New Brunswick Votes 2018
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'The one who has the most numbers wins'
That's what Blaine Higgs just said. But just as he said it, the numbers have flipped -- again. They go back to being tied with the Liberals with 21 seats a piece, four People's Alliance seats and three Greens.It's not clear if Higgs knows about these results this yet. There's a good chance he doesn't. It is down to just one poll in this"There is an opportunity for a different approach," said Higgs. Higgs said he is ready to start "tomorrow" and that he has a "mandate."
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It’s election night in New Brunswick
Greetings! My name is Haydn Watters and I will be your live blog host throughout the evening. I’ll be joined by a plethora of CBC reporters, who are stationed around the province, ready to give you insight and analysis as the night unfolds.
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Tori Weldon is at Liberal HQ in Grande-Digue
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Julia Wright is at PC HQ in Quispamsis
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Catherine Harrop is at Green Party HQ in Fredericton
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Myfanwy Davies is at People’s Alliance HQ in Minto
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Elke Semerad is at NDP HQ in Saint John
You’ll be able to stream our election night special above starting at 7:30 p.m. AT. Host Harry Forestell will be joined by the CBC’s Rachel Cave, Jacques Poitras, Terry Seguin and friends to give you the results and break them down as they come in. We’ll also be checking in at all the headquarters.
And speaking of results, you can follow them here.
New Brunswick's party leaders, from left, NDP Leader Jennifer McKenzie, Green Party Leader David Coon, People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin, Liberal Leader Brian Gallant and PC Leader Blaine Higgs. (Marc Grandmaison/The Canadian Press) -
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‘We've taken extra precautions after 2014’
Polls close at 8 p.m. AT and results will start trickling in shortly afterwards … let’s just hope there is no issue with getting the results this time around.
As you may remember, back in 2014, a "off-the-shelf computer program" malfunctioned, causing severe delays. Elections NB stopped updating their results website for a full 90 minutes
They promised it won’t happen this time around.
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Keegan Kelly is a 14 year old campaigner for the Green Party. He just arrived to watch the Green Party results at their headquarters in Fredericton.
He says he has given it careful consideration. “The climate is changing ...we need to stop it. It’s going to go wrong. “
He is in grade 10 at Fredericton High School. Nice to meet someone too young to vote but not to young to take part. -
Down in Saint John
NDP supporters are gathering at their headquarters. The NDP haven't elected someone to legislature since leader Elizabeth Weir in the 2003 election.They are hoping to change that result tonight with leader Jennifer McKenzie, who is running in the riding Saint John Harbour. -
Liberal party meeting place in Grande-Digue is starting to buzz. Half a dozen supporters are here, as well as some local children.
Everyone pictured is a student at this elementary school. They are here selling homemade dog leashes, cookies and treats to raise money to build a local dog park.
And a new face just walked in. Serge Rouselle is a Liberal MLA of Tracadie-Sheila, attorney general and campaign co-chair (he announced in March he would not be running in this election). -
People’s Alliance leader Kris Austin has stopped in at the party’s headquarters in Fredericton. He says he’s feeling a bit of everything, excitement and nervousness. Now heading out to Minto to watch results come in with his family. He'll be back around 9 p.m.
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Notable numbers
Some things to keep in mind as numbers start coming in tonight:
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No sitting premier has won a second term since 2003. So if the Liberals win again tonight, it would be a big win for them.
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There has not been a minority government in New Brunswick since the 1920 election, led by the Liberals.
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The NDP has not elected a MLA since 2003.
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Party performance in 2014
- 22.5 per cent of people voted for parties other than the Liberals or the PCs
- Those votes only amounted to one other party winning one seat — Green Party Leader David Coon
- People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin lost by just 26 votes
- Vote break down was 27 Liberals, 21 PCs and one Green
- At dissolution, break down was 24 Liberals, 21 PCs, one Green, one independent and two vacant seats
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You'll probably want to keep an eye on smaller parties tonight
Like the Green Party and the People's Alliance. They've had strong performances this campaign. In some ridings, three, even four parties are competitive.In a close election, if these smaller parties cause splits — but don't win any seats — it could mean a very long night trying to figure out who will form government.
