Wikipedia

Blaine Higgs

This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 2 December 2024.

Blaine Myron Higgs (born March 1, 1954) is a Canadian politician who served as the 34th premier of New Brunswick from 2018 to 2024 and leader of the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party (PC Party) from 2016 to 2024.

Blaine Higgs
Higgs in 2024
34th Premier of New Brunswick
In office
November 9, 2018 – November 2, 2024
Monarchs
Lieutenant GovernorJocelyne Roy-Vienneau
Brenda Murphy
DeputyRobert Gauvin (2018–20)
Preceded byBrian Gallant
Succeeded bySusan Holt
Leader of the Opposition
In office
October 22, 2016 – November 9, 2018
Preceded byBruce Fitch
Succeeded byBrian Gallant
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
In office
October 22, 2016 – October 28, 2024
Preceded byBruce Fitch (interim)
Succeeded byGlen Savoie (interim)
Minister of Finance
In office
October 12, 2010 – October 7, 2014
PremierDavid Alward
Preceded byGreg Byrne
Succeeded byRoger Melanson
Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
for Quispamsis
In office
September 27, 2010 – September 19, 2024
Preceded byMary Schryer
Succeeded byAaron Kennedy
Personal details
Born
Blaine Myron Higgs

(1954-03-01) March 1, 1954 (age 70)
Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Other political
affiliations		Confederation of Regions (1989–2002)
SpouseMarcia Higgs

Higgs graduated from the University of New Brunswick as an engineer, going on to spend 33 years working for Irving Oil. Higgs, a unilingual, vehemently opposed bilingualism is his early political journey and joined the right-wing, anti-bilingual New Brunswick Confederation of Regions Party, of which he ran for leadership in 1989. As a Progressive Conservative, Higgs was first elected to the legislature in the 2010 provincial election and served as the Minister of Finance from 2010 to 2014 under the leadership of David Alward. In the 2018 provincial election, Higgs narrowly carried the PCs to a minority government, despite losing the popular vote. Higgs and the PC's were re-elected in the 2020 provincial election, though this time with a majority government.

In the 2024 New Brunswick general election, Higgs and the Progressive Conservatives lost their bid for a third term to the Liberals, which won a majority government. Higgs lost his seat in the riding of Quispamsis to Aaron Kennedy of the Liberal Party. This was the first time since 1987 that a sitting New Brunswick Premier lost in their own riding.[1] Higgs resigned as leader of the Progressive Conservative party a week after the election.[2]

Early life and education

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Blaine Myron Higgs was born on March 1, 1954, in Woodstock, New Brunswick. The son of Carl, a customs officer, and Bertha, who taught in Fosterville, Higgs grew up in Forest City, a rural community in York County which sits along the Canada–United States border.[3] His family was politically Liberal.[4] Higgs was educated at a small elementary school, being taught by his mother and his aunt, later attending Canterbury High School.[5] After graduating from high school, Higgs pursued mechanical engineering at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Fredericton.[6]

Irving Oil career

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Higgs graduated from UNB in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering;[3] he started working for Irving Oil the following week,[5] and spent the next 33 years working for the company and climbing the corporate ladder.[7] He finished Queen's University's executive management training program in 1993, and further took Babson Executive Training and Education finance and leadership courses.[5] Higgs retired from Irving Oil in 2010; by this time, he had been the director of logistics and distribution.[3]

Early political activities

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Higgs initially supported the Liberal Association but later left for reasons he cited as the party having lacked "common-sense democracy".[8] While still working for Irving Oil, Higgs, a unilingual, opposed the province's Official Languages Act,[3] and proclaimed that an “inevitable association dedicated exclusively to the preservation of English Canadians” was needed.[9] Upon its formation, Higgs became involved with New Brunswick's right-wing,[10] anti-bilingual[11][12][13] Confederation of Regions Party (CoR). In 1985, Higgs handwrote a brief and presented it to the Guérette-Smith Commission, starting it by praising the United States for being "united under one flag, one government, and one language,” adding that “we will never achieve such a level of loyalty and unity when at the same time we embark on a process supporting two different cultures.”[9] In 1989, Higgs ran for the leadership of the CoR Party.[3] In his bid for the COR leadership, Higgs "complained about francophones 'who can speak the common language, but refuse to'".[14] He also supported an elected Senate, opposed the Meech Lake Accord, favoured fixed terms for government, and stated "We do not have an obligation to cater to those people who can speak the common language, English, and refuse to do so".[15]

