3 party leaders share stage for last time before N.B. election
Higgs, Holt and Coon stick to their hits during leaders' forum in Fredericton
New Brunswickers got a chance to take one last look at all three major party leaders together as they faced off during leaders' forum in Fredericton on Wednesday evening.
The debate, broadcast by CTV Atlantic, offered viewers a roundtable discussion with PC Leader Blaine Higgs, Liberal Leader Susan Holt and Green Leader David Coon.
Higgs presented himself as a steady hand at the wheel through some turbulent times, while highlighting his pledge to cut the HST.
"Even through a flood and a global pandemic, we've balanced six budgets," he said.
Wednesday's debate offered voters their last chance to see all three major party leaders face off before the election. (CBC)
"Because of that, we've been able to make record investments in health and education without raising taxes. Because of that, we're able to cut the HST and make life more affordable."
Holt came back to a common theme throughout her campaign: the need to improve health care.
She focused on numbers, saying that "180,000 New Brunswickers are waiting for a family doctor or a nurse practitioner, 80 per cent of nurses in New Brunswick are leaving their careers before they're 35, 1108 seniors are waiting for care … New Brunswickers have to wait three times longer to access mental health services than the rest of Canada."
Shift - NB 8:52 Meanwhile, Coon pitched his party as an alternative to revolving PC and Liberal administrations.
"Our governments have been flipping back and forth between Conservative and Liberal for years, but nothing seems to get better," Coon said. "In fact, things are worse.
"In this election you have three choices: stick with Blaine Higgs who is promising to keep on doing what he's been doing for the last six years, go with the Liberal Party, whose leader's promising to put Band-Aids on our problems and our public services, or vote for actual change."
Planning for federal party leader
In a wide-ranging media availability in Fredericton on Wednesday, Higgs appeared to point to a possible federal Conservative government as an out for an uncosted campaign promise.
When the party released costing summaries of election commitments, it neglected to note how much a promised carbon tax legal challenge would cost New Brunswickers.
This came after the party had taken the Liberals to task for uncosted promises and math irregularities in its platform.
Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs acknowledged that several promises in his party's platform were uncosted. (Victoria Walton/CBC)
The PC disclosure said the lack of costing is because "it will not have financial implications for the province."
But when asked by a reporter about the carbon tax legal challenge, Higgs said it "hasn't even started," and appeared to point to the possibility of a federal government under Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre making the challenge moot.
"Whether it gets anything done before Poilievre and the government falls federally and Poilievre gets elected and the carbon tax is gone, that would be my hope," said Higgs.
Strong showing at advance polls
It appears New Brunswickers are becoming more enamoured with the idea of casting their ballots early.
In two days of advance polling before next Monday's general election, Elections N.B. said 110,364 voters cast their ballots.
While this is fewer than in 2020, when 131,603 people voted at advance polls, the situations are starkly different.
In 2020, the province was still at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, without a vaccine, and Elections N.B. was strongly advocating people use alternatives to showing up on election day.
"There is clearly a trend of more New Brunswickers taking advantage of the convenience of voting early at the advance polls and also at the returning offices," said Paul Harpelle, spokesperson for Elections N.B.
When including special ballots, such as those cast at returning offices or at special-care homes, 135,274 New Brunswickers have voted so far.
Harpelle clarified that these numbers are considered "unofficial."
Former PC leader slams Policy 713
A former PC Party leader and federal MP is calling out the provincial government for its actions around Policy 713.
The policy is described by the province as setting "minimum requirements' for creating a welcoming environment for 2SLGBTQ+ students.
It has been criticized after it was updated last year mandating that students under the age of 16 need parental permission to use preferred names different from their legal ones, which many see as an attack on gender-diverse students.
In a discussion about education on Information Morning Moncton, Dennis Cochrane, who led the party from 1991 to 1995, called the controversy over Policy 713 "wedge politics."
"Parents against other people, parents against teachers, parents against the school," he said.
Former
PC leader Dennis Cochrane called the government's handling of Policy
713 "reprehensible" and said it was an example of "wedge politics." (Shane Magee/CBC)
Cochrane, who also served as deputy education minister in Nova Scotia during the John Hamm and Rodney MacDonald PC administrations, said the battle over 713 is taking focus off other important classroom issues and called the province's tactics "reprehensible."
"I just think we see too much pigheadedness on parts of the government to [be able to] try to solve this by negotiation, by discussion, by working together," Cochrane said.
Peter Lagacy, head of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association, said changes to the policy have impacted the relationship between parents and teachers.
"In certain cases it's certainly made it more difficult with some parents who are, I guess I would say, in support of certain policies," said Legacy.
Melissa Dockrill Garrett, a University of New Brunswick education professor, said Policy 713 may be wedge politics, but it's much more to transgender students and their families.
