The Libertarian Party of New Brunswick is a provincial political party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It was formed in the months prior to the 2024 New Brunswick general election, with party leader Keith Tays saying "I don't expect to win any seats this early on just because we've had so little time to get the word out."
The party advocates for free market growth, and "reducing the size and intrusiveness of government, cutting and eliminating taxes at every opportunity, and allowing peaceful, honest people to offer their goods and services without inappropriate interference from the government", specifically referencing a proposed provincial police force, a provincial referendum to determine the breadth of issues like abortion, school choice and self-defence. Leader Keith Tays indicated that many of the initial party members had also opposed lockdowns and mandates during COVID-19.
The party identifies as neither left-wing nor right-wing, noting its mandate is to "take power away from government because it's not the role of government to interfere in people's lives and people's businesses...we're talking about cutting government in half". However, they have been described by CBC News as being on the "populist right" and by the Telegraph-Journal as being on the "political right".
2024 general election In 2024, Libertarian Party fielded 18 candidates, winning 0.5% of the popular vote overall, behind the Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, Greens, NDP, and People's Alliance; further, they placed last in each riding contested by the party. Individual candidates received from 0.6% to 1.9% of the vote in their constituencies.
The election guide for the University of New Brunswick student newspaper, The Baron, described the Libertarian Party as "radically different...as they believe in a form of government that holds limited power, especially over one's wallet, body, and mind, meaning the government should hold the most power on a local level." In an editorial, the Telegraph-Journal daily newspaper welcomed the creation of the party prior to the election, while not endorsing it, calling it "a necessary balance on the political right" to the social conservativism of the Progressive Conservatives under Premier Blaine Higgs.
Election results Election Leader Votes % Number of candidates Seats +/– Rank GovernmentSource 2024 Keith Tays 1,710 0.5% New party 6th
2024 New Brunswick general electionProvincial RidingCandidateTotal votes% of votesRankAlbert-RiverviewWilliam Jones971.2%5th of 5Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple HillsAnthony Matthews1491.9%4th of 4Beausoleil-Grand-Bouctouche-KentEddy Richard 901.0%5th of 5Champdoré-IrishtownAdam Hennessey 1031.5%4th of 4Fredericton NorthAndrew Vandette 460.6%6th of 6Fundy-The Isles-Saint John LornevilleKeith Tays 881.3%6th of 6Hampton-Fundy-St. MartinsBarb Dempsey 1201.4%6th of 6Hanwell-New MarylandMeryl Sarty 670.7%6th of 6Kings CentreCrystal Tays1391.8%4th of 4Restigouche WestRon Geraghty1161.9%4th of 4 RiverviewRebecca Mallaley690.9%5th of 5RothesayAustin Venedam 851.1%4th of 4Saint CroixKrysten Mitchell 821.1%7th of 7Saint John EastDenise Campbell 921.3%6th of 6Saint John HarbourShelley Craig 821.4%5th of 5Saint John West-LancasterSherie Vukelic 690.9% 5th of 5Sussex-Three RiversWayne Wheeler 1591.9%4th of 4TantramarDonna Allen 571.1%5th of 5
By-elections By-electionDateCandidateVotes%PlaceMiramichi WestOctober 6, 2025Christopher Rosser25 0.48 5/5
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