MLA for Quispamsis

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On May 6, 2010, Higgs launched his campaign for his debut candidacy in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick during the 2010 provincial elections shortly after retiring from Irving Oil. Representing the Progressive Conservative Party in the provincial electoral district of Quispamsis, Higgs cited property taxes as being one of the Kennebecasis Valley's largest issues during the election.[16] During his campaign, he addressed his previous affiliation with the CoR Party, stating that he was against "forced bilingualism … as a legislated thing, quickly, overnight" at the time, adding that he had a change of views since then.[17]

Finance minister

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On October 12, 2010, Higgs was sworn-in as Minister of Finance, Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation, Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Investment Management Corporation, Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation, and Chair of the Board of Management. He also served as Minister of Human Resources until October 9, 2012.[18] While Higgs was Minister of Finance, the decision was made to stop making regular payments to pension plans, later causing pension issues for Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) members leading to the strike in 2021.[19]

Progressive Conservative Party leadership

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Higgs represents the electoral district of Quispamsis as a member,[20] and, since October 22, 2016, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick. On that date the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick leadership election was held and on the third ballot he defeated former Saint John Mayor Mel Norton, 1,563 to 1,169.[21]

2018 provincial election
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In the 2018 provincial election, Higgs and his party won the largest share of seats in the legislature, 22, compared to 21 for the governing Liberal Party of New Brunswick. The Liberals opted to attempt to remain in power as a minority government by presenting a Throne Speech, in hopes of retaining the confidence of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.[22][23]

On November 2, 2018, the Progressive Conservatives and the People's Alliance voted to defeat Premier Brian Gallant's Liberal minority government via a non-confidence motion in the legislature. The non-confidence motion passed 25-23, with 22 Progressive Conservative MLAs and 3 People's Alliance members voting to defeat the government. 20 Liberal and 3 Green members voted against the motion.[24] The Progressive Conservatives subsequently formed government, with the support of the People's Alliance.

Premier of New Brunswick (2018–2024)

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Higgs was appointed Premier on November 9, 2018. At 64 years of age at the time of swearing-in, Higgs is the oldest person to be sworn in as Premier in New Brunswick history, and in April 2019 became the oldest ever Premier in New Brunswick history, surpassing Leonard Percy de Wolfe Tilley in both records.[25]

Economic policy

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In 2019, Higgs began repealing several financial assistance programs for New Brunswick students attending post-secondary institutions. His party deemed programs such as the Timely Completion Benefit, established in May 2009,[26] to be "very costly".[27] The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick believed redistributing the funds allocated to this program through a tuition tax credit was a "better" way to reach more students.[28] This move, along with the removal of the Free Tuition Program, were highly criticized by students across the province, with some emphasizing that there is no longer any incentive to remain in New Brunswick to work or study.[29]

In 2020, Higgs opted out of a federal program to fund public transit in New Brunswick, as he "misunderstood details" of the federal program designed to rescue municipal transit services.[30] Higgs claimed multiple times that the funding was for capital projects, but according to a government backgrounder on the agreement, that specific program was meant to address the operating deficits and revenue shortfalls caused by the pandemic.[31] Higgs also claimed that the program was only for larger provinces, stating, "that was a specific request for infrastructure funding for subways and for systems in Toronto and Montreal and BC — for the big cities." Documents later showed that Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia have received a combined $57.1 million from Ottawa's "Safe Restart" public transit aid program. New Brunswick asked for and received $0.[32]

In 2022, CBC News and Radio-Canada published an article described how J. D. Irving used a captive insurance company based in Bermuda to insure its vessels, which allowed it to accrue $13.4 million in untaxed profits over a thirty-year period from 1973 to 2001. Use of captive insurance strategies is legal and common among multinational companies.[33] Higgs responded to the news at the legislature by stating that he would not make modifications to provincial policies, stating that "because the tax strategies used by the companies were legal, there are no grounds for banning them from receiving government grants, loans or other subsidies."[34]

Equalization

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Higgs raised the idea of cutting equalization payments made to 'have-not provinces', including New Brunswick during a First Ministers' meeting in Montreal in 2018. The New Brunswick government budgeted for $1.8-billion worth of equalization transfers in 2018-19. Without 30 per cent of the budget coming through federal transfer payments, Higgs suggested attitudes might change about resource development.[35]

