New Brunswick New Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The New Brunswick New Democratic Party is a social-democratic
provincial political party in New Brunswick
, Canada
linked with the federal New Democratic Party
(NDP).
.
In 1933, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
(CCF), a democratic socialist
federal political party, was formed with the proclamation of the Regina Manifesto
. In 1933, the Moncton Trades and Labour Council adopted a resolution to create a branch of the CCF in New Brunswick. This led to the creation of the New Brunswick CCF that year.
Despite its early formation, the New Brunswick CCF was slow at establishing itself on the provincial political scene. It ran only one candidate in the 1939 election
, Joseph C. Arrowsmith in the riding of Saint John City, winning 712 votes. The fortunes of the New Brunswick CCF rose in tandem with the fortunes of the national CCF during World War II. In the 1944 provincial election
the CCF won 11.7 percent of the vote under the leadership of J. A. Mugridge, a trade union
ist and the chief electrician at the Saint John Drydock and Shipbuilding Company
. In that election, the CCF ran on a twelve-point program that included a promise public ownership
and full development of all natural resources including electricity, oil and gas and other public utilities
.
The 1944 election proved to be a high-point for CCF strength in New Brunswick however. A combination of anti-CCF propaganda, the increasing adoption of somewhat progressive policies by the New Brunswick Liberals
and Conservatives
, and a general trend of post-war decline for the CCF nationally all contributed to weaken the New Brunswick CCF in the 1948 provincial election
, this time under Arrowsmith's leadership, in which they received half the votes they won in 1944 and again won no seats. In the 1952 provincial election
, the CCF ran only 12 candidates and received only 1.3% of the vote and no seats. The CCF ran no candidates in the 1956 and 1960 provincial elections.
In 1961, the CCF merged with the Canadian Labour Congress
to form the New Democratic Party (NDP) at both federal and provincial levels. The New Brunswick NDP was formed in 1962. The party spent the remainder of the decade getting itself organized and established, including forging links with some of the labour movement
. The party was not in a position to run candidates in the 1963 provincial election
, and ran only three candidates in 1967
.
In 1971, the New Brunswick NDP was taken over by The Waffle
, a radical wing of the party, precipitating a bitter two-month split in the party. The federal NDP responded by temporarily dissolving the provincial wing until non-Waffle leadership was re-established. The Waffle episode had the effect of promoting greater labour involvement in the party, via concern that the party would fall under the sway of radicals without it. During the late 1970s, under the leadership of John LaBossiere, the party increasingly adopted policy positions that reflected feminist
and environmentalist
concerns, namely opposition to the construction of the Point Lepreau nuclear plant
. This stance soured relations with some labour supporters. The party also saw its membership grow and its organisational abilities improve during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Along with traditional social-democratic NDP planks, the party also began to attack government patronage and poor fiscal management. Relations with the labour movements and women's movement improved further after George Little became party leader in 1980.
. In the past, three separate individuals have been elected as New Democrats and they are as follows:
The NDP's predecessor, the CCF never won a seat in the New Brunswick legislature. In the 1920 general election
nine United Farmers and two Farmer-Labour MLAs were elected.
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
provincial political party in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
linked with the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
(NDP).
Origins and early history
The New Brunswick NDP traces its roots to the Fredericton Socialist League, which was founded in 1902. The League had branches throughout the province by World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In 1933, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
(CCF), a democratic socialist
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
federal political party, was formed with the proclamation of the Regina Manifesto
Regina Manifesto
The Regina Manifesto was the programme of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and was adopted at the first national convention of the CCF held in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1933. The primary goal of the "Regina Manifesto" was to eradicate the system of capitalism and replace it with a planned...
. In 1933, the Moncton Trades and Labour Council adopted a resolution to create a branch of the CCF in New Brunswick. This led to the creation of the New Brunswick CCF that year.
Despite its early formation, the New Brunswick CCF was slow at establishing itself on the provincial political scene. It ran only one candidate in the 1939 election
New Brunswick general election, 1939
The 19th New Brunswick general election was held on November 20, 1939, to elect 48 members to the 39th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1939 Name Seats...
, Joseph C. Arrowsmith in the riding of Saint John City, winning 712 votes. The fortunes of the New Brunswick CCF rose in tandem with the fortunes of the national CCF during World War II. In the 1944 provincial election
New Brunswick general election, 1944
The 20th New Brunswick general election was held on August 28, 1944, to elect 48 members to the 40th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1944 Name Seats...
the CCF won 11.7 percent of the vote under the leadership of J. A. Mugridge, a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ist and the chief electrician at the Saint John Drydock and Shipbuilding Company
Saint John Shipbuilding
Saint John Shipbuilding was a Canadian shipbuilding company located in Saint John, New Brunswick. It operated from 1923-2003.-History:Numerous shipyards were located on the shores of Courtney Bay in the east end of Saint John Harbour where extensive mud flats dried at low tide.In 1918 it was...
