There were plenty of cheers in Green headquarters in downtown Sackville on Monday night, as newly re-elected MLA Megan Mitton thanked her supporters, and said “bye bye Higgs”, in reference to the defeat of the PC government led by former premier Blaine Higgs.
“I’m so proud to represent all of you and the whole riding, and to fight for the whole province,” said an emotional Mitton, “because we still need to build. We still need change. We still need to fix the crisis in our health care system. We still need to eliminate patronage and corruption from our political system.”
As if on cue, Mitton’s toddler son wandered over during her victory speech to present her with a large green Lego trophy, much to the delight of the crowd.
CHMA caught up with Megan Mitton after the formalities on election night:
Mitton said she would miss her Green colleague Kevin Arseneau, who lost his seat in Kent North, bringing the Green party seat count from three down to two in the legislature. “He was one of the hardest working, one of the best MLAs there,” said Mitton. “But I know that David [Coon] and I will work hard together, and we will hold the government’s feet to the fire.”
Asked about the new Liberal majority, and the historic election of New Brunswick’s first woman premier, Mitton said she would be watching for change.
“I guess we’ll see when we get back to the legislature, what it’s like, and if it’s really different,” said Mitton. “I’m hopeful, that’s why I’m in politics. I believe we can do better, that we can change… And so if that happens, then I’ll give credit where credit’s due. And when it’s not happening, I’ll call it out.”
In all, Mitton won just under 2500 votes in Tantramar, 48.9% of the 5068 votes that were cast in the riding, a margin of over 1000 votes from both her closest competitors. Liberal candidate John Higham took second place, with just under 1300 votes or about 25%. And PC Candidate Bruce Phinney won just under 1200 votes or 23%. NDP candidate Evelyn Godfrey won 84 votes, and Libertarian Party candidate Donna Allen won 57.
CHMA and local reporter Bruce Wark caught up with John Higham in his office on election night, shortly after the election was called for the Liberals provincewide:
Higham said he was prepared for the vote to go in any direction on Monday night, and while he was disappointed he didn’t get in, there was a silver lining. “I’m glad we have a majority Liberal government,” said Higham. “That was what we were looking for.”
Higham said he is likely finished with politics, though noted jokingly that he has said that before, when he resigned the Sackville mayoralty in 2020.
PC Candidate Bruce Phinney wasn’t watching the results when CHMA spoke to him, but he congratulated Megan Mittion on her re-election. Phinney said he had a feeling Tantramar voters would elect the Green candidate, and he wished her the best of luck in Fredericton.
About two thirds of eligible voters in the province voted in the election.
Overall voter turnout in the province ranged from as low as 50% to as high as 75%, and averaged 66% across all ridings, about the same as in the last election in 2020.
Tantramar’s turnout was below the provincial average, with just 61.53% of eligible voters – or 5068 people — casting a ballot. About 8200 people were eligible, according to Elections NB.
In popular vote, province-wide, Liberals received 48 per cent of votes cast, the PCs 35 per cent, and the Greens 14 per cent.
