Premier Blaine Higgs intends to stay on as leader of the New Brunswick Progressive Conservatives and lead the party into the next election.
Higgs announced his intention on social media Friday morning.
“I recognize that all New Brunswickers rightly expect a government to be unified and focussed on achieving better outcomes for the province,” Higgs wrote. “It is extremely important that we continue to build on this momentum while at the same time addressing the many challenges that we continue to face.”
Higgs touted his government’s track record in bringing the province from “crippling debt to being an economic and employment leader.”
In recent months, Higgs and his government have taken up the parental rights cause with the adoption of a policy requiring parental consent for students under 16 to change their name and gender in school.
Two cabinet ministers resigned and several party activists mounted a campaign to challenge Higgs’ leadership, though they fell short of the threshold to hold a leadership review.
Higgs’ education policy has proved popular with New Brunswickers and with a majority of Canadians nationally.
Higgs referenced the “internal dissent” in his statement, claiming it made it all the more important for him to announce his plans.
The next New Brunswick election must take place on or before October 21, 2024.