Labour

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Higgs's government had to deal with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) strike in October and November 2021. About 20,000 workers in the education, health, transportation and infrastructure sectors went on strike for 16 days. On November 14, Higgs's government reached a deal with CUPE. The agreement included raising wages for the workers.[36]

First Nations

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In 2020, some First Nations chiefs urged the provincial government to call an inquiry into systemic racism following the police shooting and killing Chantel Moore and Rodney Levi after they attacked police officers in separate incidents that summer. The chiefs later walked out on a meeting with Higgs following his refusal to commit to an independent inquiry, stating that they were 'losing faith' in him.[37] In 2021, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Arlene Dunn announced that the provincial government would hire an independent commissioner to examine systemic racism, rather than call a public inquiry. Indigenous leaders called the provincial government's plan a "profound disappointment."[38]

In 2021, the provincial government pulled out of tax-sharing agreements with 13 Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqey First Nations without consultation.[39]

In 2021, following a major land title claim filed by Wolastoqey Chiefs, Higgs alleged that title claim "impacts every single land owner" in the province by claiming title to "private lands of any kind" with "no limits". Higgs further stated that the lawsuit might lead to Indigenous people winning control of 60 per cent of the province's land, including private homes and businesses. However, the chief's statement of claims filed with the court only listed five forestry companies, NB Power, and the federal and provincial governments.[40]

In 2021, New Brunswick's Attorney General Ted Flemming sent a memo to government employees which asked them to cease making indigenous territorial acknowledgements that made reference to 'unceded' or 'unsurrendered' land. "As a result of this litigation, legal counsel for GNB and the Office of the Attorney General has advised that GNB employees may not make or issue territorial or title acknowledgements. This includes the use of territorial acknowledgements at meetings and events, in documents, and in email signatures."[41] This policy faced growing backlash, including within the Premier's own cabinet. A leaked series of emails revealed Education Minister Dominic Cardy and Transportation Minister Jill Green wrote to the premier complaining that the new policy was causing unnecessary conflict and “creates the impression of a government intentionally reinforcing racist behaviour.” [42]

COVID-19 pandemic

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Higgs making a COVID-19 announcement in March 2020

Higgs led the provincial government response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Brunswick. On March 19, 2020, the government declared a state of emergency.[43] Higgs tested positive for COVID-19 on December 31, 2021.[44]

2020 re-election

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Higgs argued that stability in government was required for the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery.[45] The snap election was called on August 17, 2020.[46] Higgs and the Progressive Conservatives were re-elected to a majority government in the 2020 provincial election held on September 14.

Fiscal activities

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The Higgs government has been praised by credit rating agencies, public policy think tanks, and media outlets for consistently generating surpluses and paying down the provincial debt, which had progressively increased due to annual deficits that began in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.[47] As at March 31, 2018 (the first financial statement released after Higgs’ government was sworn-in), the provincial debt was $13.9 billion,[48] and as at March 31, 2024 it was down to $11.8 billion.[49]

In 2022, Moody's Ratings upgraded the province's credit rating from Aa2 with a stable outlook to Aa2 with a positive outlook, [50] and in 2024 upgraded its credit rating to Aa1 with a stable outlook.[51] S&P Global Ratings' credit rating of A+ with a stable outlook was upgraded to A+ with a positive outlook in 2023, with the agency stating that "the positive outlook reflects the strength in fiscal results stemming from the government's demonstrated commitment to prudency, which we expect will continue to support operating surpluses and contribute to a relatively stable debt burden in the next two years."[52] In 2022, the Fraser Institute ranked Higgs first among Canadian premiers in an analysis of each province’s fiscal performance. The analysis was based on three metrics: Government spending, taxation, and deficits and debt. Higgs ranked first in both the government spending and deficits and debt categories, and seventh in taxation.[53] The Higgs government’s sixth consecutive balanced budget in 2024 was applauded by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation,[54] and the National Post stated that “New Brunswick leads the way on common sense and fiscal restraint”.[55]

Although Higgs’ government has consistently generated surpluses, such has not come without criticism. The opposition Liberals and Greens have argued that Higgs is not spending enough on public services, such as health care, education, and housing.[56]

