Friday 17 May 2024

Liberals slam government, PC party ads with parallel messages

 
 

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is asked if he's returning to old style of Election Politics????

Charles Leblanc 
 
 
 
 

Blaine Higgs - PCNB Ad (2024)

 
 

Liberals slam government, PC party ads with parallel messages

Susan Holt says taxpayer money shouldn’t fund health-care video that echoes pre-election attack ad

The Higgs government is being criticized for producing a taxpayer-funded government video with similar messaging to a new Progressive Conservative pre-election advertisement.

The video, nearly six minutes long, is a detailed explanation of the government's approach to health care reform and lists several initiatives it has taken to reduce surgery wait-times and improve access to primary care.

But it also blames the challenges in the health system on the province's dire fiscal situation before the PCs took office —a fiscal situation that also gets heavy play in the new Tory ad.

"Several years ago our province experienced a financial crisis," says the government video, distributed on its social media platforms.

"The headlines read New Brunswick was on the brink of collapse. Our economy was among the worst performing in Canada."

A screenshot of the government X account     A nearly six-minute video about health care was posted to the Government of New Brunswick account on X, formerly Twitter. Another video with the same image of a Globe and Mail headline was also posted to a PC party account. (Government of New Brunswick/X)

The video includes an image of a Globe and Mail headline from Sept. 17, 2018, "New Brunswick is in a death spiral."

The 30-second PC video, which attacks Liberal Leader Susan Holt, also includes an image of the same 2018 Globe and Mail headline, though in a different format.

"She was part of the Liberal government that got us into a debt crisis," the voiceover intones.

In the legislature, Holt denounced the government for using public funds on the health care video and its messaging that is parallel to the partisan ad.

Holt suggested both videos were the handiwork of Steve Outhouse, a consultant hired as the PC campaign manager who is also working in the premier's office as Higgs's principal secretary, a taxpayer-funded position.

"The same person is doing the editing," she said.

 PC Party youtube pageAnother video with the same Globe and Mail story was posted to the the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick's YouTube page. (Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick/YouTube)

Premier Blaine Higgs did not respond to the suggestion Outhouse crafted both videos.

"We have a premier that won't even deny that he used political staff and taxpayer dollars to put out campaign material under the government of New Brunswick's brand," Holt said.

"That is completely irresponsible and inappropriate to start campaigning using taxpayer dollars." 

The next provincial election is scheduled for Oct. 21.

Higgs told reporters he didn't know whether visuals from the government health-care video might show up in campaign advertising, but he said his party would follow all election rules.

The anti-Holt video, and a second PC video featuring Higgs driving a motorcycle while his voiceover promotes his record, were released Thursday.

A fundraising email to party members included links to the video and a request for donations to get them into wider circulation.

Susan Holt speaks to reporters Holt suggested that both videos were edited by Steve Outhouse, who is currently Higgs's campaign manager but also has a taxpayer-funded job in the premier's office. (Radio-Canada)

In the legislature, Higgs said Holt was angry that he has a positive record to cite in his bid for re-election.

"I know the truth hurts, doesn't it?"

He also suggested that the government needed to promote its record more actively because fewer voters are reading news coverage in detail and don't hear about its accomplishments. 

"We've been not as outgoing, I guess, in terms of telling our story as we should be, because we're very proud of what's been accomplished by our government," he said.

Holt said with several lawsuits against the government and record numbers of people without primary care and without a place to live, the advertising doesn't tell the whole story. 

Outhouse's role of principal secretary is a political position, which means that unlike regular civil servants on the government payroll, he's allowed to engage in partisan political activity.

"It is a political role," Higgs said. "It always has been." 

But it's unusual for a campaign consultant hired by a political party in power to double up with a government job, even a political one, at the same time.

Outhouse's contract with the premier's office, which was revealed last month, runs until the election in October and is worth up to $124,656.

He said last month he would keep the government role and the campaign role separate, with PC campaign preparation outside his premier's office hours. 

Holt was not convinced.

"It stinks like an outhouse," she said. 

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.

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200 Comments
 
 
 
David Amos
Methinks everybody must be enjoying the circus today N'esy Pas? 
 
David Amos
Reply to David Amos  
"It stinks like an outhouse," she said.

I love it

Kyle Woodman
Reply to David Amos 
Indeed. I took the day off so I'll be here until I feel like a beer on my deck. Nice day wha! 
 
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
Welcome back to the circus
 
 
 
David Amos
David Amos
Reply to David Amos  
 
 
 
David Amos
 
 
 
Le Wier   
The ad with the motorcycle could have been an ad to sell the motorcycle. It was filmed very well, and with a different voice over it could be used for tourism. It was filmed on very scenic stretch of road with no potholes and no garbage lining the sides of the road, but as a lead into an election campaign I think it was a fail. 
 
