New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has ousted two of his cabinet ministers, Daniel Allain and Jeff Carr, from his cabinet and added new faces, as he faces turmoil in the Conservative caucus .
The reshuffle follows the recent resignations of two ministers who publicly objected to the Progressive Conservative premier’s leadership style and his changes to policy regarding LGBTQ+ students at school.
Daniel Allain, who was Minister of Local Government, and Jeff Carr, who was Minister of Transport, had signed a letter earlier this month expressing their “extreme disappointment with the lack of process and transparency”. The premier had just made controversial changes to the province’s policy on sexual orientation in schools.
They also voted with the Liberal Opposition in favor of a motion on June 15 that defeated the government’s changes to the LGBTQ+ policy, known as “Policy 713.” Under the revised policy, teachers are not required to use the preferred pronouns or first names of transgender or non-binary students under 16.
Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard and Labor Minister Trevor Holder also voted against the government on the “713 policy” issue and had both resigned before Tuesday’s reshuffle.
“I think when you have ministers who take a stand against the government in the House, who vote against (him), it’s very important,” Mr. Higgs told reporters on Tuesday. I think if you look at the parliamentary system in which we operate, cabinet support is paramount, and that goes without saying. »
Premier Higgs said on Tuesday ministers should have been clear what would happen if they voted against the government. “I think the very oath they take speaks for itself in this regard. […] In the firm, you must be supportive […] Failure to resolve the situation puts the government in a very vulnerable position. »
New education minister
Five new ministers were appointed to the 18-person cabinet and eight positions were changed in the reshuffle.
Glen Savoie becomes Minister of Local Government and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, while Richard Ames becomes Minister of Transport.
Jill Green takes over the social development portfolio from Mme Shephard, and Arlene Dunn will take over from Mr. Holder in the Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labor portfolio, in addition to being appointed Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Minister of Immigration.
Mme Dunn had signed the letter expressing his disappointment with the changes made to the “713 policy”. But she was absent during the June 15 vote where her colleagues Shephard and Holder supported an opposition motion to ask the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate to review the changes.
When asked on Tuesday whether Mr. Higgs listens to those who have views different from his own, Mrs.me Dunn replied, “I think sometimes you have to be convincing. And sometimes you don’t necessarily get everything you wanted, or what is in line with your position. But I think it’s part of the political process. »
She clarified that her “problem” was with the changes to Policy 713. “I didn’t think we should have touched that,” she said.
Mr. Higgs, for his part, admitted that he had to contact the presidents of constituencies who wrote to the authorities of the party to ask for a vote of confidence.
“I’m not going to suggest that the other issues go away. I think we have work to do. there is no doubt. I must play a key role in this regard, by contacting the members [du parti] and jurisdictions across the province,” he said.