Federal Conservatives hand pick Saint John-Kennebecasis candidate
In doing so, the party is scrapping a four-candidate runoff in order to acclaim Melissa Young to go against incumbent Liberal Wayne Long
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
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Leslie Keirstead apologizes to candidates who worked over a year on campaigns for nomination
With a federal election call expected within weeks and a Liberal incumbent certainly running for a fourth term in Saint John-Kennebecasis, some Conservatives in the riding are keen to get cracking on their own campaign — if only they could.
But the national party is standing in the way, refusing to set a nomination meeting date and to dispel rumours that the party brass has already identified the nominee it wants to run, according to a resignation letter submitted by riding president Leslie Keirstead.
"I have asked the National Party staff, on numerous occasions, to clarify their intentions but they have been unwilling to share that information with me," Keirstead wrote in a letter to the board directors.
Keirstead said that "lack of transparency" meant the nomination process was not the open and fair process she had hoped it would be, and she apologized to the candidates who had been campaigning for over a year.
One candidate gave up race
The three nominees who are openly campaigning for the job are Melissa Young, Lisa Keenan and James Robertson.
A fourth candidate, Dr. Jeff Steeves, quit the race last summer, after he thought he had received the party's blessing and had been signing up new members. He told his supporters he'd learned the national party preferred a candidate, who he said was living in Ontario.
"Despite my protest to the upper levels of the party, it has been made clear that my path to the nomination has ended," Steeves wrote in a letter dated July 23 and distributed widely to constituents.
Steeves did not name the chosen candidate.
A photo of federal Conservative nominee Melissa Young from her campaign website votemelissa.ca. (Votemelissa.ca)
Young, who would not provide an interview to CBC News, was appointed CEO of Skilled Trades Ontario in January 2022 and served in that position until she was replaced in November 2024. On her campaign website, Young describes herself as a lifelong resident of New Brunswick, currently living along the Kennebecasis River.
Lisa Keenan, the only candidate who agreed to an interview, said she would continue her campaign, and she defended Keirstead's role as riding leader.
"Leslie Keirstead has been a tireless worker for the federal party and the provincial party for the last 30-something years, and I think the riding association has conducted itself impeccably for the last year in connection to a possible nomination."
Keenan said she will continue to campaign for the nomination.
The party is not breaking its own rules by not having a nomination meeting nor one scheduled.
Local board director Nargis Kheraj said that only the national party can sign off on a nomination date. It can't be done locally.
Kheraj said she'd like to see a Conservative candidate in place so that person has time to campaign and establish what they stand for, especially if they're facing Liberal incumbent Wayne Long, who was first elected in 2015.
"I think our party in Saint John is a little frustrated because we want to get this going," Kheraj said.
"We have an existing MP, and we want to make sure that our candidate gets some exposure, and we can't do that unless we have a candidate, and we can't have a candidate because we don't have a nomination."
Lisa
Keenan is one of three candidates publicly campaigning to be the
Conservative candidate in the riding of Saint John-Kennebecasis (Submitted by Lisa Keenan)
CBC was unable to reach party officials in Ottawa. Messages left for Kevin Price, the New Brunswick representative on the Conservative National Council, went unanswered.
Emil Olsen, a federal Conservative stalwart and Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick riding president in Quispamsis, said he still fully expects a riding vote to take place, although he said he'd not yet heard of a date being set.
"I'm expecting a nomination meeting," said Olsen. "Everybody should have the opportunity to vote for the person they're supporting. I can't see it not happening. That's the democratic process."
Long says he does not expect to face a nomination contest because of his long incumbency. Furthermore, no other candidate has stepped forward.
Federal race tightens
Poll analyst Eric Grenier said Saint John-Kennebecasis is a riding to watch and the choice of local candidate could make a difference on election day.
He says nationally, the Conservatives had been leading in the polls for about a year and a half, but over the past two months, the gap between the Liberals and the Conservatives has shrunk by half and could be affected yet again by Mark Carney's leadership win.
CBC
polling analyst Eric Grenier says there has been a huge change in the
polling in Atlantic Canada, and he expects the Liberals may gain ground
with Mark Carney as leader. (CBC)
"Atlantic Canada has seen a huge change in the polling," Grenier said. "The Conservatives were on track to win Saint John-Kennebecasis and lots of ridings across New Brunswick," said Grenier.
"Now we've seen the Liberals have actually moved ahead in Atlantic Canada by a pretty significant margin. So a riding like Saint John-Kennebecais would now be a toss-up.
"So who the local candidate is going to end up being could end up playing a huge role in Atlantic Canada. We do see the local candidates having a bigger impact on the race than we see in the rest of Canada."
Few nominations competitive, charity finds
Researchers at the Samara Centre for Democracy say contested nominations are uncommon.
The non-partisan registered charity examined how candidates were chosen for Canada's five major federal parties across five federal elections between 2004 and 2015.
