Momentum building among N.B. Progressive Conservatives to force Blaine Higgs to quit

FREDERICTON -

A group of New Brunswick Progressive Conservative constituency presidents is pushing for the ouster of Premier Blaine Higgs, saying his leadership has divided the party.

John Williston, the party's vice-president for the Moncton and Albert County area, said in an interview Wednesday he is aware of 26 riding presidents out 49 who have signed letters calling for a leadership review -- with more letters still coming in.

The 42-year-old party activist says that with about one-third of the Progressive Conservative caucus in open rebellion against Higgs, it's evident his leadership of the party is no longer tenable. Williston said party members he's contacted are dissatisfied with the premier's micromanaging leadership style and a contentious decision to change the province's policy on sexual orientation in schools.

Eight members of the Tory caucus sat out question period earlier this month to protest changes to Policy 713. Those changes include making it no longer mandatory for teachers to use the preferred pronouns or names of transgender or nonbinary students under the age of 16. Starting July 1 students under 16 will need consent from their parents to officially change their names and pronouns at school.

"That (Policy 713) has been the straw that broke the camel's back," Williston said. "But the greater issue is one of management style, and that the (Progressive Conservative) caucus feels they're not properly consulted."

In an emailed comment from his office, Higgs dismissed the dissidents as a "certain group" who have been seeking a leadership review since the party's last general meeting. "The interest has obviously heightened as a result of the recent changes to Policy 713," Higgs said.

"The vast majority of caucus clearly supported the need for parents to be directly involved in all aspects of raising their children, especially in their formative elementary years. This is about creating safe spaces where all students feel welcome and included and we can do that while still respecting the role of parents," said the statement.

However, correspondence from Dorothy Shephard -- who resigned from cabinet last week -- emerged recently suggesting some party insiders have been struggling with the premier's leadership style for years.

Dorothy Shephard during a live COVID-19 news conference on Dec. 15, 2021.

In a nearly six-page handwritten letter sent to the premier on the evening of October 30, 2021, with several underlined words, seemingly for emphasis, Shephard says Higgs was an impediment to his own success and accomplishment, adding that he alienated those who might assist him.

"It is obvious: you do not trust any of your ministers, me included," she said in the letter, with the word "any" underlined twice.

The letter was a prelude to her resignation as social development minister on June 15, when she told reporters that cabinet and the rest of caucus "are routinely dismissed" and that she had been struggling with her job.

Shephard's treatment was among the reasons Jean-Pierre Ouellet, president of the Madawaska-Les-Lacs-Edmundston riding association, says he signed a letter calling for the review. In an interview on Wednesday, he said the premier's attempt to reduce the size of French immersion, largely without consulting francophone members of the party, was another point that has alienated him.

In February, the government scrapped its plan to cut the number of hours learning in French for kindergarten and elementary students in the English system. The plan was met with widespread public criticism.

"It's his way or no way and I don't think it's the kind of leadership the province of New Brunswick needs at this moment," Ouellet said.

Under the party's constitution, if 50 members of the party -- at least 20 of whom are riding presidents -- write letters calling for a review, then the matter is put on the agenda of the provincial party council, which can then vote to hold one. A two-thirds majority of the provincial council is required for a leadership review to be held. The council includes riding presidents, nine regional vice-presidents, five members of the legislature and Higgs.

Williston said the number of letters from riding presidents is growing each day and he believes it has reached the point that Higgs cannot ignore them.

"Today we have 26. I believe by this evening we could have 28 or 29 (letters calling for a review)," he said.

Williston said that with the support of the five members of the legislature that sit on the provincial party council, and some members of the party executive, it's a "realistic goal" to have the two-thirds majority that would force a review.

"I think we have a very, very strong chance and the momentum is building on a daily basis. But hopefully it doesn't come to that vote. Hopefully, the premier will have some time to reflect upon this and we won't have to take that measure," he said.

Higgs had initially said he was willing to call an early election over his government's reforms to the school sexual orientation policy, but last weekend he said he had "no intention" of calling a vote.

His government's mandate ends in October 2024.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2023.

-- With files from Hina Alam in Fredericton.

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