Saint John East MLA Glen Savoie has been named the interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.
It means former Premier Blaine Higgs has stepped down. Higgs lost his seat in Quispamsis, which he held for 14 years, to Liberal candidate Aaron KennedyIn an email, party president Erika Hachey and Glen Savoie thanked Higgs for his service to the province.
“Premier Higgs led our province through immense challenges, including the pandemic. Under his watch, our debt has been reduced (to) two billion dollars,” the email said. “We hope Blaine and Marcia will now have time for those precious joys of family and freedom, they have denied themselves the last several years, as they worked for the betterment of our people and our province.”
According to an email, signed by both Hachey and Savoie, Hachey received Higgs’ resignation on Friday. The caucus voted on the same day to elect Glen Savoie.
On Sunday, PCNB provincial council voted to elect Savoie as interim leader.
He was first elected in 2010 and has served as Minister responsible for la Francophonie, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Minister of Local Government, and Government House Leader.
“Provincial council for the PCNB party voted unanimously in favour of Glen Savoie as interim leader,” said Hachey. “The party looks forward to hearing Savoie’s address at our upcoming AGM on Nov. 9.”
Savoie will lead the PCs in the legislative assembly, which now has just 16 seats. The PCs are in the opposition.
No word yet on when the party will select a permanent leader.
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