Competitive nomination races uncommon, says Samara Centre for DemocracyOf the 6,600 federal candidates captured in the study, only 17 per cent arrived there through a competitive nomination race. Parties directly appointed more than 2,700 election candidates with no nomination process at all.
"It's hard to even call them contests in many ways," said research director Beatrice Wayne.
"Many people are acclaimed, appointed by the party leader and in many so-called contests there's only one contestant running. So it's hardly accurate to call it a contest. We found in our analysis of races from 2004 to 2015 that 70 per cent of contests were just one person running and that is in addition to the people who are appointed by party leaders."
Wayne says members of parliament who gave interviews to the centre expressed frustration about the lack of information around the timing of nomination contests.
"One thing that's very interesting in terms of diversity, we know that the longer the nomination contest runs for, the more likely there will be women running in the nomination contest," Wayne said.
"But nomination contests are very short. Often, even though they are supposed to be at least two weeks, they're shorter. So this is not helpful in terms of achieving a more representative House of Commons."
In the Saint John-Kennebecasis, David MacFarquhar is running for the Green Party. The NDP does not have a candidate yet.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melissa Young Announces Nomination Candidacy for the Conservative Party of Canada in Saint John-Kennebecasis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saint John, New Brunswick – [November 27, 2024] – Melissa Young has officially announced her nomination candidacy for the Conservative Party in the federal riding of Saint John-Kennebecasis. A results-driven leader with a commitment to workers and the community, Melissa Young hopes to represent the interests and values of New Brunswickers in Ottawa.
Melissa’s extensive experience spans both the skilled trades, workforce development and government relations, equipping her with unique insights into the issues facing Saint John- Kennebecasis. Her career reflects a strong focus on practical solutions that promote economic opportunity, accessible education, and fair representation. Known for her collaborative approach, Melissa has worked effectively with stakeholders and all levels of government—local, provincial, and federal—tackling issues that matter most to her community.
“I hope to represent the Conservative Party in Saint John-Kennebecasis,” said Young. “Our community deserves a voice in Ottawa that understands both the challenges and opportunities we face. I want to work alongside Pierre Poilievre and common sense Conservatives to bring meaningful results to our region,” said Young.
If Melissa Young becomes the official candidate, she will focus on fostering growth, responsible governance, and improved services for the people of Saint John-Kennebecasis. Her priorities will include:
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Building strong partnerships with all levels of government to address urgent issues such as affordable housing and infrastructure.
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Supporting job creation and economic initiatives that will position Saint John-Kennebecasis as a leader in business and innovation.
- Advocating for policies that ensure accountability and transparency in government spending, while delivering quality public services to residents.
Melissa Young’s commitment to a “people-first” approach has shaped her vision for Saint John- Kennebecasis, and she invites the community to join her in building a brighter future. “This campaign is about amplifying our voices in Ottawa,” she said. “I’m dedicated to bringing my experience and passion to serve each and every one of you.”
For more information about Melissa Young and her campaign, please visit VOTEMELISSA.CA or contact Melissa@Votemelissa.ca.
About Melissa Young
Melissa Young is an
accomplished professional in government relations, workforce development
and a committed advocate for New Brunswick workers and communities. She
brings years of experience working collaboratively across all levels of
government, with a focus on fostering economic growth, promoting
sustainable policies, and improving community well-being. As a nominee as a Conservative candidate, Melissa is committed to providing effective, solutions-driven leadership for the people of Saint John-Kennebecasis.
Media Contact:
Melissa Young
Nomination Candidate
Melissa@votemelissa.ca
(506) 647-3180
Lisa A. Keenan, K.C.
AssociateEmail lak@brentonkean.com
Direct Line (506) 632-8999
Professional Experience
Lisa received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Saint Francis Xavier University, a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of New Brunswick, and a dissertation en francais from Université Canadien en France. She was admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 1993.
She is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Law Society of New Brunswick, and the Saint John Law Society.
Outside the Office
Lisa is a past President of the New Brunswick Red Cross, past President of Saint John Non-Profit Housing, past President of the Saint John Regional Hospital Auxiliary, and past Governor of the Board of Governors for the Canadian Red Cross. She instituted the New Brunswick Red Cross Humanitarian Award which has been adapted for many provinces in Canada.
She has served as a Director for Saint John Energy, the Saint John Imperial Theatre Foundation, the Saint John Rotary Club, and the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation. She was recently appointed as a Director to the Board of Directors for the Saint John Port Authority. In 2015, she also received the Canadian Bar Association’s E. Neil McKelvey Pro Bono/Volunteer award for outstanding service.
Lisa resides in Saint John with her husband, David, and their three children.
https://www.facebook.com/LisaKeenanforSaintJohnKennebecasis/
Intro
John-Kennebecasis
Intro
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Atlantic Canada fish farmers group gets $473K for 2-year project
Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association getting money from ACOA to fund growth and development
New federal money for Atlantic aquacultureThe aquaculture industry in the Atlantic region is getting a financial boost from Ottawa to support a two-year project to "expand markets, strengthen sustainability and improve innovation" within the industry, ACOA announced Thursday in Saint John.
