NB Election-Take Three

Fri, 2010-07-02 13:13

Caissa

The New Brunswick Liberals continue to hold a commanding fundraising advantage over the Progressive Conservatives in the months leading up to the Sept. 27 provincial election.

The New Brunswick Liberal Association raised $660,357 between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2009, giving them an election war chest of almost $1.7 million, according to the latest filings released by Elections New Brunswick.

The Progressive Conservatives raised less than half of that amount, despite the announcement of the unpopular NB Power deal in October, two months before the end of the reporting period.

Tue, 2010-07-06 10:31

#3

Caissa

Former Liberal MLA Frank Branch is accusing the provincial government of blocking his right to a fair trial as he defends himself against charges of fraud, extortion and breach of trust.

Branch told reporters on Monday that his assets are frozen due to a civil suit that has been brought against him by the North Shore Forest Products Marketing Board.

The criminal charges stem from alleged wrongdoings while Branch was the MLA for Nepisiguit, and president of the marketing board.

Branch appeared in a Bathurst court alone on Monday and told the judge he doesn't have a lawyer because he can't afford to pay one.

After the court hearing, Branch told reporters the civil suit is blocking his right to a fair criminal trial.

Fri, 2010-07-09 13:56

#4

mtm

Fresh off the humiliating and damaging public defeat of the NB Power sale to Hydro Quebec, Shawn Graham and Co. are back at it again.

Apparently, they've entered negotiations with French Nuclear Giant Areva, AECL's biggest international competitor, to build a second reactor at Pt. Lepreau. Sorry, scratch that, its a letter of intent to begin seeing if maybe it might be something they may kind of want to do...

Trumpet major press release, announcements, photo ops. About literally nothing except an empty promise to look at the possibility of something that in the end the province cannot afford, economically, nor environmentally.

Fri, 2010-07-09 14:00

#5

Caissa

In other provincial political news:

The upstart People's Alliance of New Brunswick will open its first policy conference to the media, backtracking on its earlier plan to keep the discussions closed.

The party, which was spawned partly out of anger at how the Liberal government hatched the botched NB Power deal in secret, only reversed its decision to hold its policy meeting behind closed doors after the issue surfaced in public.

Mon, 2010-07-12 12:48

#6

Caissa

New Brunswick's People's Alliance party expressed its support at a weekend conference for the province's bilingualism law.

The new party, formed in opposition to Liberal Premier Shawn Graham's ill-fated attempt to sell NB Power, is meeting in Oromocto to develop a full platform.

In 1991, another grassroots party, the Confederation of Regions, became the province's official opposition with a promise to push for a repeal of the provincial Official Languages Act.

Tue, 2010-07-13 09:18

#7

Caissa

From today's T-J op-ed by Dominic Cardy, Campaign Director for NBNDP:

The NDP is under new management and ready with a pragmatic vision for New Brunswick. Our job, during the 10 weeks before the election, is to present an alternative to the out-of-control spending promised by the Conservatives and Liberals, spending that threatens the financial stability of our province and the future of our health care system.

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/1132425

Wed, 2010-07-14 23:14

#8

mtm

Wow thats great coverage!

Thu, 2010-07-15 10:05

#9

Caissa

Roger Duguay ne s'en cache pas, les dernières élections ont été désastreuses pour le Nouveau Parti démocratique (NPD) du Nouveau-Brunswick. Alors que le parti de gauche réussissait généralement à obtenir environ 10% des voix aux élections provinciales, il n'aura obtenu en 2006 que 5% des votes.

Un an plus tard, lorsque Roger Duguay a été élu à la chefferie du NPD, il prenait donc la tête d'un parti affaibli et endetté, qui n'avait ni bureau, ni employé. Pendant sa première année, il a sillonné la province de façon bénévole pour mobiliser ses membres et réorganiser le NPD.

Trois ans plus tard, même si le parti est loin d'avoir les moyens de ses rivaux libéraux et progressistes-conservateurs, Roger Duguay est fier de dire que le NPD a réussi à tripler ses membres et à effacer sa dette. La formation politique a même été en mesure d'ouvrir un nouveau bureau à Fredericton qui compte six employés à temps plein.

http://letoile.jminforme.ca/actualite/article/1134052

Thu, 2010-07-15 14:33

#10

Caissa

Energy Minister Jack Keir announced on Thursday that NB Power would return to be an integrated public utility similar to the plan outlined by the utility in June.

