PC Party says one letter calling for Higgs ouster is valid after all
Reversal means Tory dissidents are one letter closer to triggering leadership review
Party president Erika Hachey has acknowledged to one PC riding association president whose request for a leadership review vote was declared invalid that it is valid after all.
"There was an internal error made when you had purchased your membership," Hachey wrote in a Thursday email obtained by CBC News.
According to the email, the member — whose name is blacked out in the screen image provided to CBC — bought a five-year membership but was mistakenly recorded at the time as buying a one-year membership.
WATCH | Here's what the PC Party must do to oust Higgs as leader:
That means the person is still a PC member today.
"That's been rectified so therefore we will count your letter as valid," Hachey wrote in the email.
It's a key concession by the party brass because the push to remove Higgs as leader is a numbers game.
Under the party's rules, 50 members, including 20 presidents of PC riding associations, must request a leadership review to start the process.
If that happens, the party's provincial council must debate whether to schedule a convention.
Earlier this week, Hachey told party members that the push had fallen short.
"Over 40 valid requests were received from current members," she said in an email. "Of the valid requests received, only 15 came from riding presidents."
Error raises concerns
She initially told the unnamed party member that their request "is not counted toward the minimum threshold" of 20 riding association presidents.
The reversal on Thursday means the party now has 16 riding president letters.
PC regional vice-president John Williston, part of the group trying to remove Higgs, said the error on the member's paperwork was a concern.
"It calls into question the organization of the party and certainly the clerical skills around how we're recording and maintaining our memberships."
Hachey turned down an interview request and did not respond to an email question about whether any other invalid letters have since been declared valid.
John
Williston, a regional vice-president of the Progressive Conservative
Party, said it 'feels a bit questionable' that the party is only now
questioning the status of some people as party members. (Submitted by John Williston)
But Williston said other "invalid" members are also going over their paperwork to check for errors, including people who bought lifetime memberships when the party was selling that option a couple of decades ago.
The party has contacted each invalidated person to explain the reasoning.
Williston said in some cases, there have been "minor issues," such as members whose memberships expired a short time ago but who have been allowed to continue taking part in party functions until now.
"And it's only now they're questioning their status as party members," he said. "All I'll say is it feels a bit questionable."
Optimistic about Aug. 19 deadline
In her July 31 email to all party members declaring that the review push had fallen short, Hachey gave Tories until Aug. 19 to submit valid letters.
Williston said he believes the group will get there.
If they do that, the party's provincial council will debate on Sept. 9 whether to schedule a convention for a vote on Higgs's leadership. The council must vote by a two-thirds majority for that to happen.
Williston said that even if the vote falls short of that threshold, a substantial vote supporting a review should still prompt Higgs to step down.
"If we're in a situation where we have even 40-per-cent-plus of provincial council voting for a leadership review, I think it's really morally incumbent on the premier at that point to consider resignation and not put the party through this gut-wrenching episode."
Prompted by Policy 713 controversy
The push to remove Higgs began after two of his ministers resigned amid a controversy over his changes to Policy 713, which sets out protections for LGBTQ students in provincial schools.
Six PC ministers and MLAs voted in favour of a Liberal opposition motion in the legislature calling for Child and Youth Advocate Kelly Lamrock to hold consultations on the policy changes.
The motion passed 26-20 and Lamrock said he would respect the vote and report on his findings by Aug. 15.
The two ministers who resigned, Dorothy Shephard and Trevor Holder, accused Higgs of a top-down management style that has strayed from longtime PC party principles.
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111 Comments
David Amos
The plot thickens slightly
David Amos
I can't help but wonder if that one letter calling for Higgs ouster came from the fella I was talking to last week
David Amos
Content DeactivatedDo ya think Higgy is dancing this weekend?
Derek James
Protecting Family Values and Children gets one Ousted ?
David Amos
Reply to Derek James
Its still a wonderful world no matter how bad the politicians try to make it otherwise
Michael Cain
Reply to Derek James
He wants to intervene in family affairs. How I raise my family is none of his business.
Marcel Belanger
The old guard will fight tooth and nail to keep
Higgs in power with nary a thought to what it does to that very party.
That so many letters were found to be not to specs is hardly surprising
when the fox is guarding the henhouse.
