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2016 Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick leadership election

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2016 Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick leadership election
DateOctober 22, 2016
ConventionAitken Centre,
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Resigning leaderDavid Alward
Won byBlaine Higgs
Ballots3
Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick leadership elections
1966 · 1969 · 1989 · 1991 · 1995 · 1997 · 2008 · 2016

The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick held a leadership election on October 22, 2016, as a result of the resignation of David Alward on September 23, 2014, following his government's defeat in the 2014 provincial election. The Conservatives last had a leadership election in 2008.

Background[edit]

On September 23, 2014, then-Progressive Conservative leader David Alward announced his resignation after his party's government was defeated by the Liberal Party led by Brian Gallant in the 2014 provincial election, which had been held the previous day.[1][2]

Interest in leadership came almost immediately after Alward's announcement. The following day, Brian Macdonald, the legislative member for Fredericton West-Hanwell made a proposal to serve as interim leader, though he was disinterested in seeking leadership.[3] Don Desserud, a political scientist at the University of Prince Edward Island, considered Trevor Holder as being a strong leadership candidate.[4] It was scheduled for an interim leader to be appointed within weeks, with a leadership convention being held at an unspecified date in the future.[5]

Declared candidates[edit]

Candidacy declared: January 21, 2016.[6][7]
Endorsements: Peter MacKay, Noël Kinsella, Jody Carr, Jeff Carr, Jack Carr, Carl Urquhart
Candidacy declared: March 17, 2016.[8]
Endorsements: Bill Oliver, Sherry Wilson, Brian Keirstead, Rob Moore, Ernie Steeves
  • Monica Barley - Moncton lawyer
Candidacy declared: April 15, 2016.[9]
Endorsements: Claude Williams, Ted Flemming
Candidacy declared: April 21, 2016.[10]
Endorsements: Kirk MacDonald, Richard Bragdon, Pam Lynch
Candidacy declared: May 4, 2016.[11]
Endorsements: Gary Crossman, Dorothy Shephard, Trevor Holder, Glen Savoie, Ross Wetmore, Rodney Weston.
Candidacy declared: May 26, 2016.[12]
Endorsements: Jim Parrott
Candidacy declared: June 27, 2016.[13]

Chose not to endorse: Bruce Fitch, Madeleine Dubé, Bruce Northrup, Stewart Fairgrieve[14]

Declined candidates[edit]

Process[edit]

All members who have paid the $40 membership fee were eligible to vote on October 22 at the Aitken Centre or at one of several satellite locations around the province.[13] The election used a one member, one vote process. Balloting continued until one candidate received 50% + 1 of ballots cast. A maximum of four candidates were allowed to proceed to the second ballot. As there was no victor on the second ballot, the lowest placed candidate was dropped from the third and subsequent ballots until one candidate received the required level of support.[15]

Election results[edit]

Up to four candidates with more than 15% is required to move to the second ballot; more than 50% of the vote is required to win the election.[16]

Legend
  = Eliminated from next round
  = Winner
2016 PCNB leadership ballot[17][18]
Candidate First ballot Second ballot Third ballot
Votes % Votes % +/- Votes % +/-
Blaine Higgs 1,228 22.37 1,417 34.56 +12.19 1,563 57.21 +22.65
Mel Norton 1,078 19.64 993 24.22 +4.58 1,169 42.79 +18.57
Monica Barley 948 17.27 861 21.00 +3.73 Endorsed Norton
Mike Allen 892 16.25 829 20.22 +3.97 Endorsed Higgs
Jake Stewart 700 12.75 Endorsed Barley
Brian Macdonald 605 11.02
Jean F. Dubé 39 0.71 Endorsed Higgs

Timeline[edit]

  • September 22, 2014 - Provincial election results in the defeat of Premier David Alward's Progressive Conservative government after a single term.
  • September 23, 2014 - Alward announces his resignation as party leader.[19]
  • October 18, 2014 - Bruce Fitch is chosen by the party caucus to serve as interim leader.[20]
  • January 21, 2016 - Brian Macdonald announces his candidacy for leader.
  • January 30, 2016 - Party executive meets and sets October 22, 2016 as the date for the leadership convention and announces that the convention will be held at the Aitken Centre in Fredericton.[21]
  • March 17, 2016 - Blaine Higgs announces his candidacy for leader.
  • April 15, 2016 - Monica Barley announces her candidacy for leader.
  • April 21, 2016 - Mike Allen announces his candidacy for leader.
  • May 4, 2016 - Mel Norton announces his candidacy for leader.
  • May 26, 2016 - Jake Stewart, MLA for Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin announces his candidacy for leader.
  • July 27, 2016 - Jean F. Dubé announces his candidacy for leader.
  • August 26, 2016 - Due to the large number of candidates the party executive modifies the rules so that only a maximum of four candidates will be permitted to proceed to the second ballot, if one is required.
  • October 22, 2016 - Leadership convention is held, Blaine Higgs is elected leader after three ballots.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "David Alward concedes election, resigns as Tory leader". CBC News. September 23, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  2. ^ Weese, Bryn (September 24, 2014). "New Brunswick PC leader resigns after loss to Liberals". The Sault Star. QMI press agency. p. 6. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Staples, Michael (September 24, 2014). "Macdonald wouldn't turn down chance to serve as interim leader". The Daily Gleaner. p. A5. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  4. ^ Donkin, Karissa (September 24, 2014). "Tory-Liberal split not necessarily bad for Saint John: experts". Telegraph-Journal. p. B3. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  5. ^ Scott-Wallace, Tammy (September 30, 2014). "Back to basics for MLA Bruce Northrup". Kings County Record. p. A3. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "First contender enters leadership race for N.B. Progressive Conservatives". Metro. Canadian Press. January 21, 2016. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  7. ^ "Brian Macdonald launches Progressive Conservative leadership bid". CBC News. January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  8. ^ "Blaine Higgs enters race for PC leadership". CBC News. March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  9. ^ "Monica Barley launches Progressive Conservative leadership bid". CBC News. April 15, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  10. ^ "Ex-MP Mike Allen joins Progressive Conservative leadership race". CBC News. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  11. ^ "Mel Norton adds name to list of PC leadership candidates". CBC News. May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  12. ^ "Jake Stewart jumps into crowded race for PC leadership". CBC News. May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "PC leadership race swells to 7 candidates". CBC News. June 27, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  14. ^ Huras, Adam (October 18, 2016). "MLA backs Blaine Higgs". Telegraph-Journal. p. A1. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "Progressive Conservatives shorten leadership ballot process". CBC News. September 30, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  16. ^ Morris, Chris (October 22, 2016). "Blaine Higgs leads Tory race, poll suggests". Telegraph-Journal. p. A1. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  17. ^ McHardie, Daniel (October 22, 2016). "Blaine Higgs wins New Brunswick Progressive Conservative leadership race". CBC News. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  18. ^ Morries, Chris; Huras, Adam; Scott-Wallace, Tammy (October 24, 2016). "Ex-finance minister vows to do politics differently". The Daily Gleaner. p. A1. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  19. ^ "David Alward concedes election, resigns as Tory leader". CBC News. September 23, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  20. ^ "Bruce Fitch named interim N.B. Progressive-Conservative leader". CBC News. October 18, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  21. ^ "N.B. Progressive Conservatives to choose new leader in October". CTV News. January 30, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
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