Latest from Jacques Poitras
Higgs government won't agree to fund last part of New Brunswick Naval Centre construction
The Higgs government says it won't be handing over any more money to build the last element of a controversial shipyard in northeast New Brunswick.
N.B. Proud rejects claims it violated campaign-spending laws
An online group responsible for anti-Liberal advertising and text messages in the last provincial election says it didn’t violate any campaign-spending laws.
Brunswick News blocked from publishing leaked document, agrees to binding consent order
The Higgs government went to court last week to block a provincial newspaper chain from publishing information from a leaked cabinet document, including financial details about New Brunswick’s biggest emitters of carbon dioxide.
Analysis
Higgs government survives 1st session of house with mix of successes and setbacks
When the new Progressive Conservative minority government opened its first session of the legislature last November, it had one overriding priority: survival.
Province proposes carbon tax on tiny fraction of emissions from big industrial polluters
The Higgs government is proposing a carbon tax on heavy industry that would give NB Power ratepayers a break and would dramatically lighten the financial burden on emitters that export most of their products.
Liberals trying to shift focus from harsh audit to old election texts, Higgs says
A day after a scathing audit of their Saint John budget bailout, New Brunswick Liberals tried to change the subject in the legislature by suggesting a Conservative-friendly online group may have violated election laws.
Gallant government's Saint John bailout represented 'excessive risk,' AG report says
A $22.8-million bailout package by the Brian Gallant government for the City of Saint John represented “excessive risk” to provincial taxpayers and did not go through the normal approval process, according to New Brunswick’s auditor general.
An air of co-operation has suddenly blown through the New Brunswick legislature
As the session winds down and MLAs prepare to adjourn for the summer, there’s suddenly talk of setting up several all-party committees and caucuses so that members from the four political parties can work together on complicated issues.
Indigenous leaders warn of protests, halting developments over shale gas exemption
Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqey Nation leaders say the Higgs government is risking protests and broken relations over lack of consultation on shale gas moratorium lifting.
Minister says First Nations consultation only required after shale gas exemption approved
The Higgs government is defending its decision to wait until its partial lifting of a moratorium on fracking to begin consultations with Indigenous people on shale gas development.
Province's newest chief justice calls for modern technology in courtrooms
The new chief justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench says she hopes a new wave of younger judges will be open to her push to take advantage of modern technology in the court system.
Mi'kmaq chiefs 'blindsided' by PC plan to allow shale gas development in Sussex area
Anti-shale gas activists and Mi’kmaq chiefs are warning the Higgs government to prepare for another fight over fracking, now that a moratorium on the practice is being lifted in one part of the province.
PCs give shale gas development quiet go-ahead in Sussex area
Premier Blaine Higgs has confirmed that his Progressive Conservative government quietly passed regulatory changes last month that will allow shale gas development to resume in the Sussex area.
Chief electoral officer seeks power to hire returning officers, independent from government
New Brunswick's chief electoral officer is proposing dozens of changes to the province's election laws to modernize the way campaigning and voting are administered in the province.
Higgs dares opposition to force election over nursing home workers
One day after his government lost a symbolic vote in the legislature over stalled contract talks with nursing-home workers, Premier Blaine Higgs is daring opposition parties to force an election over the issue.