The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a centre-right,
conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
political party in the
Canadian province of
New Brunswick
New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...
. The party has its origins in the pre-
Canadian confederation
Canadian Confederation (french: Confédération canadienne, link=no) was the process by which three British North American provinces, the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, were united into one federation called the Dominion ...
Conservative Party that opposed the granting of ''
responsible government'' to the colony. It has historically followed the
Red Tory
A Red Tory is an adherent of a centre to centre-right or paternalistic-conservative political philosophy derived from the Tory tradition, most predominantly in Canada but also in the United Kingdom and Australia. This philosophy tends to fa ...
tradition.
The Progressive Conservative Party currently leads the provincial government since
2018
File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...
under Premier
Blaine Higgs.
History
Initially, Conservative supporters tended to be
United Empire Loyalists
United Empire Loyalists (or simply Loyalists) is an honorific title which was first given by the 1st Lord Dorchester, the Governor of Quebec, and Governor General of The Canadas, to American Loyalists who resettled in British North America dur ...
and supporters of the business community. In the 1860s, both the Conservative and
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
parties split over the issue of
Canadian confederation
Canadian Confederation (french: Confédération canadienne, link=no) was the process by which three British North American provinces, the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, were united into one federation called the Dominion ...
, and were replaced by the
Confederation Party
''Confederation Party'' was a term for the parties supporting Canadian confederation in the British colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland in the 1860s when politics became polarised between supporters and opponents of Confederati ...
and the
Anti-Confederation Party
''Anti-Confederation'' was the name used in what is now the Maritimes by several parties opposed to Canadian Confederation. The Anti-Confederation parties were accordingly opposed by the Confederation Party, that is, the Conservative and Liberal ...
. By 1870, the pro-Confederation party became generally known as the
Liberal-Conservative
Liberal conservatism is a political ideology combining conservative policies with liberal stances, especially on economic issues but also on social and ethical matters, representing a brand of political conservatism strongly influenced by libe ...
s or just "Conservatives", and were aligned with the national
Conservative Party
The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right.
Political parties called The Conservative P ...
of
Sir John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald (January 10 or 11, 1815 – June 6, 1891) was the first prime minister of Canada, serving from 1867 to 1873 and from 1878 to 1891. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, he had a political career that sp ...
.
The party was aligned with the historic federal Conservative party. When the federal party changed its name to the
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (PC; french: Parti progressiste-conservateur du Canada) was a centre-right federal political party in Canada that existed from 1942 to 2003.
From Canadian Confederation in 1867 until 1942, the ...
in 1942, the New Brunswick party did the same. The federal Progressive Conservative Party dissolved in 2003, to merge with the
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance (french: Alliance canadienne), formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance (french: Alliance réformiste-conservatrice canadienne), was a centre-right to right-wing federal political party in Canada that existed ...
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
Premier Lord, publicly endorsed the federal party and in some cases its candidates in the
2004,
2006,
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
,
2011 and
2015 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
Moncton East (french: Moncton-Est) is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. It was first contested in the 2014 general election, having been created in the 2013 redistribution of electoral b ...
. On December 19,
Jeannot Volpé
Jeannot Volpé (born June 28, 1950) is a Canadian politician in the Province of New Brunswick.
Born in Saint-Jacques, New Brunswick, Volpé graduated from the University of Moncton in 1973 with a Bachelor of Physical Education degree and tau ...
, MLA for
Madawaska les Lacs-Edmundston, was selected as
interim leader. On October 18, 2008,
David Alward
David Nathan Alward (born December 2, 1959) is a Canadian politician, who served as the 32nd premier of New Brunswick, 2010 to 2014.
Alward has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick since 1999 and has been the leader of the P ...
, MLA for
Carleton, 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
The premier of New Brunswick ( French (masculine): ''premier ministre du Nouveau-Brunswick'', or feminine: ''première ministre du Nouveau-Brunswick'') is the first minister and head of government for the Canadian province of New Brunswick.
T ...
.
In 2013, Saint John area MLA Dr.
Jim Parrott
James Charles William Parrott (September 15, 1942 – October 4, 2016) was a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in the 2010 provincial election, representing the electoral district of Fundy-River ...
, a retired heart surgeon and former head of the New Brunswick Heart Centre, was kicked out of the caucus after criticizing his government over health issues.
The controversial backbencher had spoken out about bilingualism and duality, and written a newspaper commentary about a lack of consultation with physicians. Before the 2014 election, he was allowed to return
Alward's 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
Ralph Bruce Fitch is a Canadian politician, He represents Riverview in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.
Early life
Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, he is the son of Dr. Ralph Fitch. In 1980, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degr ...
was selected as interim leader of the party and
Leader of the Opposition of New Brunswick.
