‘I think that you would do a great job fixing the brokenness we see in the Congress.’”
So began a wild 48-hour scramble that saw Trump openly pondering a quixotic bid to become the first nonmember to be elected speaker before his political advisers and House allies managed to convince him it was a terrible idea.'
Is that true?
Wins are wins for N.B. Liberals, but Greens celebrate too
Monday’s byelection results preserve the political status quo. That could be good news for PC government
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Apr 25, 2023 2:53 PM ADT
Brideau performs at the Liberal byelection victory party at a downtown Bathurst pub Monday night while Holt supporter Stephanie Tomlinson, in white, and Holt's chief of staff Alaina Lockhart stand by and watch. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Higgs should show some leadership and finally open the lines of communication with the rebel MLA's.
There's enough of "my way or the highway" constantly coming out of Ottawa.
We need to put an end to the distractions and focus on the long list of NB issues.
Therese Benoit
I think Mr Fitch may be afraid he will lose his job!
He was first elected as MLA for Riverview in 2003 and was a town councillor and mayor before that.
As an MLA he served in the cabinets of three PC premiers and was also interim leader of the party and the leader of the official opposition from 2014 to 2016.
"That's 35 years as an elected official altogether, so if I decide to take a break, I don't think anyone should fault me on that," he said.
Attn Serge Brideau I just called AGAIN Correct?
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Thu, Oct 5, 2023 at 7:28 PM |
| To: serge.brideau@greenpartynb.ca, chantalglandry@gmail.com, rachel.restigouchechaleur@gmail.com, oldmaison@yahoo.com, andre <andre@jafaust.com> | |
| Cc: "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, saillant.richard@gmail.com, "kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>, Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca, chris.o'connell@gnb.ca, "Michael.Duheme" <Michael.Duheme@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "Dominic.Cardy" <Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>, "Jacques.Poitras" <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, "robert.mckee" <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>, "robert.gauvin" <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>, "jacques.j.leblanc" <jacques.j.leblanc@gnb.ca> | |
On 4/9/23, David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
> https://davidraymondamos3.
>
> Sunday, 9 April 2023
>
> Candidates confirmed for April 24 byelections
>
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/
>
> Candidates confirmed for April 24 byelections
> Liberal Leader Susan Holt will not face Progressive Conservative
> candidate for Bathurst riding
>
> Isabelle Leger · CBC News · Posted: Apr 08, 2023 5:52 PM ADT
>
>
> A woman with long hair wearing a grey sweater standing inside The
> byelection opens the door or Liberal leader Susan Holt to win a seat
> in the legislature. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
>
> Candidates have been confirmed for three New Brunswick byelections
> later this month.
>
> Nominations closed Saturday at 2 p.m.
>
> New Brunswickers will head to the polls to elect the three new MLAs on
> April 24
Wins are wins for N.B. Liberals, but Greens celebrate too
Monday’s byelection results preserve the political status quo. That could be good news for PC government
Defeated Green candidate Serge Brideau arrived with a small group of his campaign workers.
Brideau had stopped in earlier to congratulate Liberal leader Susan Holt on beating him in Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-St. Isidore.
For his second appearance, he brought his guitar. Soon he was performing Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash and songs by his own folk-rock band, Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire.
Brideau
performs at the Liberal byelection victory party at a downtown Bathurst
pub Monday night while Holt supporter Stephanie Tomlinson, in white,
and Holt's chief of staff Alaina Lockhart stand by and watch. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
The remaining Liberals, including Holt's chief of staff Alaina Lockhart and former Bathurst MLA Brian Kenny, seemed alternately bemused and confused as their celebration started to look more like a Green hoedown.
Not a bad metaphor for Monday's byelection results, come to think of it.
As expected, the Liberals swept the three races, in Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-St. Isidore, Restigouche-Chaleur and Dieppe. All three had been Liberal before.
More importantly, Holt got into the legislature, allowing her to go toe-to-toe in debates with Premier Blaine Higgs, whom she hopes to defeat in next year's provincial election.
But the Greens nonetheless squeezed their way into the political frame — or at least avoided being squeezed out.
Brideau got 35.4 per cent of the vote against Holt, almost tripling the Green share in the riding last time.
"I gained a lot and I'm back in 2024, for sure," he said.
In Restigouche-Chaleur, Green candidate Rachel Boudreau got more than
30 per cent of the vote, second to winner Marco LeBlanc. (Serge
Bouchard/Radio-Canada)
In Restigouche-Chaleur, Green candidate Rachel Boudreau, a former mayor, got 31.6 per cent of the vote, placing second to winner Marco LeBlanc. Progressive Conservative Anne Bard-Lavigne trailed with 15.8 per cent.
And in Dieppe, where Liberal Richard Losier scooped up more than two-thirds of the vote, the Greens had 18.8 per cent, compared to a dismal 8.6 per cent for the third-place PCs.
The Tories didn't run a candidate against Holt.
"It's interesting to see that in New Brunswick, for francophones at this moment, the second party is not the Conservatives, it's the Greens," says Roger Ouellette, a political scientist at the University of Moncton.
The Green vote wasn't enough to win in three traditionally Liberal strongholds.
But if the party's support improves at the same rate in ridings that are less reliably Liberal, it could make it difficult for Holt to become premier in 2024.
Ouellette pointed out that the Greens have also been competitive in the mostly anglophone southern part of the province.
"We will see in the next election if the Greens stay in touch with voters and are able to have good candidates like this time and obtain some votes," Ouellette said.
In Dieppe, Liberal Richard Losier scooped up more than two-thirds of the vote. (Michelle LeBlanc/Radio-Canada)
"Maybe it will split the vote and it will be an advantage for the Conservatives."
In that sense, Monday's results represent no change to the existing dynamic in New Brunswick politics.
A best-ever for the Greens still isn't a breakthrough. Wins are wins: Holt will be in the legislature and Brideau won't. There'll be no crashing that party.
Holt argued the approach that led to her victory can be applied province-wide.
"People have lost faith in politics and government. So giving them hope that it can change is hard work that we need to do everywhere, because I don't think any vote can be taken for granted," she said Monday night.
Capturing traditional Liberal ridings, however, is a lot easier than building party support in areas where the PCs remain strong.
Sure, the Tories remain equally dead on arrival in most francophone areas — something Higgs blamed on the Liberals, telling reporters his opponents benefit from language divisions.
"I feel that we see that politically in the province, where there's certainly a value for the Liberals to maintain a political divide along linguistic lines," he said.
Higgs said given the history of the ridings, "the probability is low" that his party would win them anytime soon.
But he has shown in two straight elections that he doesn't need to do well in those places to win.
If Monday's results represent a political status quo, frozen in place — the Liberals with a Green problem, and the Greens with a Liberal problem — that's good news for the leader, and the party, already in power.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
one cannot be bemused and confused.
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