New Brunswick: Canada's Conservative Stronghold

New Brunswick has a majority Progressive Conservative government, led by Premier Blaine Higgs. The Progressive Conservatives won re-election on 14 September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, ending a streak of four consecutive single-term governments. The Progressive Conservatives won 27 seats, two more than the 25 needed for a majority. The Liberals, led by Kevin Vickers, were elected in 17 ridings. The Green Party maintained its three seats, and the People's Alliance kept two.

Progressive Conservative Party leader Blaine Higgs won the 2020 New Brunswick general election

On September 14, 2020, the Progressive Conservative Party, led by Blaine Higgs, won the New Brunswick general election. This was the first provincial vote to be held during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. The Progressive Conservatives won 27 seats, two more than the 25 required for a majority. The Liberals, led by Kevin Vickers, were elected in 17 ridings, while the Green Party maintained its three seats and the People's Alliance lost one of its three seats.

Higgs's victory ended a streak of four consecutive single-term governments in New Brunswick. He had called a snap election the previous month, arguing that stability was required for the next phase of the pandemic and economic recovery. The Progressive Conservatives carried out candidate riding nominations on August 8, 2020, fuelling speculation about an early election. On August 17, Higgs made an offer to the opposition parties to avoid an election until 2022 or the end of the pandemic, but negotiations failed.

Higgs's win gave him a coveted majority after two years of leading the province's first minority government since 1920. In his victory speech, he emphasised that his government had been "prepared, tested, and will continue to be tested," and that his leadership would "make tough and balanced decisions to keep [the] province moving forward."

The Progressive Conservative victory was largely attributed to Higgs's successful handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the province's ongoing economic recovery. New Brunswick had one of the lowest levels of infection in Canada, only surpassed by P.E.I. and the territories. Additionally, the province experienced a smaller economic contraction compared to the rest of Canada due to its quick containment of the virus.

However, the Tories faced challenges in the province's French-speaking regions, continuing a linguistic divide that emerged after the 2018 election. The Tories dominated in English-speaking ridings in central and southern New Brunswick, while the Liberals maintained their support in the French-speaking ridings in the north.

The Progressive Conservative Party's win in the 2020 New Brunswick general election marked a significant moment in the province's political landscape, ending a streak of single-term governments and solidifying Higgs's leadership in navigating the pandemic and economic challenges.

The Progressive Conservatives formed a majority government

On September 14, 2020, the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government in New Brunswick, led by Premier Blaine Higgs. This was the first provincial vote to be held during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

Higgs' Progressive Conservatives won re-election with a majority government, ending a streak of four consecutive single-term governments. The PCs were elected in 27 ridings, two more than the 25 needed for a majority. The victory came after two years of leading the province's first minority government since 1920.

Higgs' win was a gamble that paid off. He called a snap election on August 17, arguing that stability was required for the next phase of the pandemic and the economic recovery. The election was originally scheduled for October 17, 2022, but Higgs called for an early election after negotiations failed with other parties.

The Progressive Conservatives' success can be attributed to their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the province's economic recovery. New Brunswick has one of the lowest infection levels in Canada, and forecasts suggested the province was leading the country in economic recovery. The Tories argued that this was a result of Higgs' leadership, and the party's successful management of the outbreak.

The Progressive Conservatives' victory in the 2020 election formed a majority government, with 27 seats in the 49-seat house. The Liberals, led by Kevin Vickers, were elected in 17 ridings, while the Green Party maintained its three seats, and the People's Alliance held two.

The formation of a majority government by the Progressive Conservatives in New Brunswick marked a significant moment in the province's political landscape, ending a period of single-term governments and providing stability during a challenging time.

The Liberal Party, led by Kevin Vickers, won 17 seats

Vickers, a former ambassador to Ireland and sergeant-at-arms of the House of Commons, had taken on the leadership 18 months prior to the election. He had hoped to flip enough seats to regain power and extend the run of one-term premiers in New Brunswick. However, he lost his first run at a seat, losing to People's Alliance candidate Michelle Conroy in the riding of Miramichi.

Vickers accused the Progressive Conservative leader, Blaine Higgs, of listening to political advisors rather than the people of New Brunswick, arguing that the election wasn't wanted or needed. He also warned voters of Higgs's "secret plan" to make deep cuts to public services, including healthcare in rural areas, despite a Progressive Conservative pledge not to do so.

Following the election, Vickers announced that he would be stepping down as leader of the Liberal Party. "It's time for another leader to step up and take the party forward," he said. "I'm hoping the next leader will take the torch and bring it up higher."

The Green Party won three seats

New Brunswick has a majority Progressive Conservative government, led by Premier Blaine Higgs. The Progressive Conservatives won a majority government in the 2020 New Brunswick general election, which was held on September 14, 2020.

However, this does not mean that New Brunswick is entirely conservative. In fact, the Green Party has made gains in recent years. In the 2020 provincial election, the Green Party won three seats in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, making it the only minor party in the province to be represented in the legislative assembly. This was not the first time the Green Party had won seats. In the 2018 provincial election, the Green Party, led by David Coon, also won three seats. In the 2014 election, Coon became the first Green Party candidate to be elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.

The Green Party of New Brunswick (PVNBGP), commonly known as the Greens, was formed in 2008 and has been under the leadership of David Coon since 2012. The party's platform includes a commitment to living within ecological and resource limits, social justice and equality, self-determination and citizenship, and participatory democracy. They oppose fracking and support renewable energy, affordable housing, and skilled trades solutions.

The Green Party's win of three seats in the 2020 provincial election is significant because it shows that the party has established itself as a minor force in the province's politics. This could indicate a shift in the political landscape of New Brunswick, which has traditionally been dominated by the Liberals and Conservatives (Progressive Conservatives). The Green Party's success may reflect a growing concern for environmental and social issues among the province's voters.

The People's Alliance won two seats

The People's Alliance of New Brunswick (PANB) is a provincial political party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The party is described as being right-wing and populist. In the 2018 election, the People's Alliance won three seats in the provincial legislature for the first time since its founding in 2010. The party won 12.58% of the popular vote.

The party's leader, Kris Austin, a former interdenominational minister, tapped into rural frustration and populism to win three seats at the table. Austin won his riding of Fredericton-Grand Lake, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative Pam Lynch. The party also won seats in Miramichi, with Michelle Conroy defeating Liberal cabinet minister Bill Fraser, and in Fredericton-York, where Rick DeSaulniers defeated PC incumbent Kirk MacDonald.

The People's Alliance's success in the 2018 election was a significant breakthrough, as it had only captured 2.1% of the vote in 2014. The party's platform has been described as "a mixture of economic conservatism, rural populism, and opposition to some aspects of official bilingualism and duality." The party advocated for "common-sense" government and the abolition of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, proposing a transfer of that office's responsibilities to the office of the provincial ombudsman.

In the 2020 provincial election, the People's Alliance won two seats, with Austin and Conroy being re-elected while DeSaulniers was defeated. The party won 8.95% of the popular vote. However, in March 2022, the party suffered a setback when its two MLAs, including Austin, crossed the floor to join the Progressive Conservatives, seemingly bringing its run to an end. Despite this, supporters of the People's Alliance worked to revive the party, and it was re-registered in May 2022, with DeSaulniers chosen as the new leader.

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