The recent Liberal win in New Brunswick’s election might not necessarily spell good news for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to local political analysts. They believe the provincial election was more of a judgement on the outgoing premier than on the prime minister who is currently facing a series of challenges.
In a historic move, Susan Holt’s Liberals took down Blaine Higgs’ incumbent Progressive Conservatives in a tightly fought election on Monday. This not only denied Higgs a third term as New Brunswick’s premier but also resulted in Holt becoming the first female premier of the province. This victory comes at a crucial time for the Liberal party, especially when most provinces are led by Conservative leaders and the federal party under Trudeau seems to be grappling with numerous issues.
Donald Wright, a political science professor at the University of New Brunswick, opined that while the result might be a momentary relief for the Liberal Party of Canada, the dynamics of the provincial election were based on different issues. He emphasized that the results of the New Brunswick election would not significantly impact the prospects of the Liberal Party of Canada.
The election campaign that lasted for 33 days saw Higgs vie for a third term. The campaign majorly revolved around the cost of living, healthcare, and housing. While the Progressive Conservatives proposed a reduction in the sales tax to address the affordability issue, the Liberals and Greens introduced more comprehensive policies aimed at fixing healthcare and housing.
However, despite the PC campaign’s attempts to associate the provincial Liberals with the unpopular carbon tax and federal party, this strategy was complicated by Higgs’ own popularity issues. Multiple senior Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers had declared they wouldn’t run again, indicating Higgs’ leadership as part of the problem.
Chisholm Pothier, a seasoned Progressive Conservative strategist who backed the Liberals in the recent election, expressed that the election was more about Higgs personally. He added that many cabinet ministers had resigned from Higgs’ cabinet, citing difficulties in working with him.
Despite the challenges faced by the federal Liberals, the New Brunswick result adds a win to their tally. However, local experts believe that the win is more reflective of the province’s distinctive features rather than a revival of the Liberal brand.
