Once-mighty People's Alliance faces crowded field on the populist right
Upstart party that held balance of power in 2018 now claims the political centre, leader says
Six years ago, the People's Alliance was calling the tune in New Brunswick politics.
The upstart party had elected three MLAs in a provincial election. Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs leaned on them to keep his minority government alive.
In the current campaign, the weakened party is struggling to be relevant, with just 13 candidates — the lowest number it has ever had.
Leader Rick DeSaulniers says that's still an accomplishment.
"Considering what Higgs and Austin tried to do to our party — they tried to destroy it — I'm proud of where we are," said DeSaulniers, who was elected in 2018 and lost his seat two years later.
"Yeah, we've rebuilt. We started with zero, zilch, nothing, if you will. And I'm proud of where we are. I think we have some quality candidates, and it is what it is. We're moving forward and we're here to stay."
When
Kris Austin created the People's Alliance before the 2010 election, it
was out of frustration that the PCs and Liberals, were — in his view —
too similar to each other in the middle of the political spectrum. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
In 2022, former Alliance leader and founder Kris Austin and its only other MLA, Michelle Conroy, defected to the PCs, leaving the party with no members of the legislature.
Austin also de-registered the party, which led to all its money and assets being seized by Elections New Brunswick.
When the party was re-registered later that year, it had to go back to square one for fundraising.
"It kind of leaves us behind the eight ball when it comes to providing and supporting candidates at election time, but we're getting by," said DeSaulniers, who is running against Austin in Fredericton-Grand Lake.
Austin couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.
Alliance candidates like Kris Hurtubise, in Hanwell-New Maryland, acknowledge it'll be an uphill battle to get elected.
"We're definitely in the rebuilding phase. We're just trying to get back into it."
Equally difficult for the Alliance is that it doesn't have as clear a way to define itself in today's political environment.
When Austin created the party before the 2010 election, it was out of frustration that the two established parties, the PCs and Liberals, were — in his view — too similar to each other in the middle of the political spectrum.
The right-wing populist mood that swept through western democracies, starting in 2016, opened the door to an Alliance breakthrough.
"I would consider us an outsider of the established political way of doing business, and I'm proud of that," Austin said in 2018.
Alliance candidate Peter Graham, running in Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins, says his is a party of 'centrists who reject extremism.' (Graham Thompson/CBC)
Now the PCs under Blaine Higgs have moved in that direction, something Austin took credit for after he joined the party and that he said allowed him to join the Tories.
DeSaulniers calls that a "convenient and typical argument" designed to justify his former leader's defection and it's the PCs who have become too extreme.
"I think Higgs and them have gone a little too far right with some of the things that they have and some of the positions they've taken," he says.
"That's not where New Brunswickers want to be."
Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins candidate Peter Graham sounded a similar note at an election debate last week.
"We are centrists in the tradition of New Brunswick, of moderation and tolerance and working in collaboration with everyone," said Graham, who said recent budget surpluses should have been used for health care and education rather than paying down debt.
"We are centrists who reject extremism. The extreme on the left, the extreme on the right — it's getting us nowhere," he said.
Kris Hurtubise, the Alliance candidate in Hanwell-New Maryland, acknowledges it'll be an uphill battle to get elected. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
At the same time, the new Libertarian Party is also advocating populist ideas, some of which overlap with the views of some Alliance candidates.
Libertarian Leader Keith Tays said in an email that many of his party's supporters "opposed the tyranny" of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, such as mask and vaccine mandates.
The Alliance's Hurtubise also opposes those mandates and doesn't accept the overwhelming scientific evidence that COVID vaccines are generally safe.
"I don't believe that anything should be mandatory," said the candidate.
Libertarian Party more candidates than Alliance
Graham said last week that while it's not official Alliance policy, he'd like to "completely eliminate" property taxes, which sounds like what the Libertarians espouse.
Tays, however, rejects the idea that the Alliance is comparable to his party.
"In our estimation the People's Alliance does not really stand on principles," he said. "A good example of this is their recent move to claim to be a centrist party. … Libertarians do not merge with other parties or switch to other parties."
Not does he accept that the PC move to lower taxes and limit public spending growth align with his goals.
Higgs is too incremental and his COVID policies revealed him to be "equally as authoritarian as the rest of the parties" in the province, Tays said.
The Libertarians have 18 candidates in the election, more than the Alliance.
DeSaulniers said he couldn't comment on the new party because he didn't know much about them.
One Libertarian candidate, Barb Dempsey, was among the first New Brunswickers to lobby the Higgs government last year against 2SLGBTQ+-inclusive education in the spring of 2023 and later took credit for PC changes to Policy 713.
"We're winning this battle. This is a battle between good and evil," she said in an online video.
