The 2014 New Brunswick general election was held on September 22, 2014, to elect 49 members to the 58th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada.
The 2013 redistribution reduced the size of the legislature from 55 seats to 49.
The New Brunswick Liberal Association, led by Brian Gallant, won a majority government, defeating Incumbent Premier David Alward's Progressive Conservatives, which became the second single-term government in New Brunswick's history. The New Democratic Party, led by Dominic Cardy won the highest support in its history, though failed to win any seats. As a result of these losses, both Alward and Cardy resigned as leaders of their respective parties. The Green Party of New Brunswick improved on its results from the previous election, with party leader David Coon winning the party's first seat, and becoming only the second Green politician (after British Columbia MLA Andrew J. Weaver) elected to a provincial legislature.
Fracking was a major issue in the election as a whole. Most commentators described the election as a referendum on it.vancouverobserver.com: "Pro-gas fracking government turfed in New Brunswick election" , 24 Sep 2014
Polling in the weeks leading up to the campaign gave the Liberals a wide lead over the governing Progressive Conservatives. Some commentators openly speculated about whether the Liberals were on track to repeat the 1987 provincial election, when they won every seat in the Legislative Assembly. As the campaign progressed, however, the gap in popular support between the two parties narrowed significantly. Some attributed this in part to a television interview with CBC New Brunswick anchor Harry Forestell in which Gallant gave inaccurate numbers relating to his proposal for a tax increase on the province's wealthiest residents. In the final poll of the campaign, the Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives were tied at 40 per cent support each.
Timeline September 27, 2010 – The Progressive Conservatives under David Alward win 42 of 55 seats. The Liberals are reduced to 13 seats and Shawn Graham announces that he will step down as leader.CBC News Online. "Graham may not join Grits in opposition." October 25, 2010 – NDP leader Roger Duguay resigns. He was replaced by interim leader Jesse Travis.CBC News Online. "N.B. NDP leader resigns." November 9, 2010 – Liberal leader Shawn Graham resigns. He was replaced on an interim basis by Victor Boudreau and was permanently replaced by Brian Gallant in late 2012. March 2, 2011 – Dominic Cardy is acclaimed as the new leader of the NDP. September 12, 2011 – Green leader Jack Macdougall resigns. He was replaced by interim leader Greta Doucet. May 16, 2012 – Resignation of Margaret-Ann Blaney as MLA of Rothesay. La ministre néo-brunswickoise Margaret-Ann Blaney quitte la vie politique Mise à jour le mercredi 16 mai 2012 à 12 h 06 HAE June 25, 2012 – Ted Flemming is elected MLA for Rothesay, following the resignation of Margaret-Ann Blaney. September 20, 2012 - Jim Parrott is expelled from the PC caucus after making statements questioning linguistic duality in the healthcare system. September 22, 2012 - David Coon is elected new leader of the Green Party. October 27, 2012 - Brian Gallant is elected leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party. March 11, 2013 - Shawn Graham resigns as member for Kent. April 15, 2013 – Brian Gallant is elected MLA for Kent, following the resignation of Shawn Graham. June 6, 2013 - New electoral districts are finalized and will take effect at this election. April 30, 2014 - Jim Parrott rejoins PC caucus. June 27, 2014 - PC MLA Bev Harrison announces he will seek re-election as a New Democrat, he leaves the PC caucus to sit as an independent. August 18, 2014 - Premier Alward meets with Lieutenant-Governor Graydon Nicholas who grants the premier's request to dissolve the legislature effective August 21, 2014 for a general election to be held September 22, 2014. August 21, 2014 - New Brunswick legislature dissolved by the lieutenant-governor. September 22, 2014 - general election.
