Former New Brunswick cabinet minister Jeff Carr, who was shuffled out of the provincial cabinet last year for breaking ranks on Policy 713, says he is leaving provincial politics.
Carr, a former minister of transportation and of environment and local government, says he won’t be a Progressive Conservative candidate in the election scheduled for Oct. 21.
He warned last year after being dropped from cabinet that he was unlikely to run again if Premier Blaine Higgs led the PC Party into the next election.
“I think we saw over the last number of months that the signals were there that I probably wouldn’t re-offer for the next election,” he told CBC News and Radio-Canada on Tuesday.
Carr was one of six Tory MLAs who broke ranks with the government last June and voted with opposition MLAs for a motion calling for further study of potential changes to Policy 713.
WATCH | ‘The PC Party isn’t about one person’: Carr on his relationship with Higgs:
PC MLA Jeff Carr calls it quits
22 hours ago
Duration 0:51
A former minister in Blaine Higgs’s cabinet, Jeff Carr broke ranks on Policy 713. Now he says he won’t run again.
He said Tuesday the PC party has changed under Higgs but he wouldn’t elaborate or discuss in detail his disagreements with the premier, saying he wanted to leave on a positive note.
Carr has been the MLA for New Maryland-Sunbury since 2014, the third brother to hold a seat in the legislature after his siblings Jody and Jack.
Asked if they still felt welcome in the party with Higgs as leader, Carr said they were “still welcome with a majority of PC members” and said he would have a private discussion with Higgs eventually about the last year.
“I am still a PC member. I will always be a member of the PC Party. There are good things in the future that will come from the PC Party,” he said.
“The PC Party isn’t about one person. It’s not about me. It’s not about the premier. It’s not about anybody else. It’s a family that has just gone through a bit of a bump and a hurdle.”
Higgs’s changes to Policy 713 included requiring parents be notified if their children under 16 wanted to change the names or pronouns they use in school to reflect their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Carr said last May that governments should “strengthen policies and not take away the rights of marginalized individuals, to not have them live in fear.”
After the dramatic vote last June, two other PC cabinet ministers who dissented, Dorothy Shephard and Trevor Holder, resigned.
Carr and colleague Daniel Allain were shuffled out of cabinet later that month.
That’s when Carr said he wouldn’t run again with Higgs as leader — though he held off officially announcing it until Tuesday.
Higgs said Tuesday he wasn’t surprised by Carr’s decision and did not seem bothered by it.
“I ran on a policy that we would look at province first, politics second, and we would address tough issues, and we are doing just that. So it’s not for everyone, and it can be challenging, but the province is doing well.”
Shephard, Holder, Allain and another of the dissenters, Andrea Anderson-Mason, have yet to say whether they’ll be candidates.
The sixth MLA who voted with the opposition last year, Ross Wetmore, had already announced plans to retire.
Carr is the third PC MLA to announce his departure this month. Arlene Dunn also opposed the Policy 713 changes but was away at meetings the day of the vote last June and was able to stay in cabinet as a result.
She resigned as a minister and MLA on Feb. 2 without providing an explanation.
Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland announced the same day he would not run again, saying his work was done and he had no issues with Higgs’s leadership.
Social Development Minister Jill Green, who said last year she was uneasy with the changes but missed the vote on the opposition motion, remained in cabinet and said last fall she would run again to speak for the “progressive” wing of the PC Party.
Last December, Environment Minister Gary Crossman said he was retiring. He said he had always planned to serve only two terms.
New Brunswick voters have elected a Liberal majority government, tossing out the incumbent Progressive Conservatives after six years in power and handing the reins to the first woman ever to lead the province. Liberal Leader Susan Holt spent much of the campaign rolling out proposed fixes for a health-care system racked by a doctor shortage, overcrowded emergency rooms and long wait-times. She promised to open 30 community health clinics across the province by 2028. (Oct. 22, 2024)
Susan Holt has made history in New Brunswick by becoming the first woman to serve as the leader of the province’s Liberal Party, a significant milestone in the province’s political landscape. Holt’s leadership victory signals a new era of representation, gender equality, and change in the region, which has long been dominated by male politicians.
Holt’s journey to the top has been one of perseverance and dedication. Before entering politics, she built a distinguished career in the private sector, where she held numerous leadership positions. Her experience in business development and public policy has equipped her with the skills needed to navigate the complex world of politics.
In a province where women have historically been underrepresented in politics, Holt’s election represents a watershed moment. Women’s involvement in leadership roles has been steadily increasing nationwide, but New Brunswick, like many parts of Canada, has seen slower progress in achieving gender parity. Holt’s rise to the top of the Liberal Party not only shatters a glass ceiling but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of women aiming for political leadership.
As the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party, Holt has laid out a vision of inclusivity and progress. Her policies focus on economic development, healthcare reform, environmental sustainability, and addressing social issues that have plagued the province. She has also emphasized the importance of transparent governance and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities, making her platform both modern and forward-thinking.
Holt’s leadership arrives at a time when many voters are calling for change, especially in the face of challenges like economic uncertainty and the need for healthcare improvements. She aims to bring fresh ideas to tackle these issues while ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their background, have a voice in government decisions.
Susan Holt joins the ranks of other trailblazing women across Canada who have led provincial parties and governments. Women like former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne have paved the way, and now Holt is contributing to this growing legacy of female political leadership in Canada.
Her achievement highlights not only the growing number of women entering politics but also the demand for leaders who can bring diverse perspectives to the table. In a field often dominated by entrenched traditions, Holt’s election is a step toward a more inclusive and representative political landscape in New Brunswick.
Holt’s leadership signals a broader shift in Canadian politics, where more women and diverse voices are gaining prominence. For young women across the country, her rise serves as a powerful reminder that leadership roles are within reach, even in traditionally male-dominated spheres.
With her election, Susan Holt has proven that perseverance, skill, and a vision for change can break even the toughest barriers. Her leadership will not only reshape New Brunswick’s political future but also inspire others across Canada to pursue leadership positions and continue to challenge the status quo.
NDP Leader Carla Beck has two planned campaign events today, starting the day with an availability in Moose Jaw and then later this evening attending an event in the capital with the Regina Medical Staff Association.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, meanwhile, will speak in Prince Albert at the start of Voting Week in the province.
Saskatchewan residents can vote for five days starting today in the lead-up to next week’s provincial election, although polls won’t be open Sunday.
The NDP and the Saskatchewan Party are urging voters to cast their ballots early.
Voters can find their polling stations on their information cards or by visiting the Elections Saskatchewan website.
Chief electoral officer Michael Boda says there are about 810,000 registered voters in Saskatchewan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.