Kieir said in a news release that the current structuring of NB Power was not sustainable.

"New Brunswickers want a more transparent and accountable NB Power. These changes will enable the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board to thoroughly examine all of NB Power's finances and operations when regulating rates," Keir stated.

"That means better protection for ratepayers. Returning NB Power to an integrated utility also addresses the concerns raised by the EUB in its recent report."

Thu, 2010-08-05 09:50

#11

Caissa

The New Brunswick NDP is promising that if it has any seats in a minority government after the Sept. 27 provincial election, it will demand MLAs reduce their pay and halve their pensions.

New Democratic Party Leader Roger Duguay held a news conference Wednesday promoting what he called the "20/50" bill.

The proposed bill would reduce MLA salaries by 20 per cent and restrict a number of their pension benefits.

Thu, 2010-08-05 10:28

#12

ottawaobserver

For more, see: http://www.supersizemypension.ca/

Tue, 2010-08-10 12:28

#13

Caissa

Liberal and Conservative MLAs have not yet followed through on promises to review an 85 per cent jump in their pensions that they voted themselves more than two years ago.

Liberal House Leader Greg Byrne and Conservative House Leader Bev Harrison promised an independent review in March. Byrne said at the time that the review would likely start in April.

But the review group still hasn't been put together, even though the current session of the New Brunswick legislature dissolves in two weeks leading up to the Sept. 27 election. Several MLAs will be retiring with the current pension in place

Fri, 2010-08-13 13:43

#14

Caissa

A group representing seniors in New Brunswick is taking a top-10 list of concerns to political party leaders as the Sept. 27 election approaches.

The Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights wants improvements in health care, hospital wait times, home support care and access to resource centres.

Mon, 2010-08-16 14:03

#15

Caissa

Audited financial statements for New Brunswick show a slight reduction in the expected deficit for last year, but the province remains in the red.

The financial statements released Friday by the comptroller's office pegs the deficit for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, at $737.9 million, or about $3 million less than had been budgeted.

"It's unfortunate that we're carrying such a large deficit, but given the fact that we're working to help our province and the economy recover from the economic downturn, frankly it is unavoidable," said Finance Minister Greg Byrne.

Wed, 2010-08-18 08:53

#16

Caissa

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives are raising questions about a pension being paid to the widow of the late former New Brunswick premier Louis J. Robichaud.

The Tories allege Jacqueline Robichaud has been illegally receiving the monthly payments of about $2,000 since 2007.

PC MLA Jeannot Volpé, who did not identify Robichaud by name but it was clear from documents released by the Opposition that she's the one receiving the money, said the payments should not have been made.

Thu, 2010-08-19 08:24

#17

Caissa

As we enter day two of this offensive by the Tories, I am left wondering where they think the votes are in pursuing this issue.

Tue, 2010-08-24 13:25

#18

Caissa

Progressive Conservative Leader David Alward is promising to deliver a plan this week to tackle the province's significant deficit and mounting growing debt.

Alward said in a Tuesday morning interview he is days away from presenting an economic strategy that will address the province's financial future.

Alward said the Liberals have racked up too much debt in the last four years. He also said the Liberals have essentially abandoned their self-sufficiency plan.

"This is a premier and a government that have increased the net debt of the province, by the time their mandate's over, by 50 per cent," Alward said.

Wed, 2010-08-25 08:21

#19

Caissa

The widow of former premier Louis J. Robichaud says she was paid about $3,000 to campaign for Shawn Graham's Liberals in the 2006 election.

Liberal Party officials have denied Jacqueline Robichaud's claims, a day before the 2010 election campaign is about to swing into full gear.

The Progressive Conservatives are raising concerns about Robichaud's comments as there is no record of the payments being registered with Elections New Brunswick.

Wed, 2010-08-25 09:22

#20

NorthReport

Good.

