Wikipedia

Libertarian Party of New Brunswick

The Libertarian Party of New Brunswick is a provincial political party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick which adheres to the general principles of libertarianism to "significantly cut taxes and reduce the size of government".[2][3] It was formed in the months prior to the 2024 New Brunswick general election, with party leader Keith Tays saying ""I don't expect to win any seats this early on just because we've had so little time to get the word out."[4][2][5][6][7]

Libertarian Party of New Brunswick
Parti libertarien du Nouveau-Brunswick
LeaderKeith Tays
PresidentFrançois Provost
FoundedJuly 2024[1]
HeadquartersNew Brunswick
IdeologyLibertarianism, Individualism, Localism[citation needed]
ColoursNavy Blue, Yellow
Seats in the Legislative Assembly
0 / 49
Website
www.lpnb.ca

The party advocates for free market growth, and "reducing the size and intrusiveness of government, cutting and eliminating taxes at every opportunity, and allowing peaceful, honest people to offer their goods and services without inappropriate interference from the government", specifically referencing a proposed provincial police force, a provincial referendum to determine the breadth of issues like abortion, school choice and self-defence.[4][8] Leader Keith Tays indicated that many of the initial party members had also opposed lockdowns and mandates during Covid-19.[9]

The party identifies as neither left-wing nor right-wing, noting its mandate is to "take power away from government because it's not the role of government to interfere in people's lives and people's businesses...we're talking about cutting government in half".[10][11] However, they have been described by CBC News as being on the "populist right"[9] and by the Telegraph-Journal as being on the "political right".[5]

2024 general election

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In 2024, Libertarian Party fielded 18 candidates, winning 0.5% of the popular vote overall, behind the Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, Greens, NDP, and People's Alliance, and placed last in each riding contested by the party. Individual candidates received from 0.6% to 1.9% of the vote in their constituencies.[12][13] The party ran more candidates than the People's Alliance, which leader Keith Tays criticized as having failed to stand on principle and embraced centrism.[9][14][15]

The election guide for the University of New Brunswick student newspaper, The Baron, described the Libertarian Party as "radically different...as they believe in a form of government that holds limited power, especially over one's wallet, body, and mind, meaning the government should hold the most power on a local level."[16][17] In an editorial, the Telegraph-Journal daily newspaper welcomed the creation of the party prior to the election, while not endorsing it, calling it "a necessary balance on the political right" to the social conservativism of the Progressive Conservatives under Premier Blaine Higgs.[5]

Election results

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government Source
2024 Keith Tays 1,710 0.5%
0 / 49
   0 6th Extra-parliamentary [12]
Provincial Riding Candidate[18] Total Votes % of Votes Placement
Albert-Riverview William Jones 97 1.2% 5th of 5
Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills Anthony Matthews 149 1.9% 4th of 4
Beausoleil-Grand-Bouctouche-Kent Eddy Richard 90 1.0% 5th of 5
Champdoré-Irishtown Adam Hennessey 103 1.5% 4th of 4
Fredericton North Andrew Vandette 46 0.6% 6th of 6
Fundy-The Isles-Saint John Lorneville Keith Tays 88 1.3% 6th of 6
Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins Barb Dempsey 120 1.4% 6th of 6
Hanwell-New Maryland Meryl Sarty 67 0.7% 6th of 6
Kings Centre Crystal Tays 139 1.8% 4th of 4
Restigouche West Ron Geraghty 116 1.9% 4th of 4
Riverview Rebecca Mallaley 69 0.9% 5th of 5
Rothesay Austin Venedam 85 1.1% 4th of 4
Saint Croix Krysten Mitchell 82 1.1% 7th of 7
Saint John East Denise Campbell 92 1.3% 6th of 6
Saint John Harbour Shelley Craig 82 1.4% 5th of 5
Saint John West-Lancaster Sherie Vukelic 69 0.9% 5th of 5
Sussex-Three Rivers Wayne Wheeler 159 1.9% 4th of 4
Tantramar Donna Allen 57 1.1% 5th of 5

References

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  1. ^ Button, Marshall (October 17, 2024). "Marshall Button: If you can't vote early, vote often". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Moore, Nick (October 17, 2024). "N.B. parties outside the legislature seek election night breakthrough". CTV News. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Elections New Brunswick, Canada (February 5, 2014). "Registered Political Parties - Elections NB". www.electionsnb.ca.
  4. ^ a b Huras, Adam (2024-08-06). "New political party registers in N.B. ahead of provincial election". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  5. ^ a b c "Editorial: Libertarian ideas welcome in N.B. debates". Telegraph-Journal. August 8, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  6. ^ "Two more political parties register in New Brunswick | Telegraph-Journal".
  7. ^ Poitras, Jacques (September 19, 2024). "N.B. election campaign kicking off for Oct. 21 vote". CBC News. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  8. ^ Boudreau, Alexandre (2024-08-09). "Le Parti de la responsabilité individuelle voit le jour au N.-B". Acadie Nouvelle (in French). Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  9. ^ a b c "Once-mighty People's Alliance faces crowded field on the populist right". CBC News. October 11, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Cammarano, Frédéric (October 16, 2024). "Des partis de droite cherchent à chauffer les conservateurs dans leurs châteaux forts". ICI Nouveau-Brunswick. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  11. ^ "Élections provinciales : les tiers partis courtisent une partie de l'électorat ..." Le téléjournal Acadie. CBC/Radio-Canada. October 15, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "N.B. Votes 2024 (Results)". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 21, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "Full Elections NB results Riding-by-riding breakdown of the votes cast on Monday". Telegraph-Journal. October 21, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Huras, Adam (October 1, 2024). "Just two parties field full slate of 49 candidates as deadline passes". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  15. ^ Perry, Brad (October 1, 2024). "Nominations close for N.B. provincial election". Country 94. CHSJ-FM (Acadia Broadcasting). Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  16. ^ Foley, Will (October 17, 2024). "Navigating the 2024 Provincial Election : A Guide". The Baron. The Baron - UNBSJ's Independent Student Press. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  17. ^ Boisvert, Jean-François (October 8, 2024). "Huit partis sur les bulletins de vote: une première depuis les années 60".
  18. ^ "List of Candidates - Provincial General Elections (10/21/2024)". Elections New Brunswick. 16 November 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
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