News Releases

New Brunswick voters headed to the polls recently after a campaign period that saw a close race between the governing Progressive Conservatives under Premier Blaine Higgs and the Liberals with relative newcomer Susan Holt. Higgs has faced internal struggles over recent years as he shifted his party further to the right on social issues, which saw the resignations of several caucus members and Cabinet Ministers. 

New Brunswick is also facing redrawn electoral boundaries as of 2023. Other issues during the campaign focused on health care and housing, both of which are broadly seen as failures the current government has not taken enough action on to address. DSA Canada has been working with the New Brunswick government over a number of years to update consumer protection legislation.

The Results:

The Liberals won a strong majority government for the first time in a decade. The Party won where it needed to in the metro areas of Saint John, Fredericton, and Moncton, in addition to its traditional francophone bases. 

Analysis:

As the rest of Atlantic Canada continues to be led by centrist governments from various political parties, the election of Susan Holt affirms that Premier Higgs became too divisive in his Premiership, and this was ultimately unpalatable to enough swing voters to decide that a change was necessary.

Importance for the Direct Selling Industry:

Over the past five years, DSA Canada has worked closely with the New Brunswick government, as they update their consumer protection legislation and direct selling regulation. The goal of this work has been to modernize and simplify requirements for direct selling companies and their independent salespeople. DSA Canada has always worked across party lines to achieve understanding and consensus, so the outcomes from this election are not expected to hinder progress on this initiative.