People's Alliance of New Brunswick

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People's Alliance of New Brunswick

Alliance des gens du Nouveau-Brunswick
Active provincial party
LeaderKris Austin
PresidentClaude Stewart
FoundedJune 9, 2010 (2010-06-09) (officially registered)[1]
HeadquartersFredericton, New Brunswick
IdeologyConservatism
Fiscal conservatism
Direct democracy
Populism
Anti-Bilingualism[2]
Political positionCentre-right[3]
ColoursPurple
Seats in Legislature
3 / 49
Website
www.peoplesalliance.ca

The People's Alliance of New Brunswick is a provincial political party registered in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. In the 2018 election, the party won 3 seats in the provincial legislature for the first time since its foundation almost a decade ago. The party went from 1.2% intentions of votes in 2010 to 12.5% in 2018. The party advocates for "common sense" government, and advocates for a abolition of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, and a transfer of the responsibilities of that office to the office of the Ombudsman.

History[edit]

The People's Alliance Party of New Brunswick was created in the spring of 2010 amidst opposition to the provincial government's plan to sell NB Power to Hydro-Quebec, and was officially registered on June 9, 2010.[1] It is claimed to be based on the values of "conservatism, rural populism and opposition to some aspects of official bilingualism and duality"[4] according to its leader but had promises of a referendum on bilingualism in their platform since its foundation until 2018's election.

In the provincial election held on September 27, 2010, the party aimed to run as many candidates as possible.[5] It nominated 14, none of whom were elected. The party won 4,365 votes in those ridings.

The current provincial leader of the party is Kris Austin, a former interdenominational minister and candidate for the PC Party nomination in the Grand Lake-Gagetown riding.[6] He was the Deputy Mayor of Minto from 2012 to 2016.

In 2018 three People's Alliance of New Brunswick candidates were elected including leader, Kris Austin in the riding of Fredericton - Grand Lake. Michelle Conroy was elected in Miramichi, unseating two-time Liberal Cabinet Minister Bill Fraser, and Rick DeSaulniers was elected in the riding of Fredericton - York.

2014 election[edit]

During the 2014 election campaign (August–September 2014), the People's Alliance fielded 18 candidates. The party presented a 36-page election platform with policies on fiscal responsibility, economic development, a comprehensive education strategy, democratic reform among many other policies, which was completely costed out and audited by an independent firm. In mid-August the governing Progressive Conservative party threatened to pull out of the CBC,[7] Rogers and CTV leaders debates if People's Alliance leader Kris Austin or Green leader David Coon were allowed into the televised debates. CBC stood its ground, citing the right of all New Brunswickers to see and hear all five leaders debate the issues. Soon after PC leader David Alward reversed his decision when CBC was to go ahead without him[8] Rogers soon followed suit, reversing its decision to keep Austin and Coon out. In the end, only CTV (Bell Media) kept Austin and Coon out of its roundtable debate, which was aired three days before election night.

The party did not win any seats in the election; however, leader Kris Austin missed being elected by only 26 votes in the riding of Fredericton-Grand Lake. Austin was granted a recount.[9] The recount upheld the election night results with only one additional vote going to Austin than originally counted.

The party had two third-place finishes with LeRoy Armstrong in Sussex-Fundy-St.Martins and deputy leader Wes Gullison in Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin.

2018 election[edit]

In the 2018 election, the party won 3 seats in the provincial legislature.[10] Party leader Kris Austin was elected in Fredericton-Grand Lake, Rick DeSaulniers was elected in Fredericton-York, and Michelle Conroy was elected in Miramichi. The party won 12.58% of the popular vote.[11][12]

2019 legislative accomplishments[edit]

At a December 18, 2018 committee meeting, MLAs of the province increased he budget of the Auditor General by $1 million, something that had long been in the platform the PANB. The Commissioner of Official Languages also received a 25% budget increase, even though the PANB campaigned on abolishing the office. The constituency office budget was also increased by $10,000 to $50,000 for each MLA. This budget had not seen an increase in ten years, and the money goes toward office expenses in each constituency. Each of the four parties now starts with a base budget of $250,000 and gets $25,000 per MLA in the caucus. For the People's Alliance, that's new and under the new formula, will get additional funding worth 1.5 times the base budget.[13] The raise is perceived as highly controversial in an economy that forces the government to cut essential life saving services and care.[14]

Election results[edit]

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
2010 Kris Austin 4,363 1.2
0 / 55
 Steady 0 Increase 5th Extra-parliamentary
2014 Kris Austin 7,964 2.1
0 / 49
 Steady 0 Steady 5th Extra-parliamentary
2018 Kris Austin 47,709 12.58
3 / 49
 Increase 3 Increase 3rd Support Progressive Conservative minority government

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "People's Alliance forms new N.B. political party". CBC News. June 9, 2010. Archived from the original on July 2, 2010.
  2. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/francophones-election-people-s-alliance-1.4838221
  3. ^ MacDonald, Michael. "N.B. Tories win most seats, but Liberals will try to stay in power". CTV Atlantic News. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  4. ^ "After years on the fringe, People's Alliance ready to take next step". CBC News. August 30, 2018.
  5. ^ "People's Alliance opposes 2nd nuclear plant". CBC News. July 11, 2010. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010.
  6. ^ "People's Alliance: Kris Austin". CBC News. August 13, 2010.
  7. ^ "Progressive Conservatives pull out of CBC election debate". CBC News. August 19, 2014.
  8. ^ "Tories reverse decision, agree to CBC election debate". CBC News. August 22, 2014.
  9. ^ "Kris Austin applies for recount in Fredericton-Grand Lake". CBC News. September 29, 2014.
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ [2]
  12. ^ [3]
  13. ^ "Parties agree to boost MLA spending on offices, travel during closed-door meetings". CBC News. May 1, 2019.
  14. ^ "Higgs government under fire for budget cuts and loss of federal dollars". CBC News. December 12, 2018.

External links[edit]

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