Former PC Deputy Premier to run for New Brunswick Liberal Leadership

Blaine Higgs deputy from 2018 to 2020 has announced his intentions to run for the leadership of the New Brunswick Liberals in this years leadership race.

Robert Gauvin, who is the MLA for Shediac Bay-Dieppe, was first elected in 2018 under the Blaine Higgs Progressive Conservative Banner in the riding of Shippagan-Lamèque-Miscou.

Gauvin was a star candidate at the time and was rewarded by being named Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, and Deputy Premier of New Brunswick in the Higgs Cabinet.

He resigned from caucus and cabinet on February 14th, 2020 siting the premiers' health reforms including the nighttime closure of some emergency rooms in rural New Brunswick. The now Shediac Bay-Dieppe sat as an independent for the remaining of the legislative session before announcing his intentions to run for the Liberal Party under then leader Kevin Vickers.

Gauvin won in his new riding of Shediac Bay-Dieppe in the 2020. Shediac Bay-Dieppe was previously held by former Liberal Premier Brian Gallant.

New Brunswick Liberals will choose their next leader in August of 2022 in Fredericton.

Three other candidates have publicly announced their intentions to seek the party leadership: T.J. Harvey and Donald Arseneault and Rothesay businessman Seamus Byrne

Arseneault is a former MLA and cabinet minister, while T.J Harvey a former Member of Parliament.

The Liberals have been without a permanent party leader since the 2020 election. It is currently being lead by current MLA and former Finance Minsiter Roger Melanson.

Gauvin said to a CBC news outlet in New Brunswick that an formal announcement would be coming within 'weeks'.