. In that election, the CCF ran on a twelve-point program that included a promise public ownership
State ownership
State ownership, also called public ownership, government ownership or state property, are property interests that are vested in the state, rather than an individual or communities....
and full development of all natural resources including electricity, oil and gas and other public utilities
Public utility
A public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service . Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and regulation ranging from local community-based groups to state-wide government monopolies...
.
The 1944 election proved to be a high-point for CCF strength in New Brunswick however. A combination of anti-CCF propaganda, the increasing adoption of somewhat progressive policies by the New Brunswick Liberals
New Brunswick Liberal Association
The New Brunswick Liberal Association , more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal Party or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major political parties in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
and Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a centre-right political party in New Brunswick, Canada. It has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony...
, and a general trend of post-war decline for the CCF nationally all contributed to weaken the New Brunswick CCF in the 1948 provincial election
New Brunswick general election, 1948
The 21st New Brunswick general election was held on June 28, 1948, to elect 52 members to the 41st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1948 Name Seats...
, this time under Arrowsmith's leadership, in which they received half the votes they won in 1944 and again won no seats. In the 1952 provincial election
New Brunswick general election, 1952
The 22nd New Brunswick general election was held on September 22, 1952, to elect 52 members to the 42nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1952 Name Seats...
, the CCF ran only 12 candidates and received only 1.3% of the vote and no seats. The CCF ran no candidates in the 1956 and 1960 provincial elections.
In 1961, the CCF merged with the Canadian Labour Congress
Canadian Labour Congress
The Canadian Labour Congress, or CLC is a national trade union centre, the central labour body in English Canada to which most Canadian labour unions are affiliated.- Formation :...
to form the New Democratic Party (NDP) at both federal and provincial levels. The New Brunswick NDP was formed in 1962. The party spent the remainder of the decade getting itself organized and established, including forging links with some of the labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
. The party was not in a position to run candidates in the 1963 provincial election
New Brunswick general election, 1963
The 25th New Brunswick general election was held on April 22, 1963, to elect 52 members to the 45th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada....
, and ran only three candidates in 1967
New Brunswick general election, 1967
The 26th New Brunswick general election was held on October 23, 1967, to elect 58 members to the 46th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada....
.
In 1971, the New Brunswick NDP was taken over by The Waffle
The Waffle
The Waffle was a radical wing of Canada's New Democratic Party in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It later transformed into an independent political party, with little electoral success before it permanently disbanded in the mid-1970s...
, a radical wing of the party, precipitating a bitter two-month split in the party. The federal NDP responded by temporarily dissolving the provincial wing until non-Waffle leadership was re-established. The Waffle episode had the effect of promoting greater labour involvement in the party, via concern that the party would fall under the sway of radicals without it. During the late 1970s, under the leadership of John LaBossiere, the party increasingly adopted policy positions that reflected feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
and environmentalist
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
concerns, namely opposition to the construction of the Point Lepreau nuclear plant
Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station
Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located 2 km northeast of Point Lepreau, New Brunswick. The facility was constructed between 1975-1983 by NB Power, the provincially-owned public utility....
. This stance soured relations with some labour supporters. The party also saw its membership grow and its organisational abilities improve during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Along with traditional social-democratic NDP planks, the party also began to attack government patronage and poor fiscal management. Relations with the labour movements and women's movement improved further after George Little became party leader in 1980.
New Brunswick CCF
- J. A. Mugridge 1944 election
- Joseph C. Arrowsmith 1948 election
- Claude P. Milton 1952 election
New Brunswick NDP
- Jack Currie, 1965-1968
- post vacant, 1968-1970
- J. Albert RichardsonJ. Albert RichardsonJ. Albert Richardson was a trade unionist and politician who was leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party from 1970 until 1976 save for a one month interruption in late 1971....
, 1970-1971 - Pat CallaghanPat Callaghan (politician)Pat Callaghan was a politician in New Brunswick, Canada who was briefly leader of the New Democratic Party of New Brunswick....
, 1971 (Waffle factionThe WaffleThe Waffle was a radical wing of Canada's New Democratic Party in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It later transformed into an independent political party, with little electoral success before it permanently disbanded in the mid-1970s...
leader) - J. Albert RichardsonJ. Albert RichardsonJ. Albert Richardson was a trade unionist and politician who was leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party from 1970 until 1976 save for a one month interruption in late 1971....