David Amos
Reply to Marcel Belanger I maintain the opinion that Daniel Allain will be the next Premier
Toby Tolly
so many stories on this
I forgot the main reason why
oh wait yes
it's a french - English thing
David Amos
Reply to Toby Tolly Nope its was the 713 issue
Inger Nielsen
Jacques Poitras thank you for keeping us informed. the public needs to know what is going on in our government
Archie MacDaniel
Reply to Inger Nielsen
Yes, a single invalid membership that is actually valid is certainly ground breaking stuff and will change NB forever.
David Amos
Content DeactivatedReply to Inger Nielsen
Surely you jest
Chris Merriam
Content Deactivated
Jos Allaire
Reply to Chris MerriamPoitras is reporting the news, not your opinion.
Archie MacDaniel
Reply to Jos Allaire
This is hardly news, what is next, what someone in the party has for dinner tonight?
David Amos
No doubt they all had pork
Buford Wilson
They’re wasting their time.
Blaine will be premier for years to come. For the benefit of all New/Nouveau-Brunswickers.
Blaine will be premier for years to come. For the benefit of all New/Nouveau-Brunswickers.
Jos Allaire
Reply to Buford Wilson
Higgs is wasting everybody's time.
David Amos
Content DeactivatedReply to Buford Wilson
Surely you jest Comment by Justin Drake.
12 hrs ago
Who are the 16 riding Presidents? And what is their backgrounds?
Reply by G. Timothy Walton.
9 hrs ago
Well, they're all dues-paying members of the party who have been active long enough to be elected to lead their local constituency organisation.
In other words, party loyalists who have been there for a while.
Reply by Matt Steele.
6 hrs ago
Not necessarily ; often if the riding is inactive and does not have a PC MLA in that riding , then they will just stick anyone into the position as a place holder , but they will not really have a say in anything other than just being a name on a list for an inactive riding . All political parties do the same .
Reply by Jos Allaire.
3 hrs ago
A place holder? Sounds like Higgs to me.
Reply by G. Timothy Walton.
29 min ago
Inactive riding associations are often dissolved between elections; the party's webpage currently shows three vacancies.
Comment by Daniel Henwell.
12 hrs ago
Higgs is a good premier who stands up for family values.
Reply by Justin Drake.
12 hrs ago
We need more politicians like him.
Reply by G. Timothy Walton.
9 hrs ago
Whose family?
Reply by Jos Allaire.
3 hrs ago
Higgs stands for COR values.
Reply by Jos Allaire.
3 hrs ago
... if they have any, that is.
Reply by Mathieu Laperriere.
3 hrs ago
A Christian heterosexual family who has an income of at least 150k and who lives in a city in the south or southwest part of the province.
Reply by David Amos.
22 min ago
content deactivated –
So you say
Reply by David Amos.
21 min ago
content deactivated –
Methinks you stand for SANB values N'esy Pas?
Comment by Matt Steele.
13 hrs ago
They claimed that they had 26 Riding Presidents who wanted a review ; and now it is down to 16 out of 49 ridings : seems pretty obvious that most of the PC membership supports Premier Higgs , his stance on family values , and the ability to bring the province back from the financial brink of a Credit downgrade , to actually paying off well over TWO BILLION in provincial debt in just five years . A job well done Premier Higgs .
Reply by David Amos.
20 min ago
content deactivated –
Dream on
Comment by Brian Hovey.
14 hrs ago
Why Not Just Let The Man Finish Out His Term,Can,t You See What This Is Doing To The PC Party.If You Cant Get Along With Mr Higgs Then Walk Away
Reply by Steve Dueck.
13 hrs ago
So why should he not walk away? The bill he wants to change is draconian in its approach to dealing with these students. He does not realize that even at home these students may face persecution from family members. As an educator I have seen this. What he proposes no longer makes school a safe place for these students…he is so out of touch with the reality of life for some young people today.
Reply by JOhn D Bond.
2 hrs ago
Perhaps at the heart of the issue. What you call draconian, others claim is reasonable. Parental involvement in their child's life choices. But I do agree some children may not be accepted in their home life because of their choices. I ask, given that these children spent most of their time at home with the families, living two lives one at school one and a home one. How much harm does that cause to the child's stress and anxiety of being found out. Which is better?
Comment by G. Timothy Walton.
14 hrs ago
Perhaps those whose letters were rejected should take to social media.