"We might be talking about a smaller percentage of students, [but] they're already marginalized," said Dockrill Garrett.
"This is making them more vulnerable."
Standings at dissolution: PCs 25, Liberals 16, Greens 3, Independent 1, vacant 4
Where the leaders are today
Liberal Leader Susan Holt plans a health-care announcement in St. George in the morning and a rally in Saint John in the evening.
Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs will hold an availability at the Carleton Mall in Woodstock.
Green Leader David Coon will hold a news conference on the party's plan for affordability and attend an anti-poverty rally at the legislature.
For complete campaign coverage, visit New Brunswick Votes 2024.
With files from Information Morning Mocton
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I can't vote but that didn't stop me from running against Higgy
Zoe Richmond
Such a challenging little province to manage. I voted for Premier Higgs in the advance polls.
David Amos
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Reply to Zoe Richmond
Obviously you saw my name on the ballot as well I hope you got a chuckle out of that fact
Archie MacDaniel
Higgs worked so hard during that debate he was covered in sweat. Hardest working premier in Canada.
David Amos
Reply to Archie MacDaniel
Yea Right
Harold Reagan
Advance polls? I'll keep looking to see where mine is. Election day? Had to look for that also. I'm used to this info being dropped in my mail or doorstep. That might ensure more voters getting out to vote.
David Amos
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Reply to Harold Reagan
Interesting statement Perhaps you should pick up the phone and send emails like I do
Harold Reagan
Reply to David Amos
That's what I do. Never had to in the past.
Frank Blacklock
Will Liberals bring in more carbon taxes, mandates for workers/students, and freezing bank accounts?
Jay Miller
Reply to Frank Blacklock
That’s Federal politics - let’s talk Provincial politics
Harold Reagan
Reply to Frank Blacklock
Hope so! The present carbon tax hasn't stopped many from burning more and more gas (those who must do so have an excuse).
David Amos
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Reply to Frank Blacklock
Survey says?
Jim Lake
Reply to Frank Blacklock
To answer your questions: No, No, and No.
What they will do is listen to New Brunswickers, listen to healthcare workers, listen to teachers and do what needs to be done to help New Brunswickers and better our province - things that have been neglected by the Higgs government for the past 6 years.
Harold Reagan
Reply to Jim Lake
Too much guidance from Mr. Paul E. Waugg and his predecessors, and for too long.
Jake Newman
Higgs for another majority.
Jay Miller
Reply to Jake Newman
🗳️ According to a Narrative Tesearch / Brunswick News poll this morning - Higgs is trailing Holt in all of the 3 biggest cities of NB - 32/20 in Moncton; 27/22 in Fredericton; and 27/26 in Saint John 🗳️
Jay Miller
Reply to Jay Miller
Research not Tesearch
David Amos
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Reply to Jay Miller
My personal poll tells a different tale
Jim Lake
Higgs was out of his depth - he looked uncomfortable, nervous and appeared to be sweating much of the time, and was only able to speak clearly by completely reading from his notes (and then, his papers appeared to be shaking in his hands).
Coons, too, had challenges speaking clearly unless reading his notes … but he was more comfortable speaking than Higgs
Holt was comfortable, confident and was able to clearly speak about her team’s policies and priorities, clearly show she is speaking with and listening to New Brunswickers and confidently call out Higgs for not being honest in his comments. She clearly carried the night.
Harold Reagan
Reply to Jim Lake
People like Trump and PP don't need to reed nuthin! They simply talk about whatever comes out of their mouth (one is very loud compared to the mouse).
David Amos
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Reply to Jim Lake
I wonder if they discussed my emails in private
Eugene Peabody
I enjoyed how Susan Holt and David Coon called out the lies that Higgs is still saying after being proven wrong many times. I do not like a leader who continues to lie as a normal response to a question.
David Amos
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Reply to Eugene Peabody
I always enjoy the circus
Jay Miller
There were no complaints, there were no issues. We have a premier who’s saying teachers are keeping secrets from parents. That isn’t the case. He’s told people that teachers are teaching kids to lie, and he’s completely undermined the education System "
Higgs' Once Again lying About Why Policy 713 Was Changed And When He Told Reporters That " Teacher's Are Teaching Kids To Lie To Their Parents"
Why Would Anyone Want To ReElect Someone Who Blatantly Lies To Them?
MR Cain
Reply to Jay Miller
Actually, the Higgs' policy encourages the children to lie, hiding their true selves behind a curtain of deceit.
Jay Miller
Reply to MR Cain
Former PC leader Dennis Cochrane called the government's handling of Policy 713 "reprehensible" and said it was an example of "wedge politics."
MR Cain
Reply to Jay Miller
definitely; but it is not "the government" but Higgs and his team, and their phobias.
David Amos
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Reply to Jay Miller
I bet the former PC leader Dennis Cochrane still remembers our conversation
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