The Green Party of New Brunswick (PVNBGP; French: Parti vert du Nouveau-Brunswick), commonly known as the Greens, is a green provincial political party in New Brunswick, Canada. Formed in 2008, the party has been under the leadership of David Coon since 2012. The party currently holds three seats in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, making it the only minor party in the province currently represented in the legislative assembly.
Green Party of New Brunswick Parti vert du Nouveau-Brunswick | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | PVNBGP |
| Leader | David Coon |
| President | Ryan Spencer (interim)[1] |
| Deputy leaders | Megan Mitton Kevin Arseneau |
| Founded | May 18, 2008 |
| Headquarters | 403 Regent Street Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 3X6 |
| Youth wing | New Brunswick Young Greens |
| Ideology | Green politics Social democracy |
| Political position | Centre-left[2] |
| National affiliation | Green Party of Canada |
| Colours | Green |
| Slogan | "It’s About the Next Generation"[3] |
| Seats in Legislature | 3 / 49 |
| Website | |
| greenpartynb | |
On November 15, 2008 it held a founding convention in Moncton where the membership adopted a constitution, and a charter of principles to guide the development of policies and platforms. A 12-member Executive Committee was elected.
On September 19, 2009, Jack MacDougall was acclaimed as the first nominated leader of the party. A community and political organizer, MacDougall is best known for his successful campaign to raise the money to purchase and renovate the Imperial Theatre in Saint John. He is a licensed teacher in New Brunswick and stepped down as leader in September 2011. Greta Doucet served as interim leader until the leadership convention in the fall of 2012. David Coon succeeded Doucet as leader.[4]
In the 2014 provincial election, Coon became the first Green Party candidate to be elected in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. In the 2018 provincial election, the party elected three MLAs. In the 2020 provincial election, those three MLAs were all re-elected.
History
editNew Brunswick's Green Party was formed on May 18, 2008, the last province in the Maritimes to do so. Established during a Fredericton meeting, the party seized the opportunity presented by the province's decline in NDP presence, positioning itself as an alternative for such voters.[5] Upon its formation, it became under elected interim leadership by Mike Milligan.[6][7]
In the 2014 election, the Greens secured their first ever seat in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick and became the second Canadian Green party to win a provincial legislative seat,[8] with leader David Coon having defeated the incumbent Progressive Conservative Energy Minister Craig Leonard in the Fredericton South riding. Some of Coon's key messages at the time included his opposition to fracking as well as the Energy East pipeline.[9]
On September 14, 2023, the party announced the appointing of Kevin Arseneau and Megan Mitton as Deputy Leaders by leader Coon.[10]
Leadership
editLeaders
edit| Leader | Term of office | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Milligan | 2008 | 2009 | Interim |
| Erik Millett | 2009 | 2009 | Interim |
| Jack MacDougall | 2009 | 2011 | |
| Greta Doucet | 2011 | 2012 | Interim |
| David Coon | 2012 | Present (as of 2024) | |
Current MLAs
edit| Name | District | Term | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Arseneau | Kent North | 2018–present | [11] |
| David Coon | Fredericton South | 2014–present | [12] |
| Megan Mitton | Memramcook-Tantramar | 2018–present | [13] |
Electoral record
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Jack MacDougall | 16,943 | 4.6% | 0 / 55 |  0 |  4th | Extra-parliamentary |
| 2014 | David Coon | 24,582 | 6.6% | 1 / 49 | 1 | 3rd | No status |
| 2018 | 45,186 | 11.9% | 3 / 49 | 2 |  4th | No status | |
| 2020 | 56,872 | 15.4% | 3 / 49 | 0 | 3rd | No status |
2012 leadership election
editOn September 22, 2012, a leadership election was held to replace Jack MacDougall. David Coon was chosen after only one ballot.[14]
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| David Coon | 131 | 63% |
| Roy MacMulin | 77 | 37% |
| TOTAL | 208 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Provincial Council". Green Party of New Brunswick. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ "New Brunswick voters offered a choice between contrasting leaders, policies". Global News.
- ^ Brewer, Merredith (September 8, 2010). "Platform Launched". Green Party of New Brunswick. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ "Conservationist Coon N.B.'s new Green Party leader". CBC News. September 22, 2012.
- ^ "Green party established in N.B." CBC News. May 20, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ Fox, Chris (May 20, 2008). "Green Party grows N.B. roots". Fredericton Daily Gleaner. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008.
- ^ McCann, Matt (May 19, 2008). "New political party in N.B." Saint John Telegraph-Journal. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008.
- ^ "David Coon makes history with seat for Green Party". CBC News. September 23, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ "Green winner ready to tackle pipeline". National Post. September 24, 2014. p. 29. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ Fach, Addison (September 14, 2023). "Green Party Leader Appoints Megan Mitton and Kevin Arseneau as Deputy Leaders". Green Party of New Brunswick. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ Poitras, Jacques (October 18, 2018). "Ties matter: Green MLA will represent New Brunswickers by sporting their neckties | CBC News". CBC. Fredericton, NB: CBC. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- ^ Taber, Jane (September 23, 2014). "How the New Brunswick Green leader made his 'historic' win". Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- ^ Kalvapalle, Rahul (September 24, 2018). "David Coon retains Fredericton South as New Brunswick Greens pick up three seats - New Brunswick | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- ^ "David Coon élu chef du Parti vert du Nouveau-Brunswick". L'Acadie Nouvelle (in French). September 22, 2012.