Sometimes embarrassment works where rules have been ignored.
Comment by Marc LeBlanc.
14 hrs ago
I know it's asking for a lot but I wish we could just once elect a government who works for the betterment of all of us
Reply by Archie MacDaniel.
14 hrs ago
None of them are perfect but our current one has done that better than previous gov'ts.
Reply by G. Timothy Walton.
13 hrs ago
Working for the betterment of everyone is mutually exclusive with the moral flexibility necessary to advance in politics.
Comment by G. Timothy Walton.
14 hrs ago
Sounds like one of the invalidated raised enough of a stink for certain people to feel the need to save face.
Hidden comment.
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content deactivated
Reply by Max Ruby.
14 hrs ago
Yesterday
Comment by John Lawrence.
15 hrs ago
His ego is keeping him there and will also be the reason why he gets turfed by his own party. Momentum is building and it’s going to get a lot heavier
Comment by Michael Cain.
16 hrs ago
Premier of the poorest province in Canada. Quite a legacy Mr. Higgs
Reply by Troy Murray.
15 hrs ago
It has been the poorest for decades
Reply by Michael Cain.
14 hrs ago
Dec 18, 2019 — P.E.I. has long been considered the poorest province in Canada, but now, New Brunswick has that title and will start getting the most funding
Reply by Don Corey.
13 hrs ago
We’re certainly not as poor as we were under Gallant.
Reply by Michael Cain.
13 hrs ago
Get the facts; PEI was until we took the honours in 2019.
Reply by Don Corey.
12 hrs ago
My post is true. Check it out for yourself.
Reply by Michael Cain.
2 hrs ago
PEI was until NB took the honours in 2019.
Reply by Don Corey.
1 hr ago
P.E.I. has the 2021 title. NS is next.
Reply by David Amos.
18 min ago
content deactivated –
C'est Vrai
Comment by rayma allaby.
17 hrs ago
until irving is cut from new brunswick politics there will continue to be issues surrounding money and clout that is given to them. although i will say higgs is the most blatant one for giving money to the irvings...i asked for the conservatives to pay my lightbill...but i never received any money to pay for the hydro bill....
Reply by Don Corey.
16 hrs ago
And you actually believe the liberals will exclude Irving from provincial politics, and “favours”?
Reply by Archie MacDaniel.
16 hrs ago
He has been no different than any other premier, prove otherwise if you can.
Reply by Michael Cain.
16 hrs ago
PP is going to tell Irving where to buy their oil from.
Reply by Michael Cain.
15 hrs ago
up to you to prove your comment.
Reply by G. Timothy Walton.
14 hrs ago
It's difficult to imagine PP saying no to a billionaire.
Reply by Jos Allaire.
14 hrs ago
All except Little Louis!
Reply by Archie MacDaniel.
14 hrs ago
PP wants them to get it here in Canada instead of supporting questionable countries the way JT wants them to.
Reply by Archie MacDaniel.
14 hrs ago
History has done that for me, pay attention.
Reply by André Vautour.
13 hrs ago
They are a business, and they will buy the cheapest oil. Since Energy East was a flop, they’ll likely only buy the Canadian oil if it is subsidized to be a comparable price to them, which is highly unlikely to happen.
Reply by David Amos.
15 min ago
content deactivated –
Trust that I pay attention
Comment by Geordan Mann.
19 hrs ago
As usual, the leadership in NB politics is incredibly underwhelming. One has no social or ethical conscience and the other has no business or financial acumen. You cannot have a province supported only by underutilized civil servants or overworked minimum wage workers. Nothing has changed here in forever.
Reply by Glenn O'Halloran.
17 hrs ago
Well put. Thanks for saying it.
Reply by Don Corey.
16 hrs ago
Excellent description of the Trudeau government.
Reply by Geordan Mann.
12 hrs ago
I would agree - does not matter if it is provincial or federal in that sense. I realize this is not how you mean it but if you remove "Trudeau government" (please do btw) and insert "federal politics" you have it.
Reply by David Amos.
14 min ago
content deactivated –
Amen
Comment by Le Wier.
20 hrs ago
Maybe Andrea Johnson’s replacement as executive director will be able to help with the review process. That could be why the letters weren’t properly tabulated the Fredericton office is understaffed.
Reply by David Amos.