The Alliance's Graham, on the other hand, tried at the Hampton debate to see both sides of the argument — supporting the need for parental input but also calling for "safe spaces" for 2SLGBTQ+ students in schools.
"Let's get that in place, as well as protect the right of the parents."
It adds up to a stew of overlapping perspectives on the right side of the political spectrum that leaves the Alliance struggling to distinguish itself from the Libertarians and the PCs.
The Alliance has filed several campaign commitments with Elections New Brunswick, including a "reasonable rent cap" and action on recruiting and retaining health-care workers.
DeSaulniers says, however, the party isn't making any promises in the campaign.
"We're not putting a platform out. We are what we are," he said.
"People know what we are. We think it's hollow to go out and make a bunch of promises like the reds, the greens and the blues are doing. People see through that. It's nothing but BS."
He is explicit on one commitment, however.
If the Alliance manages to get back into the legislature and hold the balance of power again, it won't commit to supporting a minority government for an extended period, like Austin did with Higgs's PCs between 2018 and 2020.
"They would live and die every day in the legislature based on the results we get for the people," DeSaulniers says, "and if we didn't get those results, that support would stop, plain and simple."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Amos
Once-mighty???
Too Too Funny Indeed
David Amos
IMHO Kris Hurtubise is the right guy for Hanwell-New Maryland
"We're winning this battle. This is a battle between good and evil," she said in an online video."
True but it was Cardy who started the ball rolling when he bailed on Higgy
Ralph Skavinsky
Personally I would prefer the Condensus Party..come on people check them out..try Google
Ralph Skavinsky
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
Whoops..new fingers ya know..CONSENSUS party
David Amos
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
Ditto
John Charlton
I love the fall, and the smell of political cow chips in the air.
David Amos
Reply to
Me too
Did Austin join Higg's Conservatives in 2022, or did Higgs join Austin's then right wing People's Alliance? Seems like the Conservatives now are where Austin wanted them to be in 2010.
David Amos
Reply to scott crandall
Well put
Reply to scott crandall
Drew Peacock
Next, Kris Austin is going to join the liberals cuz thats what he does.
David Amos
Reply to Drew Peacock
Surely you jest
scott crandall
Reply to Drew Peacock
I expect Austin is waiting for Higg's job to open up. He'll go for that and probably get it. The "Progressive..." will drop from the party name, after all, many of the current party who were progressive have left.
Charles Hunt
Austin sold his party for a minister appointment. A huge slap in the face to the voters that didn't want the traditional parties.
David Amos
Reply to Charles Hunt
Yup
Jos Allaire
What a 🤪❗An irrelevant party trying to be relevant. 0 credibility whatsoever❗Not that the others have much...
David Amos
Reply to Jos Allaire
Bingo
Seems odd that Kris Austin would de-register the party , and forfeit the party assets , if others were interested in keeping the party going . Sounds like Austin is looking after his own personal best interests , and couldn't care less about others....says a lot about the mans' motives for sure , and not in a good way .
Jos Allaire
Reply to Matt Steele
That's why he joined the Conservatives. He wanted to be one of their own.
David Amos
Reply to Matt Steele
I suspect that destroying his beloved party was the part of the deal he made with the devil
Luc Newsome
It’s a job…..
David Amos
Reply to Luc Newsome
What sort?
Frank Blacklock
Seems like a better choice than the legacy parties. Hopefully this party does well.
David Amos
Reply to Frank Blacklock
It would make my day if Kris lost to his old buddy
Fred Sanford
Populist "a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups". Sounds good to me!
David Amos
Reply to Fred Sanford
Me too
Lynette Browne
Reply to Fred Sanford
“Strives”, “feels”
Any concrete data to show populist parties actually accomplish anything substantive like they claim they will do?
Luc Newsome
Reply to Lynette Browne
Everyone claims to be populist because that’s where the votes are
Lynette Browne
Reply to Luc Newsome
That wasn’t the question.
Fred Sanford
Reply to Lynette Browne
That question could be asked about any political party - left, right or center.
Loran Hayden
Reply to Fred Sanford
And is generally wrong and leads to autocratic leaders or worse. "Ordinary" people is bafflegab for "ignorant of the world outside of their sphere"
Fred Sanford
Reply to Fred Sanford
Or perhaps not surprising, since the Liberals are the established elite group!
Loran Hayden
Reply to Fred Sanford
use of the word "elite" qualifies you for a one way trip to the quiet corner - bye bye.
David Amos
Reply to Loran Hayden
I am in Fred's corner but its hard to muzzle me particularly when I am on the same ballot Higgy is
Jos Allaire
There you go, the Conservative party of Blaine Higgs is now the Alliance, aka the COR.
