Former PC MLA coming out of retirement to seek N.B. Liberal nomination in Sussex area

A former MLA who served four terms on theProgressive Conservative side of the New Brunswick Legislature, says he wants to run again in the electoral district encompassing Sussex this time as a Liberal.

Bruce Northrup says he is coming out of retirement and will move back to Sussex from Nova Scotia to seek the nomination in Sussex-Three Rivers for the fall provincial election. The riding in that area, now known as Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins, has beenheld by PC MLA Tammy Scott-Wallace since the last election.

"I have been following [Premier Blaine] Higgs closely over the last few years and I don't think he, or the current MLA, are serving the needs of the people of Sussex and area," Northrup said Tuesday at a news conference.

"While they are focused on distractions, the people of Sussex are deeply concerned about issues like flood adaptation and whether our hospital is adequately equipped to care for the people in the riding."

Northrup was first elected as a Progressive Conservative MLA in 2006and was re-elected in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

WATCH | Higgs government focused on 'distractions,' says Northrup:

Former PC MLA Bruce Northrup to run for Liberals

5 months ago

Duration 1:15

Northrup, who served four terms as a PC MLA, says hes seeking the Liberal nomination in Sussex-Three Rivers in the upcoming fall election. The riding, now known as Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins, has been held by Tammy Scott-Wallace since the last election.

The riding was called Kings East when Northrup was first elected and was later renamed Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins. It was most recently redrawn and will be known as Sussex-Three Rivers.

Northrup was named minister of natural resources in former premier David Alward's government in 2010,thenshuffled out of the job in 2013 and made minister of public safety.

He later said his shuffle was a result of a letter Jim Irving, thenco-CEO of J.D. Irving Ltd., wrote to Alward complaining about Northrup's refusal to increase the amount of Crown land available to industry.

Northrup also rocked the party's boat in February 2020, when he openly opposed a controversial plan by Higgs to close emergency departments in several smaller, rural hospitals across the province.

Higgs ultimately backed down from that plan, and Northrup remained loyal tothe party before announcing later that year he'd be retiring from politics to spend more time with family.

Northrup said Tuesday that he's been living in Nova Scotia to be close to his grandchildrenbut has already secured a place to live in Sussex and intends to live there from now until the election.

He said he hasn't been living in the Sussex area for the past three years, but he's been following issues in the riding and believes Scott-Wallace hasn't doneenough to advocate for constituents on issues such as flood mitigation and hospital service levels.

Rather than addressing those issues, he said, the Higgs government has been focused on "distractions," such as reforms to a government policy regardingthe use of pronouns and chosen names of students in schools, as well as Higgs's hinting about a snap election last year, which ultimately cost taxpayers $1.7 million.

Asked why not run again for the PCs, Northrup said he likely wouldn't be welcomed back, and he likes the direction from Liberal Leader Susan Holt.

"We talked a lot over the last few months or so, and I know that the Liberal Party is the best alternative for me at this time," he said.

CBC News has asked PC campaign manager Steve Outhouse for an interview with Scott-Wallace and was instead sent an email statement by her.

Shesaid Northrup left the province but is now motivated to come back "to support the policies of Susan Holt and Justin Trudeau."

"Bruce is asking voters to support the carbon tax, and make life more expensive for families in Sussex," Scott-Wallacesaid.

The carbon tax is a federal policy on pollution pricing aimed at curbing the consumption of fossil fuels in order to slow climate change.

Higgs had the chance to come up with a New Brunswick-specific policy that would meet the federal government's standards, but instead opted to go with the federal model.

That model sees annual increases to the tax, paid by consumers at the pumps, and this year, both Higgs and Holtcalled on Ottawato cancel the increasein the spring, over concerns about affordability for residents.

Katie Beers, a spokesperson for the New Brunswick Liberal Party, said Holt has spoken about a made-in-New Brunswick plan, which is now in the research and development stage.

Nomination likelyin July

To be the Liberal candidate on the ballot this fall, Northrup first needs to be nominated by members ofthe party's riding association.

In an interview Tuesday, Liberal Leader Susan Holt said a date hasn't yet been set for the nomination convention, but she expects it will happen in mid-July.

She said others have voiced interest in running for the nomination, and the choice will ultimately come down to a vote by riding association members.

She said she'shappy, however, to see a "community-minded" person like Northrup come forward for the Liberal Party.

"I think Bruce is, it is an excellent option," Holt said.

"We're excited to have him wanting to join our team, and if others come forward then that will be exciting too."