2023 leadership turmoil

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In May 2023, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development announced that it was putting Policy 713 under review due to "concerns and misunderstandings of its implementation."[57] In support of the review, Higgs stated that parents "deserve to be aware if their child goes by a different name or pronouns in school, even if the child hasn’t come out to them" and that it was problematic for a child to "purposely" hide their identity from their parents.[58] On June 8, 2023, the government revised the policy's sections under self-identification, sports participation and universal spaces.[further explanation needed][59]

Some groups have criticized the government's revisions to Policy 713, stating that it facilitates forced premature outing, misgendering, and deadnaming[60] and promotes homophobia and transphobia.[61][62][63][64] However, polling has showed that a large majority of Canadians (including 69% of those in Atlantic Canada) support policies requiring schools to inform parents of their child's desire to change gender or use new gender pronouns.[65]

On June 15, Minister of Social Development Dorothy Shephard resigned from cabinet after voting for an opposition motion calling for further studies on Policy 713.[66] In subsequent media interviews, she cited frustration with Higgs' leadership approach as the reason for her resignation, with his management of Policy 713 being the culmination of her frustrations.[67]

Higgs has received at least a dozen letters from his own party, including current party members and riding association presidents, to trigger a leadership review. Some letters were ruled invalid without explanation. The provincial council will vote to schedule a convention once they receive enough letters.[68]

Throughout early 2024, multiple Progressive Conservative politicians such as Arlene Dunn, Mike Holland, Jeff Carr, Daniel Allain,[69][70] Shephard as well as Trevor Holder have all made announcements either resigning or opting out of running for re-election.[71] Carr, who made his announcement in February, made an additional note claiming that the Progressive Conservative party had changed under Higgs.[72] Allain expressed his disagreement with the party's newer involvement in social conservatism, considering it to go against the party's "natural instincts".[73]

Higgs hired Steve Outhouse as his principal secretary and campaign manager for the 2024 New Brunswick general election. Outhouse, who previously campaigned for the re-election of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith,[74] was paid a monthly salary of $20,776 in taxpayers' money, or $125,656 total by Higgs, which drew criticism from David Coon for being well above the average of around $150,000 to $175,000 annually.[75][76]

Electoral record

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Quispamsis

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2024 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Aaron Kennedy 3,860 46.5
Progressive Conservative Blaine Higgs 3,667 44.1
Green Andrew Conradi 378 4.6
New Democratic Alex White 360 4.3 +3.09
Independent David Raymond Amos 42 0.5
Total valid votes 8,307
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Liberal gain Swing
Source: Elections New Brunswick[77]
2020 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Blaine Higgs 5,697 68.11 +11.23
Liberal Robert Hunt 1,225 14.64 -10.55
Green Addison Fach 528 6.31 +0.92
New Democratic Caitlin Grogan 501 5.99 +3.09
People's Alliance Sara Hall 414 4.95 -4.69
Total valid votes 8,365
Total rejected ballots 24 0.29 +0.13
Turnout 8,389 69.86 +1.69
Eligible voters 12,008
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +11.23
Source: Elections New Brunswick[77]
2018 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Blaine Higgs 4,691 56.87 +5.52
Liberal Aaron Kennedy 2,078 25.19 -6.41
People's Alliance Keith Porter 795 9.64 +8.13
Green Mark Woolsey 445 5.40 +2.25
New Democratic Ryan Jewkes 239 2.90 -9.50
Total valid votes 8248 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 13 0.16
Turnout 8261 69.89
Eligible voters 11,820
Progressive Conservative notional gain Swing +5.97
Source: Elections New Brunswick[77]
2014 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Blaine Higgs 3,884 51.35 +0.68
Liberal Mary Schryer 2,390 31.60 -2.61
New Democratic Angela-Jo "AJ" Griffin 938 12.40 +0.99
Green Patrick Kemp 238 3.15 -0.55
People's Alliance Brandon Gardner 114 1.51 –
Total valid votes 7,564 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 19 0.25
Turnout 7,583 64.76
Eligible voters 11,710
Progressive Conservative notional hold Swing +1.64
Source: Elections New Brunswick[77]
2010 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Blaine Higgs 4,076 50.67 +6.69
Liberal Mary Schryer 2,752 34.21 -17.08
New Democratic Matthew Doherty 918 11.41 +6.68
Green Mark Woolsey 298 3.70 –
Total valid votes 8,044 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 30 0.37
Turnout 8,074 69.29
Eligible voters 11,652
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +11.88
Source: Elections New Brunswick[77]

