What Is 29th New Brunswick general election

Overview

The 29th New Brunswick general election was a pivotal moment in the province’s political landscape, held on September 14, 2020, amid the ongoing challenges of the global pandemic. This election determined the composition of the 60th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, with all 49 seats up for contention across the province’s electoral districts.

Blaine Higgs’ Progressive Conservative Party retained power, securing a majority government despite a strong challenge from the Liberal Party. The election also marked a significant breakthrough for the Green Party, which won its first seats in a Canadian province east of Quebec, reflecting shifting voter priorities.

• 27 seats were won by the Progressive Conservative Party, allowing them to form a majority government under Premier Blaine Higgs.
• The New Brunswick Liberal Association, led by Kevin Vickers, captured 17 seats, positioning them as the Official Opposition.
• The Green Party of New Brunswick achieved a historic milestone by winning 3 seats, including leader David Coon’s re-election in Fredericton South.
• Voter turnout was recorded at 55.4%, slightly lower than the 2018 election, likely influenced by pandemic-related concerns and mail-in ballot delays.
• This election was the first in New Brunswick to feature fixed election dates, set under the Electoral Reform Act of 2017, which scheduled votes for the third Monday in September every four years.

How It Works

New Brunswick’s electoral system operates under a single-member plurality model, commonly known as first-past-the-post, where the candidate with the most votes in each riding wins a seat in the Legislative Assembly. The party that wins the majority of seats typically forms the government, with its leader becoming Premier.

• Term: The elected Legislative Assembly serves a maximum term of four years, though elections can be called earlier under exceptional circumstances. The 2020 election followed the fixed-date legislation, ensuring predictability in the democratic process.
• New Brunswick is divided into 49 electoral districts, each representing roughly equal populations based on the latest census data and boundary adjustments by Elections New Brunswick.
• Candidates run as individuals, though most are affiliated with political parties such as the Progressive Conservatives, Liberals, or Greens, with independent candidates also permitted.
• On election day, voters cast ballots at designated polling stations or through mail-in ballots, which saw a significant increase in use due to health concerns during the pandemic.
• Elections New Brunswick, an independent office, oversees voter registration, ballot counting, and campaign finance compliance to ensure election integrity and transparency.
• Results are determined by simple plurality in each riding, with no threshold required beyond receiving the most votes, even if not a majority of the total cast.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares key results from the 2020 election with the previous 2018 election to highlight shifts in party performance and voter behavior.

The 2020 results show a consolidation of support for the Progressive Conservatives, who gained seats at the expense of both the Liberals and the People's Alliance. The Green Party’s growth and the decline of smaller parties reflect evolving political dynamics, particularly around environmental issues and regional representation.

Why It Matters

The outcome of the 29th general election had lasting implications for provincial governance, policy direction, and democratic engagement in New Brunswick. The Progressive Conservative majority enabled swift legislative action, while the Green Party’s presence introduced new voices into debates on climate and sustainability.

• The PC majority allowed Premier Blaine Higgs to advance key policies on economic recovery and healthcare without relying on opposition support.
• The Green Party’s three seats gave them official party status, entitling them to greater funding and speaking time in the legislature.
• Increased use of mail-in ballots highlighted the need for modernized voting infrastructure and accessible election systems.
• The decline of the People's Alliance signaled voter realignment, with some supporters shifting to the PCs or voting strategically to avoid vote-splitting.
• Indigenous representation improved slightly, with one Mi’kmaw candidate elected, reflecting ongoing efforts toward inclusion in politics.
• Fixed election dates enhanced democratic stability, reducing the potential for strategic timing by incumbent governments.

The 2020 election underscored the importance of adaptability in democratic processes, particularly during public health crises, and set a precedent for future elections in Atlantic Canada.