Deep divisions within the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative (PC) Party are threatening to derail its election preparations. Ahead of the upcoming provincial election, many members are expressing frustration and anger over the party’s direction under Premier Blaine Higgs, who they accuse of veering too far to the right. The abrupt cancellation of the party’s general meeting has further exacerbated tensions, raising concerns about a lack of engagement and a clash of values within the party.
Longtime member Roger Leger, who once served on the party’s executive, believes the internal divisions stem from a clash of ideas and values. He alleges that progressive members seeking smaller government and lower taxes are increasingly at odds with a wing of the party that holds socially conservative and right-wing views. In 2016, Leger supported Higgs’s leadership bid, but since then has witnessed the premier’s drift toward the right on numerous fronts.
A significant fracture occurred over Higgs’s decision to change the province’s policy on gender identity in schools, requiring students to obtain parental consent before teachers can use their preferred names and pronouns. Several members, including cabinet ministers, publicly opposed Higgs’s leadership on this issue, pushing the premier to the brink of an early election. While an early vote was averted, a wave of resignations ensued, leaving Higgs facing accusations of presiding over a sinking ship.
The party has also struggled to gain support among francophones, who remain wary of a premier who does not speak French and who appointed Kris Austin, known for his opposition to official bilingualism, as minister of public safety. The government’s decision to reform French-language education in anglophone schools sparked outrage, forcing Higgs to backtrack.
Jason Sully, a former aide to former health minister Dorothy Shephard, describes the current mood within the party as one of disappointment and disenfranchisement. He feels the party has become disconnected and lacks engagement. Sully, who joined the PC Party as a teenager, now feels like a “political orphan” and believes meaningful party conversations about policy and ideas are no longer taking place.
The party’s shift to the right is particularly evident in the recent acclamation of Faytene Grasseschi, a Christian conservative, in the riding adjacent to the premier’s. Grasseschi, who will run in Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins, was drawn to the party due to its decision to reform the gender policy for trans and nonbinary students. In response, the Liberals have nominated John Herron, a former two-term PC MP, to challenge Grasseschi in the riding. Herron has accused the PC Party of losing its way and called Grasseschi’s nomination a stark illustration of this.
Annual general meetings of the party, which once attracted hundreds of attendees, now draw only dozens, according to Sully, who fears this lack of enthusiasm could hurt the Tories in the upcoming election. Polling data indicates that 66% of New Brunswick residents are dissatisfied with the government’s performance, with the Liberals holding a six-point lead in voting intentions.
Political science professor J.P. Lewis agrees that low morale within the PC Party could affect its grassroots support. However, he acknowledges that despite the turmoil, Higgs and the PCs remain competitive in the election. Lewis notes that Higgs has been unable to fully contain disgruntled members, which is unusual for a party in power.
John Williston, former regional vice-president of Westmorland Albert, describes the party’s mood as subdued, with an undercurrent of frustration and even anger. He points to the strong turnout at Herron’s nomination meeting as evidence of the party’s internal divisions. Williston fears that many within the party may not actively support it in the general election due to the current situation.
As the election approaches, the Tories remain embroiled in internal turmoil, with no clear resolution in sight. The outcome of the election will depend on whether Higgs can quell dissent within his party and regain the support of disillusioned members.