, 1971-1976 - John LaBossiereJohn LaBossiereJohn LaBossiere was a Canadian politician, who served as leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party from 1976 to 1980. The party's first francophone leader, he was noted for making inroads into the province's Acadian community, taking the party to a then-record level of support in the 1978...
, 1976-1980 - George LittleGeorge Little (New Brunswick politician)George Little is a retired high school English teacher and former leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party .Little and his family immigrated to Canada in 1964, settling in Saint John, New Brunswick. Originally from Scotland, he had been teaching in South Yemen before arriving in Canada...
1980-1988 - Elizabeth WeirElizabeth WeirElizabeth Jane Weir is a lawyer and politician in New Brunswick, Canada. She was elected leader of the New Democratic Party of New Brunswick in 1988 and became an opposition voice to the Liberal government, which held all 58 seats in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.Born in Belfast,...
1988-2005 - Allison BrewerAllison BrewerAllison Brewer is a Canadian social activist and politician, and the former leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party. She has been particularly active in areas of lesbian and gay rights and access to abortion.-Biography:...
2005-2006 - Pat Hanratty (interim) 2006-2007
- Roger DuguayRoger DuguayRoger Duguay is a former Canadian politician and Roman Catholic priest. He sought election to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick unsuccessfully on four occasions as a representative of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party...
2007-2010 - Jesse TravisJesse TravisJesse Travis is a Canadian politician, who was the interim leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party from November 2010 to March 2011.Travis previously ran as the party's candidate in New Maryland-Sunbury West in the 2010 provincial election, and in Fredericton in the 2008 and 2011 federal...
(interim) 2010-2011 - Dominic CardyDominic CardyDominic Cardy is a Canadian politician. He was selected as the leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party in the party's leadership election process on March 2, 2011. A resident of Fredericton, Cardy was the party's campaign director in the 2010 provincial election.Cardy was acclaimed party...
2011-present
Electoral record
| General election | # of candidates | # of elected candidates | # of ridings | % of popular vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 New Brunswick general election, 1939 The 19th New Brunswick general election was held on November 20, 1939, to elect 48 members to the 39th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1939 Name Seats... |
1 | 0 | 48 | 0.1% |
| 1944 New Brunswick general election, 1944 The 20th New Brunswick general election was held on August 28, 1944, to elect 48 members to the 40th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1944 Name Seats... |
41 | 0 | 48 | 11.7% |
| 1948 New Brunswick general election, 1948 The 21st New Brunswick general election was held on June 28, 1948, to elect 52 members to the 41st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1948 Name Seats... |
20 | 0 | 52 | 6.0% |
| 1952 New Brunswick general election, 1952 The 22nd New Brunswick general election was held on September 22, 1952, to elect 52 members to the 42nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1952 Name Seats... |
12 | 0 | 52 | 1.3% |
| 1956 New Brunswick general election, 1956 The 23rd New Brunswick general election was held on June 18, 1956, to elect 52 members to the 43rd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1956 Name Seats... |
0 | 0 | 52 | 0.0% |
| 1960 New Brunswick general election, 1960 The 24th New Brunswick general election was held on June 27, 1960, to elect 52 members to the 44th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1960 Name Seats... |
0 | 0 | 52 | 0.0% |
| 1963 New Brunswick general election, 1963 The 25th New Brunswick general election was held on April 22, 1963, to elect 52 members to the 45th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada.... |
0 | 0 | 52 | 0.0% |
| 1967 New Brunswick general election, 1967 The 26th New Brunswick general election was held on October 23, 1967, to elect 58 members to the 46th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada.... |
3 | 0 | 58 | 0.3% |
| 1970 New Brunswick general election, 1970 The 27th New Brunswick general election was held on November 18, 1974, to elect 58 members to the 47th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada... |
31 | 0 | 58 | 2.8% |
| 1974 New Brunswick general election, 1974 The 28th New Brunswick general election was held on November 18, 1974, to elect 58 members to the 48th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada... |
35 | 0 | 58 | 2.9% |
| 1978 New Brunswick general election, 1978 The 29th New Brunswick general election was held on October 23, 1978, to elect 58 members to the 49th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. Richard Hatfield's Progressive Conservative Party narrowly won its third term.In the lead up to... |
36 | 0 | 58 | 6.5% |
| 1982 New Brunswick general election, 1982 The 30th New Brunswick general election was held on October 12, 1982, to elect 58 members to the 50th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It saw Richard Hatfield's Progressive Conservative Party win its largest majority ever to that time... |
54 | 1 | 58 | 10.2% |
| 1987 New Brunswick general election, 1987 The 31st New Brunswick general election was held on October 13, 1987, to elect 58 members to the 51st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada... |
