Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick

Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
Parti progressiste-conservateur du Nouveau-Brunswick
Active provincial party
Leader Bruce Fitch (interim)
President Jason Stephen
Founded 1867 (1867)
Headquarters Fredericton, NB
Ideology Progressive conservatism, Red Toryism[1]
Political position Centre-right
Colours Blue, Red, Yellow
Seats in Legislature
22 / 49
Website
www.pcnb.ca

The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a centre-right, conservative political party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The party has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony. It has historically followed the Red Tory tradition.[1] The Progressive Conservative Party was last in provincial government between 2010 and 2014 under the leadership of David Alward.

History

Initially, Conservative supporters tended to be United Empire Loyalists and supporters of the business community. In the 1860s, both the Conservative and Liberal parties split over the issue of Canadian confederation, and were replaced by the Confederation Party and the Anti-Confederation Party. By 1870, the pro-Confederation party became generally known as the Liberal-Conservatives or just "Conservatives", and were aligned with the national Conservative Party of Sir John A. Macdonald.

The party was aligned with the historic federal Conservative party. When the federal party changed its name to the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 1942, the New Brunswick party did the same. The federal Progressive Conservative Party dissolved in 2003 in order to merge with the Canadian Alliance, and a new Conservative Party of Canada was created. The provincial party has no formal link with the current federal Conservative Party, but several of its members and elected MLAs, including former Premier Lord, publicly endorsed the federal party and in some cases its candidates in both the 2004 and 2006 federal elections.

Following the change of government in 2006 provincial election, Bernard Lord resigned as leader on December 13, 2006 and as the member of Moncton East. On December 19, Jeannot Volpé, MLA for Madawaska-les-Lacs, was selected as interim leader. On October 18, 2008 David Alward, MLA for Woodstock, was elected leader of the party at the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick Leadership Convention in Fredericton. Alward beat his only opponent, Robert MacLeod, by a margin of 2,269 votes to 1,760.

The Progressive Conservatives won a sweeping majority, with 42 of 55 seats in the 2010 provincial election. In doing so, PC party leader David Alward became the 32nd Premier of New Brunswick. His government was defeated after one term in the 2014 provincial election, after which Alward announced his resignation as party leader — On October 18, 2014 Bruce Fitch was selected as interim leader of the party and Leader of the Opposition of New Brunswick.[2] The next Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick leadership election is expected to be held in 2016 to choose a permanent leader.

Ideology and electoral base

The Tories have alternated power with the New Brunswick Liberal Association since Confederation. The party tends to hold a moderate Red Tory, being socially and fiscally centrist.[1]

For most of New Brunswick's history, the party had greater support among English speakers, while the Liberals were more popular among Acadians. However, initiatives by the governments of Richard Hatfield and Bernard Lord to include Acadians in the mainstream of New Brunswick life helped the party make inroads in Acadia. In fact, even though he was born in Quebec, former Premier Bernard Lord is widely perceived to be an Acadian, due to his Francophone heritage and the fact that he was raised in Moncton where he attended French language schools and university.

Current members of the legislature

Name Electorate First Elected Notes
Jeff Carr New Maryland-Sunbury 2014
Jody Carr Oromocto-Lincoln 1999
Gary Crossman Hampton 2014
Mado Dubé Edmundston-Madawaska Centre 1999
Stewart Fairgrieve Carleton 2015
Bruce Fitch Riverview 2003 Leader of the Opposition
Ted Flemming Rothesay 2012
Blaine Higgs Quispamsis 2010
Trevor Holder Portland-Simonds 1999
Brian Keirstead Albert 2014
Pam Lynch Fredericton-Grand Lake 2010
Brian Macdonald Fredericton West-Hanwell 2010
Kirk MacDonald Fredericton-York 1999
Bruce Northrup Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins 2006
Bill Oliver Kings Centre 2014
Dorothy Shephard Saint John Lancaster 2010
Glen Savoie Saint John East 2014
Ernie Steeves Moncton Northwest 2014
Jake Stewart Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin 2010
Carl Urquhart Carleton-York 2006
Ross Wetmore Grand Lake-Gagetown 2010
Sherry Wilson Petitcodiac 2010

Party leaders

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Johnson, David (2011). Thinking Government: Public Administration and Politics in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 79. ISBN 9781442603967.
  2. ↑ http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/10/18/new_brunswick_progressive_conservatives_choose_bruce_fitch_as_interim_leader.html
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