2016 to present
Quispamsis
Quispamsis (, sometimes shortened to ) is a Kings County suburb of Saint John, New Brunswick, located to the northeast in the lower Kennebecasis River valley. Its population was 18,768 as of the 2021 census.
History
The original inhabitan ...
MLA
Blaine Higgs was
elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party on October 22, 2016, defeating former
Saint John Mayor
Mel Norton
Mel K. Norton is a Canadian politician, who served as mayor of Saint John, New Brunswick from 2012 to 2016.
Early life and career
Norton was born in Saint John, New Brunswick and started his early life on Grand Manan.
He completed a bachelor ...
, 1,563 to 1,169 on the third ballot.
In the
2018 provincial election, Higgs and the PCs won the largest share of seats in the legislature, 22, compared to 21 for the governing
Liberal Party of New Brunswick
The New Brunswick Liberal Association (french: Association libérale du Nouveau-Brunswick), more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal ''Party'' or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major provincial political parties in New ...
, which opted to attempt to remain in power as a
minority government by presenting a
Throne Speech
A speech from the throne, or throne speech, is an event in certain monarchies in which the reigning sovereign, or a representative thereof, reads a prepared speech to members of the nation's legislature when a session is opened, outlining th ...
in hopes of retaining the
confidence
Confidence is a state of being clear-headed either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. Confidence comes from a Latin word 'fidere' which means "to trust"; therefore, having ...
of the
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government.
Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known ...
.
On November 2, 2018, the Progressive Conservatives and the
People's Alliance combined to defeat Premier
Brian Gallant's Liberal minority government via a
non-confidence vote in the legislature.
Higgs was appointed Premier on November 9, 2018. Higgs and the Progressive Conservatives were re-elected to a majority government in the
2020 provincial election held on September 14, 2020
On March 30, 2022,
Kris Austin
Kris Austin (born 1979) is the former leader of the People's Alliance of New Brunswick and current member of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick and an MLA in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
A legislature is ...
and
Michelle Conroy
Michelle Conroy is a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick and an MLA in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick representing the riding of Miramichi.
Conroy was re-elected in the 2020 provincial election, defeating ...
announced their departure from the
People's Alliance of New Brunswick to join the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.
Ideology and electoral base
The Tories have alternated power with the
New Brunswick Liberal Association
The New Brunswick Liberal Association (french: Association libérale du Nouveau-Brunswick), more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal ''Party'' or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major provincial political parties in New ...
since Confederation. The party tends to hold a moderate
Red Tory
A Red Tory is an adherent of a centre to centre-right or paternalistic-conservative political philosophy derived from the Tory tradition, most predominantly in Canada but also in the United Kingdom and Australia. This philosophy tends to fa ...
stance, being socially and fiscally centrist.
For most of New Brunswick's history, the party had greater support among English speakers, while the Liberals were more popular among
Acadians
The Acadians (french: Acadiens , ) are an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Most Acadians live in the region of Acadia, as it is the region where the de ...
. However, initiatives by the governments of
Richard Hatfield
Richard Bennett Hatfield (April 9, 1931 – April 26, 1991) was a New Brunswick politician and the longest serving premier of New Brunswick from 1970 to 1987.Richard Starr, ''Richard Hatfield, The Seventeen Year Saga,'' 1987,
Early life
T ...
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
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
, 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.
Election results
Current members of the legislature
Party leaders
*
Peter Mitchell Peter or Pete Mitchell may refer to:
Media
*Pete Mitchell (broadcaster) (1958–2020), British broadcaster
*Peter Mitchell (newsreader) (born 1960), Australian journalist
*Peter Mitchell (photographer) (born 1943), British documentary photographer
...
(1866–1867)
*
Andrew R. Wetmore (1867–1870)
*
George Edwin King
George Edwin King (October 8, 1839 – May 7, 1901) was a Canadian lawyer, politician, second and fourth premier of New Brunswick, and puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
King was born in Saint John, New Brunswick and attended Wesl ...
(1870–1871)
*
George L. Hathaway
George Luther Hathaway (August 4, 1813 – July 5, 1872) was a politician in New Brunswick, Canada. His surname also appears as Hatheway.
He was born in Musquash, New Brunswick, the son of Calvin Luther Hatheway and Sarah Harrison.
He enter ...
(1871–1872)
*
George Edwin King
George Edwin King (October 8, 1839 – May 7, 1901) was a Canadian lawyer, politician, second and fourth premier of New Brunswick, and puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
King was born in Saint John, New Brunswick and attended Wesl ...
(1872–1878)
*
John James Fraser
John James Fraser (August 1, 1829 – November 24, 1896) was a New Brunswick (Canada) lawyer, judge, and politician.