58 | 0 | 58 | 10.6% |
| 1991 New Brunswick general election, 1991 The 32nd New Brunswick general election was held on September 23, 1991, to elect 58 members to the 52nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada.... |
58 | 1 | 58 | 10.8% |
| 1995 New Brunswick general election, 1995 The 33rd New Brunswick general election was held on September 11, 1995, to elect 55 members to the 53rd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. The election marked the debut of Bernard Valcourt as a provincial politician, and as leader of a... |
55 | 1 | 55 | 9.7% |
| 1999 New Brunswick general election, 1999 The 34th New Brunswick general election was held on June 7, 1999, to elect 55 members to the 54th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It marked the debut of both Camille Thériault and Bernard Lord as leaders of the Liberals and... |
55 | 1 | 55 | 8.8% |
| 2003 New Brunswick general election, 2003 The 35th New Brunswick general election was held on June 9, 2003, to elect 55 members to the 55th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada... |
55 | 1 | 55 | 9.7% |
| 2006 New Brunswick general election, 2006 The 36th New Brunswick general election was held on September 18, 2006, to elect 55 members to the 56th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada.... |
48 | 0 | 55 | 5.1% |
| 2010 | 55 | 0 | 55 | 10.4% |
- Results prior to 1963 are for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF)
NDP members of the NB Legislative Assembly
There are currently no New Democrats in the Legislative Assembly of New BrunswickLegislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
. In the past, three separate individuals have been elected as New Democrats and they are as follows:
- Bob Hall, TantramarTantramar (electoral district)Tantramar is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. It was created in the 1973 electoral redistribution and first used in the 1974 election. It underwent only very minor changes in the 1994 redistribution. This was the first seat to elect a New...
; 1982New Brunswick general election, 1982The 30th New Brunswick general election was held on October 12, 1982, to elect 58 members to the 50th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It saw Richard Hatfield's Progressive Conservative Party win its largest majority ever to that time...
to his defeat in the 1987 electionNew Brunswick general election, 1987The 31st New Brunswick general election was held on October 13, 1987, to elect 58 members to the 51st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada... - Peter TritesPeter TritesPeter Trites is a former high school teacher and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Saint John East in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1984 to 1991 as a New Democratic Party and then Liberal member.He was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, the son of Gerald L....
, East Saint John; 1984 by-electionBy-electionA by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
until joining the LiberalsNew Brunswick Liberal AssociationThe New Brunswick Liberal Association , more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal Party or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major political parties in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
in 1987 - Elizabeth WeirElizabeth WeirElizabeth Jane Weir is a lawyer and politician in New Brunswick, Canada. She was elected leader of the New Democratic Party of New Brunswick in 1988 and became an opposition voice to the Liberal government, which held all 58 seats in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.Born in Belfast,...
, Saint John South (1991-1995), Saint John HarbourSaint John HarbourSaint John Harbour is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. It was represented from its creation for the 1995 election until October 13, 2005 by Elizabeth Weir, the leader of the New Democratic Party of New Brunswick from 1988 to September 25, 2005...
(1995-2005); 1991New Brunswick general election, 1991The 32nd New Brunswick general election was held on September 23, 1991, to elect 58 members to the 52nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada....
to 2005
The NDP's predecessor, the CCF never won a seat in the New Brunswick legislature. In the 1920 general election
New Brunswick general election, 1920
The 15th New Brunswick general election was held on 9 October 1920, to elect 48 members to the 35th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada...
nine United Farmers and two Farmer-Labour MLAs were elected.
See also
- List of New Brunswick political parties
- New Brunswick New Democratic Party leadership election, 2005New Brunswick New Democratic Party leadership election, 2005The New Brunswick New Democratic Party, a social democratic political party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, held a leadership election in 2005, following the resignation of previous leader Elizabeth Weir on October 8, 2004...
- New Brunswick New Democratic Party leadership election, 2007New Brunswick New Democratic Party leadership election, 2007The New Brunswick New Democratic Party held a leadership election, following the resignation of Allison Brewer, on November 6, 2006 subsequent to their previous convention on September 25, 2005....
- New Brunswick New Democratic Party leadership election, 2011New Brunswick New Democratic Party leadership election, 2011The New Brunswick New Democratic Party, a social democratic political party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, scheduled a leadership election for April 16, 2011, following the resignation of previous leader Roger Duguay on October 25, 2010....