N.B. Liberals attract green votes, but government still likely to fall Friday

FREDERICTON – The three Green Members of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick said they would vote in favor of the Liberals' Speech from the Throne on Friday, offering Prime Minister Brian Gallant a dim glow. hope that his minority government can survive at least a little longer.

Gallant still needs another opposition member to support his government in order to survive the vote of confidence and Progressive Conservative Party leader Blaine Higgs said he was confident the Liberals would be defeated.

"I remain optimistic, but I am not here for the goodness of my health … we have to make important decisions," he said.

The ruling Liberals won only 21 seats in the September elections, one less than the Conservatives, while the Greens and the People's Alliance each won three seats.

The announcement made by the Greens seems to leave the fate of the government to the three members of the People's Alliance.

Party leader Kris Austin said the trio would vote en bloc, but would not say Thursday how he will vote. His party had previously said that it would bring stability to a Conservative government for 18 months.

If the Liberals lose a vote of confidence, we expect the lieutenant governor to ask the Conservatives to try to form the government.

Gallant said Thursday that if he lost the vote, the Liberals would step down.

"I will resign from the government, I made it clear that I did not think New Brunswickers wanted an election, and frankly, if we were to participate in elections, we would be picking up the very strong message that we was sent on election night People sent a minority government to Fredericton for a reason, "he said.

When he loses, Gallant said he would talk with his wife to decide whether he remained opposition leader or resigned.

Gallant will have one last chance to argue his case when he closes the debate on the throne speech on Friday morning before the vote.

Despite the indication of their vote, Green members gave no glowing approval to the Liberal government in the legislature on Thursday.

Chief David Coon said that during the last four years he had lost confidence in the government and its leadership.

"The political interference in the work of the legislature, the neglect of our health systems, the protection of children and the elderly and the poor, the dismissal of our Chief Medical Officer of Health and the dismantling of his office, the extramural power for Medavie, the inaction on renewable energies and climate change, as well as the degradation of our forests, have worsened the situation in our province, "said Mr. Coon.

But he has not made a praiseworthy record of conservatives either.

"I am unconvinced that they have changed, and recent comments on fracking, language rights, aboriginal peoples and climate change have only confirmed me," Coon said.

However, he said that the modified Liberal throne speech, which contains some elements of the green platform, could be advanced in the interest of their constituents and all New Brunswickers.

Gallant said he hoped opposition members would decide to put politics aside and base their decision on the Speech from the Throne.

"If they do, and if they base their vote on the content of the Speech from the Throne, I have the feeling that we can win the confidence of the House," he said. .

Gallant said that while he continues to govern, he knows that he will have to do better by collaborating more with other parties.