13 min ago
content deactivated –
I heard that she went fishing
Comment by SarahRose Werner.
20 hrs ago
"Williston said that even if the vote falls short of that threshold, a substantial vote supporting a review should still prompt Higgs to step down." - Wishful thinking rarely plays any significant role in politics. Here's the real question: what gives the PC Party the best chance of winning the 2024 provincial election? Some might say that holding a leadership review at this point weakens that chance. However, if (big if!) the rebellion is strong enough and widespread enough to threaten Higgs' chances of winning, then the party might do better with a different leader. That's question the council faces.
Reply by Don Corey.
20 hrs ago
Maybe Higgs will call one sooner than you think.
Reply by SarahRose Werner.
20 hrs ago
Sure, that could happen too. But that's up to Higgs, not the party's provincial council. We have lots of different plays, each with their own agenda.
Reply by Don Corey.
19 hrs ago
I’m well aware of the fact that the premier calls elections, not the party.
As to the agenda thing, everyone here obviously has his/her/whoever own. Such is not unique to politics.
Reply by Clive Gibbons.
19 hrs ago
We could only hope.
Reply by Jos Allaire.
17 hrs ago
I double dare him to call a general election❗
Reply by Archie MacDaniel.
16 hrs ago
Triple dare?
Reply by Don Corey.
16 hrs ago
Don’t bet the farm on it.
Reply by Jos Allaire.
15 hrs ago
Neither will HIggs bet the farm on it. He's afraid to lose.
Reply by Jos Allaire.
14 hrs ago
I can't call an election, but Higgs can.
Reply by Don Corey.
2 hrs ago
I highly doubt it.
Reply by David Amos.
11 min ago
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Me too
Comment by Archie MacDaniel.
20 hrs ago
While we read article after article on the Canada board of this site about how one thing after another is falling apart here in NB they are writing about invalid, no wait, valid memberships. More proof how good we have it here.
Reply by Michael Cain.
17 hrs ago
The poorest province in Canada, something Higgs is proud of.
Reply by Archie MacDaniel.
16 hrs ago
Old news under former Lib gov't, yet another thing Higgs fixed.
Reply by Don Corey.
16 hrs ago
Higgs has done far more with our economy than any Liberal government (remember Trudeau’s yes boy Gallant) could hope, while significantly reducing our debt (a foreign concept to Liberals).
Comment by Archie MacDaniel.
20 hrs ago
Did this site just post another Policy 713 spinoff story based on a single membership that was first thought invalid is now valid?
Reply by Don Corey.
20 hrs ago
Yes.
Reply by David Amos.
10 min ago
content deactivated –
Ask yourself why
Comment by Douglas Howser.
21 hrs ago
Hot Potato!
Comment by Chuck Michaels.
21 hrs ago
"We might not get the number we need - but we hope he will step down anyway..."
What a duplicitous, back-stabbing bunch. When he was golden - they were all his friends.
I don't personally care for his brand of leadership - but they voted him in and should live with the consequences.
The threshold is the threshold. Get the number or go home.
Caesar had it easier in some ways....
Reply by Geordan Mann.
19 hrs ago
When was he golden?? Maybe in his golden years but hardly golden. More silver'ish I think.
Reply by valmond landry.
19 hrs ago
there is no such thing as golden years the only gold i have seen is in my urine here in this province
Reply by Jos Allaire.
17 hrs ago
There has always been infighting within this party. Now that the COR has infiltrated it, they are doomed!
Reply by Archie MacDaniel.
16 hrs ago
Seems to be even more happening in Ottawa at the moment, any comment?
Reply by Don Corey.
16 hrs ago
No, but SANB total involvement has certainly doomed the Liberals.
Reply by Jos Allaire.
15 hrs ago
Let Higgs call an election. We'll see. I dare him!
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Reply by Jos Allaire.
3 hrs ago
Not even close. It's been like this even before John Diefenbaker.
Reply by David Amos.
8 min ago
content deactivated –
Too Too Funny
Comment by Bobby Richards.
21 hrs ago
I think they will get the required 20. Some of the others only had administrative errors.
Comment by Eddy Jay.
21 hrs ago
Higgs is the least of our worries.
Reply by SW Home.
20 hrs ago
more like the cause of our worries
Comment by Le Wier.
