Interim leader calls for end to 'self-inflicted wounds' as PC divisions remain

The interim leader of New Brunswick's Progressive Conservatives used the party's first meeting since the election to warn members against dividing into "ideological camps."

That comes after former leader Blaine Higgs, who lost his seat as the Liberals surged to a majority, faced criticism from elected members and party faithful over his direction — most notably on gender-identity policy and endorsement of a Christian conservative activist as a candidate. 

While Higgs's message ultimately failed to gain enough traction to keep the party in power, interim PC Leader Glen Savoie urged members in a speech Saturday to move past blaming Higgs for the loss. 

"You may remember the phrase, 'Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them,'" Savoie said, noting the 1987 election where Frank McKenna's Liberals won every legislature seat.

"Twelve years of excruciating Liberal rule.... Why? Because we remained fractured as a party. We divided into ideological camps because we could not come to consensus, and in so doing gave a clear path for the Liberals of the day.

"The cycles of self-inflicted wounds, election loss, rebirth – it's all there, replayed over and over again."

Savoie urged members to instead come together around a common purpose. 

"We can find better ways to disagree than we have most recently, I have to believe that," Savoie said. 

All elected PCs were in attendance, and joined Savoie on stage, except for Miramichi West MLA Mike Dawson.

The second-term MLA said he wouldn't be attending the AGM, which he called a "secret meeting" in a social media post the night before.

"There was an election on October 21, 2024, in New Brunswick. I want my constituents, and all New Brunswickers to know that I got the message," he said. 

"New Brunswickers told us that they expect an open and transparent government that listens when they speak.... The way to demonstrate this openness, transparency and respect for voters begins with the culture of our political parties."

Dawson, who did not respond to an interview request, took issue with the meeting having an early registration deadline for members to attend and vote, the agenda lacking a question period for members, and a decision to exclude media from attending.

When asked if Dawson will be allowed to remain in the PC caucus, Savoie said the group would make that decision privately.

Former Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick president Brian Harquail noted the early registration deadline as a departure from the practice he's seen at party AGMs over the past few decades. 

"We have candidates, we have former, past presidents like myself, former ministers, that can't go to their own AGM," he said. 

Re-elected MLA Ryan Cullins was in that boat, and appeared on stage with Savoie during the address, but was not allowed to be in the room or vote in the meeting.

Jason Cooling, a PC regional vice-president candidate, was also affected by the change. He was waiting outside the room on Saturday to hear the result of that vote. 

He is concerned that the changes were an attempt to reduce access to the meeting, and in turn try to maintain a direction that voters rejected at the ballot box.

"Most parties in the past, if you lose you lose, that's just the way it is ... this time around it seems different. With this sort of, I'm not sure, an attempt to maintain the status quo," he said. 

"I do know that there is a large groundswell of the grassroots people who do feel left out of the party. They're hurt."

PC president Erika Hachey declined to be interviewed, but newly elected vice-president Diane Carey said any concerns brought by members would be taken under consideration. 

As Savoie called for unity around a common purpose, on Saturday members had varying thoughts on what that should mean.

Carey believes that direction will be different than the one Higgs took during the election, adding that she plans to make sure Francophone voices are heard by the party.

"It's going to be, for us to be able to ... be just not in southern New Brunswick but be present in all parts of New Brunswick," she said. 

Re-elected MLA Kris Austin didn't answer directly on whether the party needs a change in direction, but said he believes some of the more socially conservative stances Higgs took are gaining traction across North America.

"I do not believe for a second that we lost the election on [Policy] 713. I think we held seats because of our stance on that," Austin said in an interview. 

Savoie believes better communication is at the heart of how the party moves forward, noting there are still a "wide array of opinions and viewpoints" under the blue tent. 

"To understand where we went wrong, it's not going to be a one-day process," he said. "It's going to be a many-day process. But I think if we take our time, we're very measured and we're thoughtful in how we do that, we will get to where we need to be."