Former N. B. native chief to run against Premier Shawn Graham in election

A former chief of a New Brunswick First Nation will run against Premier Shawn Graham in next month's provincial election.

The NDP says Susan Levi-Peters will be the party's candidate in the riding of Kent.

Levi-Peters was chief of the Elsipogtog First Nation, near Rexton, from 2004 to 2008.

She says she wants to be an NDP voice in the legislature because she's "tired of the lies and broken promises of the Shawn Graham government."

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/former-nb-native-ch...

Thu, 2010-08-26 08:55

#21

Caissa

New Brunswick's election campaign started just after midnight and leaders of the province's five political parties are fanning out across the province on Thursday in what is expected to be a hard-fought 32-day race.

Gone are the days of suspense and waiting to see if the premier shows up at the lieutenant-governor's residents to ask for the legislature to be dissolved.

The province's fixed election date law means the election writs were automatically issued at 12:01 on Thursday morning.

Thu, 2010-08-26 12:44

#22

Caissa

The Liberals have taken a slight lead in public opinion as the 32-day election campaign started on Thursday, according to Corporate Research Associates.

The poll is showing the Liberals with 41 per cent of decided and leaning voters compared to 36 per cent that say they are backing the Progressive Conservatives. The NDP has held steady at 16 per cent from the May poll by Corporate Research Associates.

The poll shows the Green Party with six per cent of decided voters, while the People's Alliance of New Brunswick is registering one per cent. The percentage of undecided voters in the poll was 41 per cent as the campaign started.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nbvotes2010/story/2010/08/26/nbvotes-cra-poll-l...

Thu, 2010-08-26 22:46

#23

ottawaobserver

41% undecided means a very good opening for the NDP I would think!

Fri, 2010-08-27 10:16

#24

Caissa

Elections New Brunswick is investigating three separate complaints that some politicians had their campaign signs up too early.

The New Brunswick election campaign started at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, a date that had been fixed in legislation for three years, but still complaints have been logged against candidates in Saint John, Moncton and on the north shore for possibly breaching the Elections Act.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nbvotes2010/story/2010/08/27/nbvotes-election-s...

Mon, 2010-08-30 14:04

#25

Caissa

The New Democratic Party would halt all planned tax cuts in an effort to avoid future cuts to social services.

NDP Leader Roger Duguay announced the party's tax plan on Monday.

The province's two major parties have spent recent days arguing over the future of the Liberal government's planned tax cuts.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nbvotes2010/story/2010/08/30/nbvotes-ndp-tax-pl...

Tue, 2010-08-31 09:47

#26

Caissa

Anyone interested in articles on the upcoming NB election can find them here:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nbvotes2010/

Thu, 2010-09-02 11:03

#27

David Hackett

NDP will cut 'March madness' spending

New Brunswick's NDP is vowing to save $210 million by curtailing the so-called annual "March madness" when departments burn through any money left in their budgets.

Pierre Cyr, a retired civil servant and the NDP's Nepisiguit candidate, and Jesse Travis, the party's New Maryland-Sunbury West candidate, announced that government departments would be forced to account for all unbudgeted expenditures.

At the end of each fiscal year, Cyr said, departments spend every dollar in their budgets regardless if the expenditures are required.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nbvotes2010/story/2010/09/01/nbvotes-ndp-march-madness-spending-1127.html

Fri, 2010-09-03 13:08

#28

Caissa

The leader of the Progressive Conservatives was stumped Thursday when asked to name his favourite Acadian artist.

David Alward was being interviewed by Radio-Canada to allow Acadians to get to know him during the provincial election campaign.

He was asked which book he is reading and what he would take on a desert island. He named a book by University of Moncton Prof. Donald Savoie and said he would take his BlackBerry.

He was then asked which Acadian artist he enjoys. He tried to answer, but could not come up with a name.

Fri, 2010-09-03 15:04

#29

NorthReport

Where are those damn briefing notes when you need them!

Tue, 2010-09-07 15:11

#30

Croghan27

The leader of the Progressive Conservatives was stumped Thursday when asked to name his favourite Acadian artist.

David Alward was being interviewed by Radio-Canada to allow Acadians to get to know him during the provincial election campaign.

