Blaine Higgs

Blaine Higgs
Higgs in 2024
34th Premier of New Brunswick
In office
November 9, 2018 – November 2, 2024
Monarchs
Lieutenant GovernorJocelyne Roy-Vienneau
Brenda Murphy
DeputyRobert Gauvin (2018–20)
Preceded byBrian Gallant
Succeeded bySusan Holt
Leader of the Opposition
In office
October 22, 2016 – November 9, 2018
Preceded byBruce Fitch
Succeeded byBrian Gallant
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
In office
October 22, 2016 – October 28, 2024
Preceded byBruce Fitch (interim)
Succeeded byGlen Savoie (interim)
Minister of Finance
In office
October 12, 2010 – October 7, 2014
PremierDavid Alward
Preceded byGreg Byrne
Succeeded byRoger Melanson
Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
for Quispamsis
In office
September 27, 2010 – September 19, 2024
Preceded byMary Schryer
Succeeded byAaron Kennedy
Personal details
Born
Blaine Myron Higgs

(1954-03-01) March 1, 1954 (age 70)
Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Other political
affiliations
Confederation of Regions (1989–2002)
SpouseMarcia Higgs

Blaine Myron Higgs (born March 1, 1954) is a Canadian politician who served as the 34th premier of New Brunswick from 2018 to 2024 and leader of the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party (PC Party) from 2016 to 2024.

Higgs graduated from the University of New Brunswick as an engineer, going on to spend 33 years working for Irving Oil. Higgs, a unilingual, vehemently opposed bilingualism is his early political journey and joined the right-wing, anti-bilingual New Brunswick Confederation of Regions Party, of which he ran for leadership in 1989. As a Progressive Conservative, Higgs was first elected to the legislature in the 2010 provincial election and served as the Minister of Finance from 2010 to 2014 under the leadership of David Alward. In the 2018 provincial election, Higgs narrowly carried the PCs to a minority government, despite losing the popular vote. Higgs and the PC's were re-elected in the 2020 provincial election, though this time with a majority government.

In the 2024 New Brunswick general election, Higgs and the Progressive Conservatives lost their bid for a third term to the Liberals, which won a majority government. Higgs lost his seat in the riding of Quispamsis to Aaron Kennedy of the Liberal Party. This was the first time since 1987 that a sitting New Brunswick Premier lost in their own riding.[1] Higgs resigned as leader of the Progressive Conservative party a week after the election.[2]

  1. ^ Wright, Donald (October 22, 2024). "Opinion: Susan Holt won the New Brunswick election – but Blaine Higgs certainly lost it". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Poitras, Jacques (October 28, 2024). "Glen Savoie is interim PC leader following resignation of Blaine Higgs". CBC. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

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