People’s Alliance agrees to prop up N.B. Tories, but premier urges PC revolt
FREDERICTON — New Brunswick’s right-leaning People’s Alliance has agreed to prop up a Tory minority government, but the Liberal premier is urging skeptical Progressive Conservative legislators to rebel against “the deal” — and keep his party in power.
People’s Alliance Leader Kris Austin said Friday he had met with Lt.-Gov. Jocelyne Roy Vienneau and told her he had agreed to back Blaine Higgs’ Tories for 18 months after Monday’s deadlocked election results.
However, Premier Brian Gallant held his own news conference shortly afterwards, saying he’ll continue talks to form a minority government with the Green party, and will recall the legislature by Oct. 23 or sooner for a throne speech.
Gallant challenged members of the Tory caucus who may not be sympathetic to People’s Alliance policies to either cross the floor or publicly reveal their discontent with the new relationship between the two parties.