I see, from Wiki, Mr. Alward is a good American boy ... edumicated at Bryan College, in Dayton (not Ohio, but) Tennessee. I see that this distinguished institute was established and named after that firebrand, William Jennings Bryan, one of the lawyers at the scopes trial.

Does this translate into a desire on Mr. Alward's part to instruct the poor (and overwhelmingly Catholic) masses of NB in the righteousness of disbelieving Mr. Darwin and in his his evolutionary ideas? He comes from a good area for it - the Woodstock area is a hotbed. a veritable hotbed I tell you, of fundamental thought.

Thu, 2010-09-09 11:58

#31

Caissa

The NDP is unveiling its television ads that are accusing the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives of pushing New Brunswick over the debt cliff.

NDP Leader Roger Duguay released the ads at a news conference Thursday in Fredericton. The NDP has accused their two main rivals of making reckless spending promises throughout the election campaign.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nbvotes2010/story/2010/09/09/nbvotes-ndp-ads-de...

Fri, 2010-09-10 00:48

#32

Krago

Why did Roger Duguay switch ridings since the last election? Could the NDP win both the Miramichi Bay-Neguac and Tracadie-Sheila?

Fri, 2010-09-10 09:42

#33

David Hackett

Tracadie-Sheila is within Godin's Federal riding so they are hoping to leverage some of that support. It also includes part of the dioces Duguay served as a preist, so he has community connections there as well. It's seen as the best riding to focus on for a breakthrough.

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/search/article/1208697

Fri, 2010-09-10 13:51

#34

Stockholm

Also, Mirimichi-Neguac is only two-thirds francophone with the other third being anglos (and mostly ProtestanT) to whom, Duguay was a total unknown and so his Duguay's support among them was negligible last time. Tracadie-Sheila is about 99% French.

Fri, 2010-09-10 13:51

#35

Stockholm

I edited my post above

Fri, 2010-09-10 13:54

#36

Caissa

edited tro reflect Stockholm's edit. Thanks from an anglophone NBer, Stockholm.

Fri, 2010-09-10 14:01

#37

Caissa

The CBC.ca description of Miramichi Neguac:
A Northumberland County riding in the northeast of the province, it is a predominantly rural area, with forestry and fishing on the northeast of Miramichi Bay.
It contains the northeast part of the new city of Miramichi (in the southwest corner); the communities of Neguac, Brantville and Lower Neguac; the parish of Alnwick; part of the parish of Newcastle; as well as the Burnt Church 14 and Tabusintac 9 aboriginal reserves.
Election history

LIB: 2003, 2006.
PC: 1999.
LIB: 1995, 1991, 1987.

The CBC.ca description of Tracadie-Sheila

This northeastern riding includes Tracadie-Sheila, Pont-Landry, Saumarez, as well as Saint-Isidore, Saumarez and Inkerman parishes. French is the dominant language here.

Election history

Tracadie - Sheila

PC: 2006, 2003, 1999, 1995

Tracadie

PC: 1994 byelection
LIB: 1991, 1988 byelection, 1987

Fri, 2010-09-10 17:11

#38

Stuart_Parker

I'm really enjoying watching the NB NDP. I'm so impressed with Duguay's positioning and leadership. I've always had a soft spot for left fiscal conservatism and this campaign, at least so far, is like a handbook on how it should be sold.

Sun, 2010-09-12 22:06

#39

Malcolm

Chrogan may want to do some minimal research about William Jennings Bryan. There was more to his career than the Scopes Monkey Trial. His "Cross of Gold" speech, in addition to being one of the finest examples of American political rhetoric, was also a defense of ordinary folk against the depradations of the global capital.

"If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of the nation and the world. Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.

Biblical literalism was a fairly common belief across the political spectrum at the time. Rather anachronistic to judge a man's entire distinguished career based on this one incident. Or are you one of those who argues that J.S. Woodsworth was a racist and T.C. Douglas a homophobe?

On the matter at hand, the NB NDP are running the right campaign for the right time. The NDP has historically been a party of fiscal responsibility, however much the clamouring revisionist masses of Babble may want to pretend otherwise.

