Premier's election flirtation cost taxpayers $1.7 million
CBC
Premier Blaine Higgs's flirtation with an early election call last fall cost taxpayers more than $1.7 million in expenses that turned out to be unnecessary, according to New Brunswick's chief electoral officer.
Kim Poffenroth identified the costs in a letter explaining to the legislature's committee on procedures, privileges and legislative officers why her office is over-budget this year.
Higgs opened the door to a snap election call last September and did not rule out the possibility until Nov. 3.
"We were ready to pull the trigger. I've got to say that," he said at the time. "We were. It wasn't an idle discussion here. It was real."
Poffenroth wrote that she had no choice but to shift her office into high gear in case Higgs launched a campaign.
"No direction was offered to contradict these rumours," she wrote.
"In fact, statements being made through the media fuelled the speculation. This left Elections New Brunswick with no choice but to accelerate preparations in order to deliver an unscheduled provincial general election."
The letter says Elections New Brunswick spent $1,750,808 on expenses such as polling station rentals, returning office rentals and phone and Internet connections and the training of returning officers.
That's money the office will have to spend again this year when the election finally happens.
Poffenroth said another $1.5 million in expenses last fall won't go to waste. It was used for items such as tabulation machines and laptop computers that the agency can use this year.
The election is officially scheduled for Oct. 21 but nothing prevents Higgs from calling it early.
Liberal leader Susan Holt said in a social media post Friday afternoon that the letter proved that Higgs's election speculation was fiscally irresponsible.
"This money should have been invested in our healthcare workers, education staff and helping you with the rising cost of living," she wrote.
Progressive Conservative campaign manager Steve Outhouse responded with a post of his own, claiming it was Holt who was "trying to force an election by tabling a confidence motion to bring down the government. She held press conferences saying it was time for an election."
The federal government is stoking Quebec separatism by walking back its climate commitments — including in its recent deal with Alberta — Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault says.
Four more Alberta MLAs are facing recall petitions organized by their constituents, including the first NDP representative to be caught in the province's ongoing wave of recall efforts.
Frank Gehry, the Canadian-born renegade architect behind some of the world's most recognizable buildings, has died at 96.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.