Another Progressive Conservative MLA has announced he won't be a candidate in this year's provincial election, the second member of Premier Blaine Higgs's caucus to quit politics this week.

Moncton East MLA Daniel Allain posted the announcement on his Facebook page Friday morning. He said he'll remain in the legislature until the election is called.

Allain joins New Maryland-Sunbury MLA Jeff Carr in opting this week not to run.

The two PC members were shuffled out of Higgs's cabinet last June after voting against the government on an opposition motion calling for more study of changes to Policy 713 on gender identity in schools.

At the time, Allain said the political party he had supported for decades "is in a crisis. … I'm asking the question: is it worth the fight?"

Allain was first elected in the 2020 election. He had been an adviser to two previous PC premiers, Bernard Lord, left, and David Alward. (CBC)

Last fall, however, he sounded more conciliatory, saying he met with Higgs in a bid to help unify the party and the relationship between the premier and his caucus was "going in the right direction."

He also said at the time he planned to run in the new Moncton-area riding of Champdoré-Irishtown this year.

His Friday statement did not not explain what had changed but said his commitment to the PC Party is "unwavering."

"This party has played an important role in my life," he wrote. "I look forward to continuing to build this party in the future, which to me means being fiscally conservative and socially progressive."

Allain was first elected in the 2020 election. He had been an adviser to two previous PC premiers, Bernard Lord and David Alward.

As a minister, he became Higgs's francophone lieutenant, the government's lead spokesperson in the French-language media.

He also stickhandled the government's complex restructuring of local government.