Mon, 2010-09-13 09:44

#40

Stuart_Parker

Agreed. This is my big beef with the CCPA. Any socialist should be wary of indebting the state to private banks, bond rating agencies and foreign capitalist governments.

Mon, 2010-09-13 14:32

#41

Caissa

New Brunswick Progressive Conservatives released their election platform in Riverview on Monday - without tallying the cost of their long list of promises.

The campaign manifesto, which was given to the news media before the official release, attaches dollar figures to some promises but does not offer a complete costing.

PC Leader David Alward had said at many campaign stops since the election began that voters would see the true cost of all his party's promises.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nbvotes2010/story/2010/09/13/nbvotes-conservati...

Mon, 2010-09-13 22:53

#42

Krago

It looks like Father Duguay and his cohort are languishing in the polls. Is there a reason why the NDP does not seem to be getting much traction (other than the fact that they're the New Brunswick NDP)?

Tue, 2010-09-14 07:17

#43

Caissa

Latest poll has PC- 49, Lib 38, NDP-9

The NDP has only one three seats in its history in Nb and one of the MLA's, the late Peter Trites, crossed the floor to the Liberals.

The only other experiences with third parties in NB was the short lived COR expirement in the wake of the Lib 58-0 election victory and the collapse of the PC party and the 1920 election in which UF candidates lead to NB's only minority government.

Tue, 2010-09-14 08:00

#44

Stuart_Parker

It is strange that Duguay had them at 22% this time last year and has run a pitch-perfect campaign. And yet all he's doing right now is appearing to restore the party to a Weir-level popular vote. Do we know where the NDP's votes have bled to since the start of the election?

Tue, 2010-09-14 08:13

#45

Caissa

If you asking me to speculate before the first leaders' debate tonight, I will. It appears the electorate has decided to break with tradition and throw a premier out after only one term. IN an FPTP system that means voting for the party who has the opportunity to oust the incumbent.

Tue, 2010-09-14 09:13

#46

David Hackett

Stuart_Parker wrote:

It is strange that Duguay had them at 22% this time last year and has run a pitch-perfect campaign. And yet all he's doing right now is appearing to restore the party to a Weir-level popular vote. Do we know where the NDP's votes have bled to since the start of the election?

There may be 55 candidates but there aren't 55 campaigns. In many ridings the candidates are invisible. Saint John has a fair dose of Orange signing, but Moncton has none (any word on Fredericton?). Obviously the focus this time is on getting Duguay in and hopefully a few others with him, but the drawback to focusing a majority of resources on a few ridings is that others are abandoned. It's just the reality of starting from pretty much scratch.

That said, the party's been getitng great coverage from CBC and even the local papers, and a decent showing in the debates could well boost the numbers. This election needs to be about getting a foothold, and growth will take place after that.

Tue, 2010-09-14 10:01

#47

Caissa

In other news:

The widow of former New Brunswick premier Louis J. Robichaud is lashing out at the Liberals over their "amateurish" handling of questions surrounding her provincial pension and other payments.

Jacqueline Robichaud released a scathing statement on Monday in which she demanded an apology from Greg Byrne, a senior Liberal cabinet minister, over public comments he made during the controversy over the widow's pension Robichaud has been receiving since 2007.

Tue, 2010-09-14 12:44

#48

Stockholm

Stuart_Parker wrote:

It is strange that Duguay had them at 22% this time last year and has run a pitch-perfect campaign. And yet all he's doing right now is appearing to restore the party to a Weir-level popular vote. Do we know where the NDP's votes have bled to since the start of the election?

I think there are a few factors. First of all the federal NDP has won about 21% of the vote in each of the last three federal elections (granted a chunk of that is a personal vote for Yvan Godin), also a year ago, the headlines were all about the NDP winning in Nova Scotia - so that gave the party more top of kmind profile. But the reality is that the NB NDP for all its fantastic efforts to resurrect itself is still left in the dust by the othert parties. You can be sure that the Tories and Liberals are each spending a million dollars on their campaigns and all they each have to do is call Wallace McCain or an heir to KC Irving anytime they need money. The NDP would be lucky to have one tenth that budget. Its also hard to be seen as a viable alternative when you currently have zero seats in the leg.