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency said in a news release that it's spending $473,000 from its Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program.
Wayne Long, MP for Saint John–Rothesay, said the initiative will allow the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association to attract new investments and strengthen global competitiveness.
"The aquaculture industry absolutely checks every box that our government should be focused on, blue economy, sustainability, growing protein, employing people in coastal communities," he said.
Long said the project will involve organizing innovation forums and hosting workshops. It also involves sending 60 industry members to Trondheim, Norway, for the Aqua Nor global aquaculture exhibition later this year.
David
Seeley, interim chair of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association,
says the money from ACOA is 'fantastic' support for the industry. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Another 55 industry members will go to Boston for the 2025 Seafood Expo North America this weekend.
"Events like that will give Atlantic Canadian fish and seafood companies the opportunity to showcase their products, connect with global buyers and expand into new lucrative markets," said Long.
David Seeley, interim chair of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association, is heading to the Seafood Expo for his 13th year in a row.
"There's truly nothing like it," said Seeley. "It's exciting and exhausting."
The association represents 81 members, including finfish farmers, feed producers and industry partners in Atlantic Canada.
The project has a total cost of $800,000, with just over 40 per cent funded by industry partners, the association said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New federal Liberal leader must be ready to defend against U.S. threats, say N.B. MP, prof
Mark Carney changes Saint John-Rothesay MP's mind about not running again
When Mark Carney took home the Liberal leadership Sunday night, making him prime minister-designate, Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long took to social media with the message, "Well it looks like I'm back!"
Long, who announced two years ago that he wouldn't run in the next election and had pushed for Justin Trudeau to resign as prime minister, said Carney's win changed his mind.
The possibility of running again was set in motion, Long said, when Carney called him, shared his vision for the country and asked if Long would reconsider.
"To be perfectly blunt and honest, nobody in the previous regime asked me to reconsider," he said, who has already filed papers to run in the riding now called Saint John–Kennebecasis.
Carney was elected Sunday night as Liberal Party of Canada leader with 85.9 per cent of the vote. (Carlos Osorio/Reuters)
Carney was elected Sunday night as Liberal Party of Canada leader with 85.9 per cent of the vote. A date hasn't yet been set for him to take office and he has to first be sworn in by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon.
Long said he thinks Carney was viewed as a security blanket by many in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing tariff and annexation threats.
"I mean, the ballot question over the last couple months has changed from, you know, axe the tax, and Canada is broken, to who's best suited and who's best qualified to defend our country," he said.
"We are under, I would argue, the greatest threat that this country's ever had to its sovereignty and, you know, to its economy."
Long said he thinks Liberals and Conservatives can agree that Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada, has the economic experience to defend the country against Trump's threats.
Mario Levesque, an associate professor in public policy at Mount Allison University, said he thinks the Liberals chose Carney as leader because he is less associated with Trudeau, unlike two other candidates, MPs Chrystia Freeland and Liberal MP Karina Gould, for example, who both served in Trudeau's cabinet.
Mario
Levesque, an associate professor in public policy at Mount Allison
University, says Carney will need to continue dissociating himself from
Justin Trudeau's Liberal government if he wants a shot in the next
election. (CBC)
Levesque said if Carney wants to prove himself against Conservative Leader Pierre Pollievre, he will need to continue dissociating himself from the past Liberal government.
Levesque said Carney has already started removing himself from the past government, for example, by promising to make changes to the carbon tax.
But Levesque said Carney will also need to be seen as having a heart by keeping many social programs in place, and also putting forth a "Canada-first" approach to combat the United States's economic attack.
Long
says he thinks he thinks Liberals and Conservatives alike can agree
that Carney has the economic experience to defend the country against
U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff and annexation threats. (Ben Curtis/The Associated Press)
With Carney's Liberal leadership win, Levesque said, Pollievre and the Conservatives also have an uphill battle to keep their current lead.
"I think for them, it's trying to identify who the public enemy number one is," he said.
"Before, it was the carbon tax and Justin Trudeau. Well, both are gone now. So what's their identity?
"The problem with the Conservatives is they did not cultivate another identity outside of those things. So now they're trying to pivot and to attack Carney and his economic credentials."
Levesque
says the Conservatives, led by Pierre Pollievre, pictured on the left,
will need to establish a new identity now that Justin Trudeau will soon
no longer be prime minister and Carney has already promised to make
changes to the carbon tax. (Troy Turner/CBC)
Levesque said his prediction going forward is that after Carney is sworn in as prime minister and names his cabinet, he will call an election later in March.
If that happens, Levesque said it would make for an interesting spring with a possible federal election landing at the end of April or early May.
"Lots to follow and lots to watch as well, but very, very busy, though," said Levesque.
"And of course, the wild card in all of this is, what will Trump do in the meantime?"
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Information Morning Fredericton
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