Results + Summary of the 2014 Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick electionPartyLeaderCandidatesVotesSeats # ± % Change (pp) 2010 2014 ±Brian Gallant 49 158,852 30,774 42.73 1314David Alward 49 128,799 52,598 34.65 4221Dominic Cardy 49 48,259 9,573 12.98 David Coon 46 24,572 7,629 6.61 –1Kris Austin 18 7,964 3,601 2.14 8 3,293 1,018 0.89 0.27Total 219371,739 100.00% Rejected ballots 1,622 1,538 Turnout373,361 1,54164.65% 4.91 Registered voters577,529 38,564
Synopsis of results + 2014 New Brunswick general election - synopsis of riding results Riding Winning party Turnout Votes 2010 1st place Votes Share Margin# Margin% 2nd place Lib PC NDP Green PA Total Albert PC PC 3,163 40.78% 973 12.55% Lib 62.20% 2,190 3,163 880 929 594 – 7,756 Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore New Lib 4,431 61.56% 2,537 35.25% PC 63.71% 4,431 1,894 559 314 – – 7,198 Bathurst West-Beresford New Lib 4,367 62.74% 2,589 37.19% PC 62.79% 4,367 1,778 564 252 – – 6,961 Campbellton-Dalhousie New Lib 4,820 62.25% 2,941 37.98% PC66.43% 4,820 1,879 762 282 – – 7,743 Caraquet Lib Lib 4,716 56.82% 2,902 34.96% PC73.99% 4,716 1,814 1,579 191 – – 8,300 Carleton New PC 4,061 56.77% 2,473 34.57% Lib 62.63% 1,588 4,061 580 750 174 – 7,153 Carleton-Victoria New Lib 3,131 40.83% 82 1.07% PC 64.14% 3,131 3,049 683 464 – 341 7,668 Carleton-York New PC 3,662 46.53% 1,459 18.54% Lib 64.06% 2,203 3,662 816 602 587 – 7,870 Charlotte-Campobello PC Lib 3,176 41.73% 194 2.55% PC 60.96% 3,176 2,982 515 453 484 – 7,610 Dieppe Lib Lib 4,866 65.97% 3,506 47.53% PC65.37% 4,866 1,360 736 414 – – 7,376 Edmundston-Madawaska Centre PC PC 3,666 48.16% 243 3.19% Lib67.29% 3,423 3,666 523 – – – 7,612 Fredericton-Grand Lake New PC 2,403 28.79% 26 0.31% PA69.52% 2,330 2,403 879 358 2,377 – 8,347 Fredericton North New Lib 2,589 33.60% 144 1.87% PC66.14% 2,589 2,445 1,560 791 320 – 7,705 Fredericton South New Green 2,272 30.68% 334 4.51% PC67.89% 1,601 1,938 1,465 2,272 – 130 7,406 Fredericton West-Hanwell New PC 2,971 35.21% 469 5.56% NDP68.67% 2,384 2,971 2,502 582 – – 8,439 Fredericton-York New PC 2,887 35.43% 522 6.41% Lib66.71% 2,365 2,887 1,695 583 379 240 8,149 Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West Lib Lib 4,498 62.47% 2,670 37.08% PC 62.15% 4,498 1,828 558 316 – – 7,200 Gagetown-Petitcodiac New PC 3,352 44.47% 853 11.32% Lib 63.32% 2,499 3,352 978 709 – – 7,538 Hampton New PC 2,679 38.74% 883 12.77% NDP 58.47% 1,618 2,679 1,796 554 269 – 6,916 Kent North New Lib 4,699 50.02% 2,992 31.85% Green75.00% 4,699 1,559 1,294 1,707 135 – 9,394 Kent South New Lib 4,637 48.66% 1,421 14.91% PC76.07% 4,637 3,216 535 953 188 – 9,529 Kings Centre New PC 2,431 35.66% 321 4.71% Lib 59.61% 2,110 2,431 1,642 311 – 323 6,817 Madawaska-les-Lacs-Edmundston PC Lib 4,106 56.39% 1,490 20.46% PC 62.68% 4,106 2,616 560 – – – 7,282 Memramcook-Tantramar PC Lib 3,515 45.64% 1,478 19.19% PC65.57% 3,515 2,037 972 1,178 – – 7,702 Miramichi New Lib 3,974 50.00% 1,231 15.49% PC70.29% 3,974 2,743 328 307 – 596 7,948 Miramichi Bay-Neguac PC Lib 4,199 49.22% 892 10.46% PC71.25% 4,199 3,307 785 240 – – 8,531 Moncton Centre New Lib 3,339 52.98% 1,750 27.77% PC 58.13% 3,339 1,589 866 508 – – 6,302 Moncton East New Lib 3,443 45.09% 922 12.07% PC 62.23% 3,443 2,521 1,105 567 – – 7,636 Moncton Northwest PC PC 3,012 42.15% 239 3.34% Lib 59.11% 2,773 3,012 783 436 142 – 7,146 Moncton South PC Lib 2,903 45.10% 656 10.19% PC 54.70% 2,903 2,247 757 530 – – 6,437 Moncton Southwest New PC 2,523 38.80% 249 3.83% Lib 54.38% 2,274 2,523 1,129 392 184 – 6,502 New Maryland-Sunbury PC PC 3,391 40.95% 796 9.61% Lib65.96% 2,595 3,391 1,787 508 – – 8,281 Oromocto-Lincoln New PC 2,827 41.97% 473 7.02% Lib 59.07% 2,354 2,827 857 379 318 – 6,735 Portland-Simonds