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier  
Where can I see this video??? 
 
Le Wier  
Reply to David Amos  
It’s supposed to go on YouTube under Blaine Higgs PCNB AD (2024). It’s not uploaded yet. It seems to be only available in the email, but it should have been in the article as that is big part of what the article is about.
 
Le Wier  
Reply to Le Wier 
Try this https://www.linkedin.com/posts/david-akin-9737492b_blaine-higgs-pcnb-ad-2024-activity-7197037196426571778-duK3
Le Wier  
Reply to David Amos 
Reply to Le Wier  
Thanks for the tip I already saved the video and uploaded it in my blog about this nonsense. I see Higgy has a new bike while I still own the same old ones

BTW the first time talked to David Akin I was preparing to come home and run in the election of the 38th Parliament and the last time conversation we had was recorded live on CPAC while I was running in the election of the 42nd Parliament

David Amos
Reply to Le Wier 
Thanks 
 
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier 
I responded to you earlier because I found it in YouTube byway of your tip 
 
Le Wier  
Reply to David Amos
Ok glad you got to see it. For an ad that said so little it said so much 
 
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier 
I say a lot about in my blog 
 
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier 
Have you seen Cardy on his bike? Now that is pretty funny
 
 
 
Graham McCormack 
David Alward's government added $3.5 billion to the debt load. Brian Gallant's government added $853 million. Which had Higgs as the Finance Minister?
 
David Amos
Reply to Graham McCormack
Good Point
 
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Graham McCormack
Yeah not the biggest Gallant fan, but they were going to have a surplus in the year they were voted out too.   
 
Max Ruby 
Reply to Graham McCormack  
You mixed it up. Under Gallant’s leadership, the provincial debt increased by $3.8 billion.
 
MR Cain 
Reply to Max Ruby  
New Brunswick's debt became a concern more than a decade ago following the 2008 financial crisis that occurred during the then-government of Shawn Graham. Spending increases and stagnant revenues grew the debt for 12 straight years between 2007 and 2019, and eventually it more than doubled in size to $14.0 billion
 
Graham McCormack
Reply to Max Ruby   
Nope. 
 
Ronald Miller 
Reply to Graham McCormack 
You seem to have left out what the spending has been like under Higgs as premier, which is what counts today, I guess because it does not suit your narrative.
 
Max Ruby 
Reply to Graham McCormack 
Three premiers are notable for having not increased inflation-adjusted per-person spending during their tenures. The Frank McKenna government effectively held spending even during its term, with a -0.1 percent average annual decrease. David Alward, at -0.5 percent, and current premier Blaine Higgs, at -2.2 percent, are

the premiers who have exercised the most restraint in spending during our period of analysis.

 
 
Kyle Woodman 
Death spiral is a pretty good description of the current state of the PCNB. The projection is just too funny.
 
David Amos

Reply to Kyle Woodman  
I maintain that Higgy will have the writ dropped in Apple Blossom Time, he will win a minority then quit as the leader No doubt the leadership race will become a real circus just like when Lester Pearson stepped down when I was a kid in High School in Fat Fred City 
 
Ronald Miller
Reply to Kyle Woodman  
The death spiral has only been written about one party, and it is the one you blindly support, sorry.
 
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman   
Trust that you would have enjoyed my response 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman
Is there anything tougher and more manly than someone on a motorcycle in full leather.
 
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
I resemble that remark 

David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Do ya think Higgy will give me my Harley back before he has the writ dropped?
 
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Have you seen Cardy on his bike? Now that is pretty funny  
 
MR Cain   
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Easy Rider wannabe 
 
 
 
JOhn D Bond 
It is bizarre that Higgs would use stuff from that time period talking about health care. It has gotten much worse on his watch and it has nothing to do with anyone else and the financial decisions he has made. To think trying to slam Susan with an add that went after Gallant that for the past 6 years the results of the Higgs government are worse than the Gallant years is well bizarre.

Then the motorcycle. There is a very unpopular world leader that has a penchant for bikes, someone that I would thought any Canadian Politician would go miles out of their way to associate with. But apparently not Higgs.

Thankfully an election is coming soon and the end or this current government too hopefully.

Ronald Miller 
Reply to JOhn D Bond 
I don't see news sources coining our province as going into a "death spiral" going into this election. I would list the things Higgs has fixed since taking over but that would take most of the day. It has all been printed and is online, check it out sometime.
 
james bolt 
Reply to Ronald Miller  
busy day I guess
 
JOhn D Bond
Reply to Ronald Miller  
He has not actually fixed anything that has led to improve health care access for residents. But he has reduced the accumulated debt of the province on the back of our health care system. If you call that fixing things I guess we don't share the same perspective. Fixing one issue at the expense of breaking another is not fixing anything.
 