21 hrs ago
When it comes to the lifetime membership one has to question how many members are out there that don’t know they have one, because they might have been gifted one, and how many deceased members are still on the books. Seems like the provincial pcs need to take a good look at their current and valid membership roster.
Reply by SarahRose Werner.
21 hrs ago
Like electoral roles, party membership lists (for any party) need to be reviewed and cleaned up periodically.
Reply by Clive Gibbons.
19 hrs ago
If you're given a membership to the dinosaur party, you need to find new friends.
Comment by Bruce Dagsvik.
22 hrs ago
This is the best show in Canadian politics these days. Higgs is a hoot.
Reply by Bob Wing.
17 hrs ago
He is the only premier with the guts not be be afraid of that lobby group.
Reply by Mathieu Laperriere.
16 hrs ago
Lobby group? You mean the Acadians?
Reply by David Amos.
7 min ago
content deactivated –
Welcome to the circus
Comment by Michael Cain.
22 hrs ago
Counting anything but money seems too difficult for this party.
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Reply by Don Corey.
21 hrs ago
The Liberal party in Ottawa is only concerned with spending money; not counting it…..or, heaven forbid, using such to pay down our debt.
The provincial Liberals are definitely of the same mindset, and have no hope of forming the next government.
Reply by Michael Cain.
21 hrs ago
Called investing in our future; something the Cons lack, a future.
Reply by Al Clark.
21 hrs ago
Even that. Their estimates are usually off by a billion or two. Budgets, orimulsion.....
Reply by Archie MacDaniel.
20 hrs ago
The only thing they have invested in is massive debt.
Reply by Don Corey.
20 hrs ago
It’s called spending for votes.
Reply by Don Corey.
19 hrs ago
Liberals aren’t even concerned with budgets; they’ve just an unnecessary inconvenience.
Reply by John Montgomery.
18 hrs ago
Liberals just don't let budgets be an excuse to make Canada a better place for people.
Reply by Archie MacDaniel.
16 hrs ago
That might be the most irresponsible financial post I have ever read.
Reply by Don Corey.
16 hrs ago
Yep, like I said, they could care less about budgets. As Trudeau has said, they’ll just balance themselves.
Reckless spending and record deficits have not made Canada a better place.
Reply by Terry Halverson.
16 hrs ago
Better than most
Reply by John Montgomery.
15 hrs ago
Well at least people are happier.
Reply by Don Corey.
13 hrs ago
True, and much better before Trudeau.
Reply by Don Corey.
13 hrs ago
Happier than when? 80% of Canadians want to see Trudeau gone.
Reply by David Amos.
5 min ago
content deactivated –
At least one has shown him the door
Comment by SarahRose Werner.
22 hrs ago
"The reversal on Thursday means the party now has 16 riding president letters." - Does this mean that the party had someone whom they recognized as a riding president but did not recognize as a party member? That sounds odd.
SarahRose Werner
I'm not seeing anything in the party constitution that requires people to have been a party member for a certain amount of time before being able to submit a request for a leadership review. I would think that people who were unable to prove from their own records that they have current memberships could simply re-join and submit a new review request.
I'm not seeing anything in the party constitution that requires people to have been a party member for a certain amount of time before being able to submit a request for a leadership review. I would think that people who were unable to prove from their own records that they have current memberships could simply re-join and submit a new review request.
Don Corey
Reply to SarahRose Werner
There is nothing that prevents new members to participate in process.
I suspect the individual referred to in the article was mistakenly thought to have taken out just a one year membership, which would have now expired.
There is nothing that prevents new members to participate in process.
I suspect the individual referred to in the article was mistakenly thought to have taken out just a one year membership, which would have now expired.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to Don Corey
The article also refers to "members whose memberships expired a short time ago but who have been allowed to continue taking part in party functions until now." I'm just saying that as long as these folks re-join now, they can submit new review requests before the August 19 deadline.
Reply to Don Corey
The article also refers to "members whose memberships expired a short time ago but who have been allowed to continue taking part in party functions until now." I'm just saying that as long as these folks re-join now, they can submit new review requests before the August 19 deadline.
Al Clark
Reply to SarahRose Werner
Kinda funny, eh?
Reply to SarahRose Werner
Kinda funny, eh?
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Al Clark
The whole affair is a joke
Reply to Al Clark
The whole affair is a joke
messed up World we live in, for Sure ...