PC PC 2,782 48.90% 877 15.42% Lib 50.83% 1,905 2,782 743 259 – – 5,689 Quispamsis PC PC 3,884 51.35% 1,494 19.75% Lib 64.19% 2,390 3,884 938 238 114 – 7,564 Restigouche-Chaleur Lib Lib 4,069 53.92% 1,871 24.79% NDP66.23% 4,069 1,120 2,198 160 – – 7,547 Restigouche West New Lib 4,940 58.02% 3,230 37.93% PC72.11% 4,940 1,710 351 – – 1,514 8,515 Riverview PC PC 3,751 52.73% 1,654 23.25% Lib 61.18% 2,097 3,751 723 542 – – 7,113 Rothesay PC PC 3,034 45.20% 1,196 17.82% Lib 60.87% 1,838 3,034 1,559 282 – – 6,713 Saint John East New Lib 2,332 37.02% 9 0.14% PC 54.92% 2,332 2,323 1,167 353 124 – 6,299 Saint John Harbour Lib Lib 1,686 32.19% 71 1.36% PC 46.78% 1,686 1,615 1,120 701 115 – 5,237 Saint John Lancaster PC PC 2,619 39.18% 457 6.84% Lib 62.09% 2,162 2,619 1,535 283 – 85 6,684 Shediac Bay-Dieppe New Lib 5,661 64.61% 3,983 45.46% PC68.63% 5,661 1,678 803 620 – – 8,762 Shediac-Beaubassin-Cap-Pelé Lib Lib 5,496 60.18% 3,778 41.37% PC72.21% 5,496 1,718 1,175 743 – – 9,132 Shippagan-Lamèque-Miscou PC Lib 4,014 46.10% 44 0.51% PC76.65% 4,014 3,970 497 226 – – 8,707 Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin PC PC 3,837 47.62% 886 11.00% Lib70.23% 2,951 3,837 361 214 694 – 8,057 Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins PC PC 3,677 49.86% 1,967 26.67% Lib 61.05% 1,710 3,677 652 570 766 – 7,375 Tracadie-Sheila PC Lib 5,916 64.61% 3,721 40.64% PC76.60% 5,916 2,195 861 121 – 64 9,157 Victoria-la-Vallée PC Lib 3,969 49.62% 913 11.41% PC68.72% 3,969 3,056 546 428 – – 7,999
= Open seat = Turnout is above provincial average = Winning candidate was in previous Legislature = Incumbent had switched allegiance = Previously incumbent in another riding = Not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature = Incumbency arose from byelection gain = Other incumbents renominated = Previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada = Multiple candidates
Tabulator problem and manual recount demand The election marked the first time that the province used electronic vote tabulation machines from Dominion Voting in a provincial election. They had previously been used in New Brunswick municipal elections. On election night, the machines displayed vote totals which were verified by Elections New Brunswick officials and entered into a province-wide database for the media. By 11:45 PM, these unverified numbers were to have been replaced by totally machine-reported numbers from the tabulators themselves with no human interventions or errors possible to distort results. It was "a program processing the initial results that had a glitch", not the tabulators themselves, according to officials.
Elections New Brunswick grew uncomfortable with the human involvement and influence of the unevenly tabulated results. It brought the results reporting to a standstill as counts were reverified by hand before further resignations or concessions were triggered.
At 10:45 p.m. Atlantic time, Elections New Brunswick officially suspended the results reporting count, with 17 ridings still undeclared, while it investigated the delay. It called for over sixty tabulator count devices to be brought to central locations for verification without relying on the reporting program. At no time was there an allegation of fraud by any party or public official.
As a result of the controversy, both the Progressive Conservatives and the People's Alliance Party called for a hand count of all ballots, with the former refusing to concede the election until the following day. Michael Quinn, the province's chief electoral officer determined no total recount was necessary. Recounts were held in 7 of 49 ridings and the results were upheld with variations of no more than 1 vote per candidate per riding.
Results by region