Bobby Richards 
Reply to JOhn D Bond  
This sounds like an ad for someone trying to become leader. Not someone that is seeking a third term. It's desperation.
 
David Amos
Reply to JOhn D Bond 
What is wrong with motorcycles?
 
Ronald Miller 
Reply to JOhn D Bond
You mean the healthcare system that was deteriorating when he took office (and has been for decades) and has continued to country wide because it is outdated? If that is the best you have then you have nothing, next.  
 
JOhn D Bond
Reply to Ronald Miller
That would be one type of spin. The reality, he diverted likely billions from health care and education to pay down accumulated debt. That was and continues to be a bad call.  
 
Ronald Miller 
Reply to JOhn D Bond
If he diverted billions why have those budgets gone up, in some cases by record % amounts? Can you show proof of any of this, of course you can't.
 
Ronald Miller 
Reply to JOhn D Bond 
If spending us into oblivion solves problems like healthcare why was it a mess under Gallant, why is it a mess under our current PM across Canada. This appears to be a problem you do not fully understand.
 
 
 
Walter Vrbetic 
Raise your hand if you're surprised...

"But it's unusual for a campaign consultant hired by a political party in power to double up with a government job, even a political one, at the same time."

David Amos
Reply to Walter Vrbetic 
I doubt you are 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman
Higgs looks like he wants to be a hang around for the HA.
 
Dan Lee
Reply to Kyle Woodman 
hmmm....i think he s got david mos bike..............   
 
Dan Lee
Reply to Dan Lee  
opps forgot...a for amos..........

David Amos
Reply to Dan Lee 
Too Too Funny
 
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Need I say that I am no HA 
 
 
 
Le Wier  
The news ads for the election campaign emailed out to PC supporters by Outhouse were telling. One was an attack ad at Holt and the other was a free wheeling Higgs riding his Honda Goldwing touring the province. 
 
Wilbur Ross 
Reply to Le Wier 
Putin likes to make videos like that too. Seriously.  
 
Le Wier
Reply to Le Wier   
The motorcycle ad looks expensive, and was made to target a certain group of voters, but Marcia wasn’t seated on the back of the bike, which was odd.
 
Le Wier  
Reply to Wilbur Ross    
But what voters was the motorcycle ad targeting? Not a family man, not women young or old, university students, young voters aged 18, military members, veterans, or first responders, I don’t know who’s left he was looking to secure his votes from,  
 
Bobby Richards
Reply to Le Wier   
That was odd
 
Bobby Richards
Reply to Le Wier 
It's targeting boomers maybe? Higgs is out of touch. He still thinks NB is like the 80s when you could threaten someone with their job. That's why so many of his MLAs walked out because they know they have better options that don't require being berated on a weekly basis. 
 
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier  
Where is that motorcycle ad that people are teasing me about? 
 
David Amos
Reply to Wilbur Ross
I loved the video of Putin Singing Blueberry Hill with Sharon Stone, Kevin Costner, Goldie Hawn, Gérard Depardieu, etc 
 
Kyle Woodman
Reply to David Amos  
I like the one where he's on skates and trips on the red carpet
 
Le Wier  
Reply to Bobby Richards
It’s possible. The ad didn’t really say what Higgs is running for to do in this election. There are so many issues and topics Outhouse could have led with. I was shocked that was the ad that Outhouse led with. 
 
Le Wier  
Reply to David Amos  
It was sent out by Outhouse and I haven’t found a link yet but when I do I will try to post it.
 
 
 
Wilbur Ross 
Higgs' campaign bus is even nicer than Clarence Thomas'.  
 
Belinda Davis 
Reply to Wilbur Ross 
wild.rose bus has the nicest wheels...............
 
Harvey York  
Reply to Belinda Davis
Hahaha, excellent. Thanks for that!
 
David Amos
Reply to Belinda Davis 
Do ya think Outhouse approved of them?
 
 

Enjoy

 
 
 

Putin Singing Blueberry Hill With Sharon Stone, Kevin Costner, Goldie Hawn, Gérard Depardieu, etc

Potatoes 
 
Mar 26, 2022  
Putin took to the stage at a children’s charity benefit in St Petersburg in 2010. He sang along to the 1958 hit as a crowd of celebrities – including Sharon Stone, Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Gérard Depardieu, Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci – watched on and cheered.

4 Comments

Not many world leaders would dare to do that
 
 
 
 
 
 

Watch what happens when Vladimir Putin tries to skate on red carpet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_I9HN1fq9I
 
 
 
 
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uUlFWGyY8I

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