N.B. Environment Minister Gary Crossman resigns, says political beliefs 'no longer align' with Higgs government
Gary Crossman, New Brunswick’s minister of environment and climate change, has resigned from Blaine Higgs’ Progressive Conservative cabinet effective immediately.
In a Facebook post Friday afternoon, the three-term PC MLA for Hampton said disagreements with the Higgs’ government and PC party played a role in his decision to resign.
“My personal and political beliefs no longer align in many ways with the direction of our party and government,” said Crossman in the post.
Crossman declined an interview request on Friday.
Previously, Crossman indicated he wouldn’t re-offer in the next provincial election, scheduled Oct. 21.
Crossman said he’d also be leaving as an MLA in a “few days.”
Premier Higgs said there was “no surprise” about the resignation, in a brief written statement on Friday.
Higgs offered no reaction to Crossman’s comments about the PC party or the provincial government’s direction.
Several Progressive Conservative MLAs who’ve voiced concerns about Higgs’ leadership have either already resigned, or signaled their intentions not to reoffer in the next provincial election, including: Daniel Allain, Dorothy Shephard, Trevor Holder, and Jeff Carr.
Other Tory cabinet ministers who’ve recently announced they’re not reoffering include Bruce Fitch, and Mike Holland, while Arlene Dunn resigned from cabinet and as a MLA in February.
Crossman’s resignation means the PCs will have 26 seats when daily sitting in the legislature resume next month. In addition, there are 16 Liberal seats, three Green Party seats, and one independent seat.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.