NDP Leader Brewer loses own district
Last Updated: Monday, September 18, 2006 | 11:57 PM AT
CBC News
NDP Leader Allison Brewer lost the fight to win her home district of Fredericton-Lincoln and failed to convince New Brunswick voters to elect a single New Democrat to the legislature.
Liberal Greg Byrne took about 48 per cent of the vote in the riding, followed by artist William Forrestall at 35 per cent and Brewer with only 17 per cent.
"We fought the good fight," Brewer said. "There is nothing so intense and so rewarding as to participate in the political process."
Overall, the NDP's share of the popular vote was cut almost in half, falling from nine per cent in 2003 to just over five per cent Monday night.
In her home riding, Brewer was a rookie politican running against a political veteran. Byrne is a lawyer and former cabinet minister, in the Liberal government of Frank McKenna.
In his five years in the legislature, Byrne served as attorney general, minister of state for mines and energy, minister responsible for Service New Brunswick and government house leader.
He also co-chaired Shawn Graham’s successful campaign to become Liberal leader in 2002. The same year, Byrne was elected president of the New Brunswick Liberal Association, a post to which he was re-elected in 2005.
Brewer's future unknown
Brewer, 52, replaced former NDP leader Elizabeth Weir last September, and has watched the legislature from the sidelines ever since.
Brewer is a well-known activist in New Brunswick and Canada's Far North. The mother of three served as executive director of Fredericton's Morgentaler abortion clinic and advocated for gay rights in New Brunswick.
In 2000, Brewer left Fredericton for Iqaluit to work as communications adviser to the fledgling Nunavut government's Department of Health and Social Services. Four years later, she was senior adviser to the Nunavut government on advocacy issues, including women, elders and people with disabilities.
Brewer returned to Fredericton in 2004 to spend more time with her family. A rookie campaigner, she believed her advocacy skills would help build the party into a political force New Brunswickers can get behind.
During the campaign, she pushed for a prescription drug plan, an immediate cleanup of Saint John harbour, more affordable child care, an overhaul of the province's labour laws and more money for schools.