But if these smaller parties start winning seats, they could suddenly have a large influence in a legislature with a slim majority or even a minority government. Just look at how the Greens hold the balance of power in the B.C. legislature.
More on what smaller parties could do tonight here:
This is how smaller parties could impact outcome on election night
When it comes to elections in New Brunswick, it's pretty much always been a two-party race between Liberals and PCs. But that could change Monday. -
Technical glitches at three polling stations
At least three ridings reported problems with tabulation machines. They are located in greater Saint John and the north side of Fredericton.The polling stations came from Ontario, where they were used in the provincial election earlier this year.More on the glitches here:
Elections NB reports technical glitches at 3 polling stations
At least three ridings reported problems with tabulation machines as people came out to vote in the provincial election Monday. -
Polls are closed
Results should start trickling in soon. You can get the full results breakdown here.
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When it comes to students, they voted Liberal
For the first time in a New Brunswick provincial election, elementary, middle and high school students cast votes too. More than 24,000 took part, electing the slimmest of Liberal majorities with 26 seats.
The PCs formed the opposition with 16 seats, while the Greens won 4, the People’s Alliance won 3 and the NDP got none.
Here’s the full breakdown. It’ll be interesting to see how the student results compares to the actual result this evening.
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Almost 35 people were at the People’s Alliance headquarters on Main Street in Fredericton even before the clock hit 8 p.m.
When the vote counting began, people cheered and clapped. There are some children carrying blankets, ready for the possibly long night ahead. Lots of purple in the room and the mood seems upbeat. -
First results are in
Keep in mind these are special ballots ... which are tiny numbers. Full results here.
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Liberal party supporters are slowly filing into their gathering point at École Grande-Digue.
Here amongst the hopeful revellers is Joan Kingston. She’s a former MLA and the current co-chair of the Liberal campaign. Kingston (with Serge Rouselle) looked at policies and platforms. She also spoke to people around the province and special interest groups.
She said she has a special interest in policy and is a natural fit to shape the campaign.
‘I’ve been around a long time, I know a lot of Liberals.’ -
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Sterling Wright is one of the founders of The People’s Alliance. He is expecting a historic night. Wright says it has been a long 8 years but is optimistic the party will make a breakthrough tonight given the polls going into election day.
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Cheering at the Greens at HQ in Fredericton.
A green glow on CBC’s screen. People are getting excited here as the hopes for ridings- 3 - are coming back with strong showings. As one supporter - Aldona Grinius - said, “Even people who don’t support him (David Coon) opened the door with a smile!” -
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Why are the Liberals ahead in the popular vote ...
... but behind in the seat count? Éric Grenier explained this scenario in an article last week. Historically, Liberal have need a lot more votes than PCs to get a majority.
Why winning the most votes might not be enough for Brian Gallant's Liberals
If demography is destiny, the Liberals could find themselves winning the popular vote but not the election on Sept. 24. -
No independent win expected in Moncton
At dissolution, there was one independent in the legislature: Chris Collins.Collins, a former Liberal, was running as an independent in Moncton Centre. An investigator found that he violated a provincial policy against workplace harassment. He was suspended from Liberal caucus in 2018.CBC is projecting he will lose tonight. Liberal Rob McKee is projected to be elected.
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Green Party leader speaking in Fredericton
David Coon is speaking Fredericton South. CBC is projecting he will be re-elected there for a second term and he is getting big claps from the crowd."The people of Fredericton South voted for hope. Not fear," he said. "They voted for change, not the status quo."The Greens are currently leading in two other ridings: Memramcook-Tantramar and Kent North.
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NDP leader speaking at headquarters
Jennifer McKenzie will not win her seat in Saint John Harbour. It is not clear who will win yet ... the race continues between the Liberals and the PCs, with the PC leading narrowly. No other NDP candidate will win around the province."My message to you is that the NDP is back," she starts off. She goes to thank "premier designate ... Gallant or Higgs?" We do not know who will be premier yet.She acknowledges that New Brunswickers chose another direction.
