New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord has ended weeks of rumours by setting Sept. 18 for a provincial election, adding: "Everybody seems to be ready anyway."

As he announced the date on Thursday, the Progressive Conservative Leader said, "I don't want the situation of limbo where every time I turn around, [reporters] ask me, 'Well, is this because there's an election coming or not?'

New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord said he would visit the province's lieutenant-governor Aug. 19, at which point he would dissolve the legislature.
(Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

"Well, let's get it done. Let's give the people of New Brunswick a choice."

The premier made the announcement after meeting with Conservative MLA Peter Mesheau, who told Lord he would resign his seat in the Legislative Assembly on Sept. 7.

The move means Lord's party will no longer have a one-seat majority in the legislature, where there are currently 28 Conservatives (including the Speaker), 26 Liberals and one Independent.

Liberal Leader Shawn Graham said New Brunswickers would prefer to have the election campaign in the fall.

To visit lieutenant-governor on Aug. 19

Lord stopped short of actually calling the election, but told reporters he would visit the province's lieutenant-governor on Aug. 19, at which point he would dissolve the legislature.

A pending election has been an open secret for the past couple of weeks.

The premier has made a flurry of funding announcements around the province, and Liberal Leader Shawn Graham has been unveiling his policy platform in a series of press conferences.

Opposition Leader condemns 'snap' election

Graham, who was called away from a golf tournament in Moncton to get his campaign underway, said he respected the premier's decision to call an election, but he said voters would have preferred to wait until the fall.

"It's unfortunate that a snap summer election has been forced on people," Graham said. "[Voters] would have preferred to be more engaged in the fall, traditionally when elections have been held."

Lord predicted people would embrace the campaign once it is underway.

"I think the people, when called to go to the polls, will show up and they'll be interested," he said.

NDP Leader says she's 'excited'

Allison Brewer, who leads the provincial NDP but currently doesn't have a seat in the legislature, welcomed the election date.

"I'm really excited about the challenge: I haven't campaigned as a candidate before," she said.

"I'm really looking forward to going door-to-door and talking to people about their issues and concerns, and finding out what it is they need me to do not just as leader of the NDP but also as the MLA for their riding."