Pa Party: New Brunswick's Political Force

The People's Alliance of New Brunswick (PANB) is a right-wing populist provincial political party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It was founded in 2010 by Kris Austin, a former interdenominational minister and PC Party candidate. The party advocates for common sense government and has a platform that combines economic conservatism, rural populism, and opposition to certain aspects of bilingualism and duality. The People's Alliance has faced criticism from Acadian and Francophone civil society groups for its anti-Francophone and anti-equality positions. In 2018, the party won three seats in the provincial legislature for the first time, but it has never managed to elect an MLA. The party's polling numbers have been on the rise, and it aims to provide a third option for voters beyond the Liberal and Conservative parties.

The People's Alliance of New Brunswick's stance on bilingualism

The People's Alliance of New Brunswick (PANB) is a right-wing populist party that has been accused of holding anti-bilingualism and anti-French stances. The party has never called for the elimination of bilingualism, but some of its supporters and members have been vocal critics of official bilingualism.

Following the 2018 election, the PANB threatened to topple the minority PC government if changes in the NB Languages Commissioner's annual report were enacted. The report, presented by interim language commissioner Michel Carrier, called for amendments to promote equality for both official languages in the province: French and English. Carrier's recommendations included amending language requirements for nursing home workers and hiring an official language secretariat to oversee the Official Languages Act. The PANB took issue with these proposals, arguing that they would be catastrophic and exacerbate the nursing shortage, as well as cause financial strain on citizens.

The party's stance on bilingualism has been described as seeking a “common sense” approach and not wanting to "tackle the Canadian Constitution." They have also advocated for the abolition of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, suggesting that its responsibilities be transferred to the office of the provincial ombudsman. This position has drawn criticism from other parties and language watchdogs, who argue that the PANB is taking the Official Languages Act to an extreme.

Some ardent opponents of official bilingualism, such as Jason McBride of the United Citizens of New Brunswick, have expressed disappointment in the PANB for not doing enough to make changes to bilingualism policies. McBride collected "thousands" of signatures on petitions calling for a referendum on repealing official bilingualism, but the party did not present them, with leader Kris Austin stating that they went beyond the party's position.

In 2022, the PANB faced further criticism when Kris Austin and Michelle Conroy, the two MLAs who had been elected under the party, announced their departure to join the Progressive Conservatives. This move was met with disapproval from the Acadian Society of New Brunswick, an organization promoting the rights of francophones, due to the party's previous anti-bilingualism stances.

Kris Austin's leadership

Kris Austin, a former interdenominational minister and candidate for the PC Party nomination in the Grand Lake-Gagetown riding, was the leader of the People's Alliance of New Brunswick (PANB) from 2010 to 2022. He also served as Deputy Mayor of Minto from 2012 to 2016.

Austin co-founded the PANB in 2010 amid opposition to the provincial government's plan to sell NB Power to Hydro-Québec. He led the party into the 2010, 2014, and 2018 provincial elections. In 2010, the PANB fielded 14 candidates and won 4,365 votes, but no seats. In 2014, Austin nearly won the riding of Fredericton-Grand Lake, losing by about 25-26 votes. In 2018, the PANB won three seats in the provincial legislature for the first time, including Austin's riding of Fredericton-Grand Lake.

Austin's political message has been described as populist, with a focus on "common-sense" government, economic conservatism, rural populism, and opposition to some aspects of official bilingualism and duality. He has emphasized the importance of representing the people rather than the party and has criticized the Liberal and Conservative parties for failing to govern in the best interests of New Brunswick.

On March 30, 2022, Austin and fellow PANB MLA Michelle Conroy announced their departure from the party to join the Progressive Conservatives. The PANB was deregistered as a provincial party the following day. Austin was appointed Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor-General on October 13, 2022, by Premier Blaine Higgs.

Austin's leadership style has been characterized by his community involvement, organizational skills, and passion for bringing about change. He has drawn on his experience as a pastor to shape his political views and has emphasized his commitment to standing up for the "little guy."

The party's right-wing populism

The People's Alliance of New Brunswick (PANB) is a right-wing populist party. It was formed in 2010 by Kris Austin, a former interdenominational minister and candidate for the PC Party nomination in the Grand Lake-Gagetown riding. 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 People's Alliance has also taken a stand against what it perceives as unnecessary government spending. For instance, the party campaigned on abolishing the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, despite a 25% budget increase for the office following the 2018 election. The party's right-wing populism is further reflected in its support for policies that appeal to the interests and values of the people of New Brunswick, such as calling for a ban on the use of Glyphosate on Crown Lands.

The party's deregistration and re-registration

The People's Alliance of New Brunswick (PANB) is a right-wing populist provincial political party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The party was formed in 2010 by Kris Austin, a former interdenominational minister and PC Party candidate.

The Party's De-registration and Re-registration

On March 30, 2022, Kris Austin and Michelle Conroy, two members of the People's Alliance of New Brunswick, announced their departure from the party to join the Progressive Conservatives. As a result, the People's Alliance of New Brunswick was deregistered as a provincial party the following day, on March 31, 2022.

In April 2022, the interim leader of the party, Rick DeSaulniers, announced their plans to re-register. Elections New Brunswick confirmed the party's re-registration in May 2022, and DeSaulniers was chosen to be the party leader.

The People's Alliance has been described as advocating for "common sense" government and holding a mixture of economic conservatism, rural populism, and opposition to some aspects of official bilingualism and duality. The party's platform has been controversial, with representatives of Acadian and Francophone civil society denouncing their "anti-Francophone and anti-equality" positions following the 2018 election.

The party has had varying levels of success in provincial elections, winning three seats in the 2018 election but failing to elect a single MLA in the 2010 and 2014 elections. The party's highest polling was in 2018, where they won 12.58% of the popular vote.

The party's stance on vaping

The People's Alliance of New Brunswick (PANB) is a right-wing populist provincial political party in New Brunswick, Canada. In 2018, Heather Collins, a PANB candidate, came under fire for saying "vape away" to a group of high school students, most of whom were under 18. While Collins later apologised, claiming she did not advocate for children to smoke, this incident sparked discussions about the party's stance on vaping.

The People's Alliance has not released an official statement regarding its position on vaping. However, the party's leader, Kris Austin, declined to respond to the media inquiries following Collins' comment. This lack of a clear stance on vaping by the party leadership has led to speculation and scrutiny, especially given the public health concerns surrounding vaping, particularly among youth.

Vaping is a significant issue in New Brunswick, with efforts being made to prevent children and youth from taking up the habit. The province's Department of Health works to protect health by supporting initiatives that create smoke and vape-free environments. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health administers legislation that supports smoke and vape-free public places and restricts tobacco and electronic cigarette advertising and sales to youth. The legal age to purchase e-cigarettes in New Brunswick is 19, and the Department of Health aims to discourage people, especially children, from using tobacco or electronic cigarettes.

While the People's Alliance has not explicitly addressed vaping in its platform, the party has been described as advocating for "common sense" government. This vague stance leaves room for interpretation and does not provide a clear indication of the party's position on specific issues like vaping. However, with the increasing public health concerns surrounding vaping, particularly among youth, the party may need to clarify its stance to maintain transparency and accountability.

In conclusion, while the People's Alliance of New Brunswick has not released an official position on vaping, the incident with Heather Collins brought the party into the vaping debate. The party's lack of response and the leader's silence might suggest an ambiguous stance on the issue. With vaping being a public health concern in New Brunswick, it is essential for political parties to take a clear stand to assure the public of their commitment to addressing this issue.

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