References

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  1. ^ Wright, Donald (October 22, 2024). "Opinion: Susan Holt won the New Brunswick election – but Blaine Higgs certainly lost it". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Poitras, Jacques (October 28, 2024). "Glen Savoie is interim PC leader following resignation of Blaine Higgs". CBC. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Poitras, Jacques. "Blaine Higgs". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  4. ^ "Cutting Grit roots for a blue budget; Politics Family's leanings don't stop finance minister from his Tory mission". Telegraph-Journal. March 22, 2011. p. A.1. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ a b c Bundale, Brett (September 20, 2018). "Tory Leader Blaine Higgs: Offering gravitas, experience in bid for N.B. premier". CityNews. The Canadian Press. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  6. ^ "Quispamsis candidates". Telegraph-Journal. September 11, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  7. ^ "A look at New Brunswick Tory Leader Blaine Higgs". National Post. The Canadian Press. August 22, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  8. ^ "Four Seek COR Leadership Nod". The Daily Gleaner. September 8, 1989. p. 3. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Nadeau, Jean-Marie (April 28, 2022). "Speech reveals Higgs' deepest thoughts on bilingualism". NB Media Co-op. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Peacock, Kurt (September 22, 2012). "politics out in the open". Telegraph-Journal. p. B.1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Walkom, Thomas (September 25, 2018). "Right-wing populism on rise in New Brunswick". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  12. ^ McCullough, Andrew (October 2, 2020). "New Brunswick's Forgotten Politics: The Confederation of Regions Party". The Brunswickan. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Cuplinskas, Katherine (December 12, 2018). "Why Can't We Be Friends? The Plight of Minority Francophones in 2018". McGill Journal Of Political Studies. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Richardson, Don (September 7, 1989). "CoR candidates say their former parties fall short". The Daily Gleaner. p. 3.
  15. ^ Billings, Louella (September 11, 1989). "Pafford Wins Leadership on First Ballot". The Daily Gleaner. p. 2.
  16. ^ Saunders, Mary-Ellen (May 7, 2010). "KV Tories ready for September election; Nominations: Blaine Higgs, Margaret-Ann Blaney chosen to represent ridings". Telegraph-Journal. p. C.8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  17. ^ Poitras, Jacques (October 22, 2022). "Immersion plan stirs ghost of Blaine Higgs's COR past". CBC News. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
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  27. ^ Province Makes Changes To Tuition Bursary Program. thewave.ca, April 9, 2019.
  28. ^ Changes to tuition bursary program mean more students will get less money. cbc.ca, April 9, 2019.
  29. ^ University students face 'lose-lose' scenario after free tuition program scuppered. cbc.ca, April 13, 2019.
  30. ^ Jones, Robert (August 27, 2020). "Province 'opted out' of Ottawa's municipal transit relief program without knowing the facts". CBC News. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  31. ^ "Federal transit money 'not designed' for smaller provinces, Higgs says". Global News. July 31, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  32. ^ "Federal transit aid rejected by NB is flowing to other small provinces". CBC News. November 4, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  33. ^ Poitras, Jacques; Zalac, Frédéric (November 3, 2022). "How Irving's Bermuda insurance company piled up millions in offshore tax-free profits". CBC News. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  34. ^ Poitras, Jacques (November 3, 2022). "Higgs sees no policy change over Irving offshore revelations". CBC News. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  35. ^ "Ottawa should cut equalization to force provinces to develop resources, Higgs says". CBC News. December 19, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  36. ^ "New Brunswick's premier says tentative deal with CUPE fair for workers and taxpayers". CTV News. November 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  37. ^ "Chiefs walk out of meeting after Higgs doesn't agree on inquiry into systemic racism". CBC News. July 8, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  38. ^ "Indigenous leaders say N.B.'s plan to address systemic racism is a form of racism". CBC News. March 24, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  39. ^ "Higgs government pulls out of gas-tax sharing with First Nations". CBC News. April 13, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  40. ^ "Higgs accused of lying about Wolastoqey title claim". CBC News. December 2, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  41. ^ "N.B. employees told to stop making Indigenous title acknowledgments, but won't face repercussions if they do". CBC News. October 15, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  42. ^ "New Brunswick premier faces growing backlash to land acknowledgment policy". Global News. October 26, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  43. ^ Fraser, Elizabeth; MacKinnon, Bobbi-Jean (March 19, 2020). "N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Province declares state of emergency". CBC News. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  44. ^ "New Brunswick's premier tests positive for COVID-19". Atlantic. December 31, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
