Another Tory MLA rules out running in upcoming election, fourth in one month
He’s the fourth Progressive Conservative in a month to announce he won’t be reoffering in the upcoming election.
And Daniel Allain says everyone has a different reason. He claims it was time to take a break.
“Getting married and having a baby was easy. Getting into politics was easy. Bowing out is extremely hard,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I stood for my values. I wouldn’t change anything.”
Allain was one of six Tory MLAs who voted with the Liberal opposition on a Policy 713 motion last June, against the Blaine Higgs’ government.
Jeff Carr was another and both were shuffled out of Premier Blaine Higgs’ cabinet after that vote.
Carr also announced this week he won’t be running in the Oct. 21 election.
In an interview with CTV News Atlantic, he said he does intend to have a conversation with Premier Higgs before his term is up.
“I've always felt that if I've had a misunderstanding with somebody or disagreeing with somebody, I always try to find a way to at least leave on, I guess, terms that are non-combative because we all sleep better at night knowing that. So there will be a point in time where that happens,” he said.
Earlier this week, Higgs said he wasn’t surprised to learn Carr was leaving politics.
“Everyone has different reasons why they leave. I think we have now 22 nominations that are concluded…we are seeing new people come into the system wanting to be part of a province that is successful,” he said.
Arlene Dunn and Mike Holland announced in February they would also not be running in the election.
University of New Brunswick political scientist J.P. Lewis says this could be an opportunity for Higgs.
“It could represent, obviously, dissatisfaction with leadership, which I mean, folks have been quite public about. We know that's going on. Many of these actions have not been surprising,” he said. “The glass-half-full view of it is this could be Higgs' is a chance to rebrand the party fully in his image.”
In sports’ terms, it could be seen as a rebuilding year for the PC Party, Lewis says.
“He is losing the folks that would appear to be the ones that were close to driving him out of the premier's office in 2023. And now for him, it might be seen it as a reset,” he said.
Allain says he believes in a fiscally conservative party that’s also socially progressive.
Carr brother legacy coming to an end
For the first time in 25 years, the legislature will not have a Carr brother sitting among its ranks. Jody, Jack and Jeff have all spent time as MLAs in the house.
Jody Carr was first elected in 1999 and left politics in 2018. Jack Carr won a byelection in 2008 and left in 2014.
For Jeff Carr, 2024 marks 10 years as an elected MLA.
“That's probably one of the harder things is that legacy will end,” he said. “A legacy of working for a community, standing up for people, because that's our job. Stand up for people that just can't stand up for themselves."
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Baby and grandparents killed in wrong-way crash involving police on Ontario's Highway 401
An infant and the child's grandparents – aged 55 and 60 – were all killed when a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 in Whitby, Ont. caused a crash involving at least six vehicles, the Special Investigations Unit says. The driver of the suspect vehicle also died.
Judge holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000 and raises threat of jail in hush money trial
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. If he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
This is how many dentists have actually signed up for Canada's new free dental program
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 13-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a east London suburb early Tuesday, killing a 13-year-old boy and injuring four others, authorities said.
Police searching for 'armed man' in Dartmouth, N.S., residents asked to shelter in place
Residents in the area of Gaston Road in Dartmouth, N.S., are being asked to shelter in place as police search for an armed suspect.