John Fraser was born at Beaubears Island, New Brunswick. He married twice, the first time in 1867 to Martha Cumming. She die ...
(1878–1882)
*
Daniel L. Hanington (1882–1892)
*
Alfred Augustus Stockton (1892–1899)
*
John Douglas Hazen
Sir John Douglas Hazen, (June 5, 1860 – December 27, 1937) was a politician in New Brunswick, Canada.
Biography
Known by his second name, Douglas, he entered politics in 1885 when he was elected as an alderman for Fredericton City Counc ...
(1899–1911)
*
James Kidd Flemming
James Kidd Flemming (April 27, 1868 – February 10, 1927) was a businessman and politician in New Brunswick, Canada.
Flemming was a school teacher and lumberman before entering politics and serving as Provincial Secretary-Treasurer from 1908 ...
(1911–1914)
*
George Johnson Clarke (1914–1917)
*
James Alexander Murray
James Alexander Murray (9 November 1864 in Moncton, New Brunswick – 16 February 1960) was a Conservative politician and the 16th premier of New Brunswick. Murray was first elected to the legislature in 1908 and served as Minister of Agricultur ...
(1917–1920)
*
John B. M. Baxter
John Babington Macaulay Baxter (February 16, 1868 – December 27, 1946) was a New Brunswick lawyer, jurist and the 19th premier of New Brunswick.
Baxter served in the Canadian Army and was the author of ''Historical Records of the New Bruns ...
(1920–1921)
*
Charles D. Richards (1921–1925)
*
John B. M. Baxter
John Babington Macaulay Baxter (February 16, 1868 – December 27, 1946) was a New Brunswick lawyer, jurist and the 19th premier of New Brunswick.
Baxter served in the Canadian Army and was the author of ''Historical Records of the New Bruns ...
(1925–1931)
*
Charles D. Richards (1931–1933)
*
Leonard P. D. Tilley (1933–1935)
*
Frederick C. Squires (1935–1939)
*
Hugh H. Mackay (1939–1948)
*
Hugh John Flemming (1948–1960) (House leader 1948–1951)
*
Cyril Sherwood
Cyril Beverly "Cy" Sherwood (July 1, 1915 – December 10, 1996) was a farmer and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented King's County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as a Progressive Conservative member fro ...
(1960–1966)
*
Charles Van Horne
Joseph Charles Van Horne (January 3, 1921 – August 27, 2003) was a politician in New Brunswick, Canada, and the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick between 1966 and 1967.
A lawyer and hotel owner in the Campbel ...
(1966–1967)
*
Richard Hatfield
Richard Bennett Hatfield (April 9, 1931 – April 26, 1991) was a New Brunswick politician and the longest serving premier of New Brunswick from 1970 to 1987.Richard Starr, ''Richard Hatfield, The Seventeen Year Saga,'' 1987,
Early life
T ...
(1967–1987) (House leader 1967–1969)
*
Malcolm MacLeod (1987–1989) (''interim'')
*
Barbara Baird Filliter (1989–1991)
*
Dennis Cochrane
Dennis H. Cochrane, CM (born 26 October 1950 in Moncton, New Brunswick) is a Canadian politician and civil servant.
He graduated from the New Brunswick Teacher's College in 1970, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Ne ...
(1991–1995)
*
Bernard Valcourt (1995–1997)
*
Bernard Lord (1997–2007)
*
Jeannot Volpé
Jeannot Volpé (born June 28, 1950) is a Canadian politician in the Province of New Brunswick.
Born in Saint-Jacques, New Brunswick, Volpé graduated from the University of Moncton in 1973 with a Bachelor of Physical Education degree and tau ...
(2007–2008) (''interim'')
*
David Alward
David Nathan Alward (born December 2, 1959) is a Canadian politician, who served as the 32nd premier of New Brunswick, 2010 to 2014.
Alward has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick since 1999 and has been the leader of the P ...
(2008–2014)
*
Bruce Fitch
Ralph Bruce Fitch is a Canadian politician, He represents Riverview in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.
Early life
Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, he is the son of Dr. Ralph Fitch. In 1980, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degr ...
(2014–2016) (''interim'')
*
Blaine Higgs (2016–present)
See also
*
List of premiers of New Brunswick
The Canadian province of New Brunswick was a British crown colony before it joined Canada in 1867. It had a system of responsible government beginning in 1854, and has kept its own legislature to deal with provincial matters. New Brunswick has ...
*
List of New Brunswick political parties
*
References
{{Canadian Conservative Parties
Provincial political parties in New Brunswick
Conservative parties in Canada
1867 establishments in New Brunswick
Political parties established in 1867
Organizations based in Fredericton