David Amos
Reply to Jos Allaire
Kinda Sorta
Jos Allaire
Reply to David Amos
Now the Alliance that has been made irrelevant by the Conservatives are trying to find a new vocation. 🤪
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Jos Allaire
Politicians are always looking to hire more consultants and pay them with our money. Somebody should ask Mr Outhouse why that is
David Amos
Reply to Jos Allaire
I have no doubt that you would have liked my reply
Eugene Peabody
It is really rich that the PA is now saying the Conservatives are too far to the right and they are now a "centralist" party. That gave me the first laugh of the day. Oh well their place in history will be their big accomplishment of getting rid of the front car license plates and changing vehicle safety inspections to semi annual . You know the big things in life that help people. LOL !
Loran Hayden
Reply to Eugene Peabody
The right wants to take us back to the 50's - but without the tax rates that supported the infrastructure that helped the boomers control everything today.
David Amos
Reply to Eugene Peabody
Got any tips on how to get the coffee out of my nose?
Lynette Browne
Reply to Eugene Peabody
You mean like Ford’s accomplishments?
Lynette Browne
Reply to Loran Hayden
The conservatives are definitely a regressive group.
Archie Levesque
CBC - shaping the political landscape with every article
David Amos
Reply to Archie Levesque
Yup
Loran Hayden
parasitism & destruction...all the right has to offer Canada, at all levels...prove me wrong.
David Amos
Reply to Loran Hayden
Federal Court File Number T-1557-15
Loran Hayden
Reply to David Amos
searching for that at the federal court website yields no results
David Amos
Reply to Loran Hayden
Try again in your favourite search engine
David Amos
Reply to Loran Hayden
This document provides a summary of 49 recorded entries in the court file for case T-1557-15, which involves a proceeding between David Raymond Amos and Her Majesty the Queen. The entries document motions, orders, notices of appeal, correspondence between the parties, and directions from judges related to issues of whether the plaintiff's claims disclose a reasonable cause of action and potential conflicts of interest with judges.
Jimmy Cochrane
To think I actually helped Austin the turncoat campaign.
David Amos
Reply to Jimmy Cochrane
He was nasty to me before he created his party
Nanny White
Reply to Jimmy Cochrane
It is a laugh he was a King Sized User
Loran Hayden
Content Deactivated
Isn't the PC Candidate for Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins a peach? Her latest election speech was delivered in tongues: "hullabillaoopsyawww willywonkadipsydoo..."
David Amos
Reply to Loran Hayden
Nay not so
Loran Hayden
Reply to David Amos
Leopards don't change their spots and once an evangelical nutscae always an evangelical nutscae
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Loran Hayden
Do you understand what you just wrote?
Loran Hayden
Reply to David Amos
yes, do you?
David Amos
Reply to Loran Hayden
You betcha
Daniel Henwell
They have no chance of electing an MLA so it would be a wasted vote to support any of these fringe parties.
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Henwell
I strongly disagree
disagree
Matt Steele
Reply to Daniel Henwell
The Green Party is a fringe party , and have had elected members ; as has the Alliance Party .
Jerry Dion
The way I see it is if people, the voters truly want change in this province, they should start looking at electing third party members. This going back and forth with the blues and red hasn't done a thing to help NB and nothing is gonna change until voters start sending the main political parties a hard message by not voting them in.
We complain about everything but the voters keep electing these people, government isn't the problem, voters need to look in the mirror.
David Amos
Reply to Jerry Dion
I wholeheartedly agree
Deborah Reddon
Reply to Jerry Dion
Third parties never have the complete picture, they don't have the resources nor the kind of in-depth analysis to lead. Why is it that Atlantic Canadians want to run with these opportunistic groups? They have a few things figured out but the big picture stuff eludes them.
stephen magee
Reply to Jerry Dion
The Politicians that show up once every 4 years to your house are basically saying they need 6-8 years for the free pension for doing next to nothing and too lazy to go to work like the taxpayers that pay their wages.
Jack Bell
Reply to Jerry Dion
"if people, the voters truly want change in this province, they should start looking at electing third party members."
Unlikely, a majority of French vote only liberal, a majority of English vote Conservative.
https://tj.news/new-brunswick/french-and-english-voter-divide-largest-in-provinces-history-paper'
"Conservatives only grabbed roughly 20 per cent of the popular vote in French-speaking ridings in the last election. That equates to the lowest percentage ever for the party in 116 years of elections."
"support for the Liberal party in English-speaking ridings plummet to its lowest level in history. It stood around 18 per cent in the last election."
Eric Hamilton
Reply to Jerry Dion
I agree and also think that electoral reform is needed.
Jos Allaire
Reply to Jerry Dion
The Greens would be an option. As for the Alliance, not at all❗