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  46. ^ Poitras, Jacques (August 17, 2020). "Blaine Higgs calls New Brunswick election for Sept. 14, despite pandemic". CBC News.
  47. ^ "Public Accounts Volume 1 – Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year Ended 31 March 2008" (PDF). www1.gnb.ca. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  48. ^ "Public Accounts Volume 1 – Consolidated Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year Ended 31 March 2018" (PDF). www1.gnb.ca. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  49. ^ "Public Accounts Vol. 1 – Consolidated Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year Ended 31 March 2024" (PDF). www1.gnb.ca. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  50. ^ "Province's credit outlook upgraded from stable to positive". www1.gnb.ca. August 3, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  51. ^ "Province's credit rating among the top in the nation". www1.gnb.ca. May 16, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  52. ^ "Province of New Brunswick Outlook Revised To Positive From Stable, 'A+' Rating Affirmed On Strong Finances". www1.gnb.ca. May 18, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  53. ^ Fuss, Jake; Eder, Conrad (November 17, 2022). "Measuring the Fiscal Performance of Canada's Premiers, 2022". Fraser Institute. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  54. ^ "Taxpayers applaud balanced budget, call for tax relief and spending restraint". www.taxpayer.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  55. ^ Mott, Sean (September 10, 2024). "Profile on Liberal leader Susan Holt". CTV News Atlantic. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  56. ^ Moore, Jacob (September 26, 2024). "Greens, Liberals say Conservatives aren't doing enough in election debate". CHSJ-FM (Country 94). Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  57. ^ Poitras, Jacques. "N.B. reviews gender-identity policy in schools as supporters accuse minister of caving to anti-LGBTQ pressure". CBC.
  58. ^ "Parents have right to know if child is LGBTQ+: Higgs". TJ.news.
  59. ^ Government of New Brunswick, Canada (June 8, 2023). "REVISED / Policy 713 clarified after consultations, recognizes role of parents". www2.gnb.ca.
  60. ^ Coletta, Amanda (June 29, 2023). "Canadian leader: Teachers can't use student pronouns without parent okay". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  61. ^ "Opinion: New Brunswick's debate over trans student policy is bigger than one province". The Globe and Mail. June 15, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  62. ^ "'The world is cruel right now': N.B. queer community decries policy 713 change - New Brunswick | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  63. ^ Ibrahim, Hadeel (May 18, 2023). "Policy 713 and kids: Fact checking 4 statements made by the premier". CBC.
  64. ^ Board, Star Editorial (July 9, 2023). "New Brunswick's premier is reviewing school policy on gender. Is this really the most pressing issue in the province?". Toronto Star. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  65. ^ Lucyk, Dom (May 11, 2023). "POLL: Public Schools Headed in Wrong Direction". SecondStreet.Org. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
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  67. ^ Ibrahim, Hadeel (June 16, 2023). "Former minister says N.B. premier's response to her resignation 'says it all'". CBC News. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  68. ^ Poitras, Jacques (July 31, 2023). "Push to remove Blaine Higgs as PC leader suffers setback". CBC.
  69. ^ Brown, Laura (March 1, 2024). "Another Tory MLA rules out running in upcoming election, fourth in one month". CTV Atlantic. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  70. ^ "N.B. Tories not reoffering could be seen as problem or opportunity: profs - New Brunswick". Global News. March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
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  72. ^ Poitras, Jacques (March 1, 2024). "Former N.B. PC minister Jeff Carr says he's leaving politics". CBC News. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  73. ^ Poitras, Jacques (March 1, 2024). "Former minister Daniel Allain announces he won't run in next election". CBC News. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  74. ^ Poitras, Jacques (April 25, 2024). "Higgs defends hiring of Conservative consultants at taxpayer expense". CBC News. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  75. ^ Waugh, Andrew (April 25, 2024). "$20,776 a month: What NBers are paying Steve Outhouse". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  76. ^ Poitras, Jacques (April 11, 2024). "PC campaign manager joins Premier's Office, will earn taxpayer salary". CBC News. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  77. ^ a b c d e "Provincial Election Results". Elections New Brunswick.
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