A New Brunswick Progressive Conservative party volunteer, John Williston, resigned from his position as regional vice-president for Westmorland Albert after spearheading an unsuccessful effort to trigger a leadership review of Premier Blaine Higgs. In his resignation letter, Williston criticized the party for losing sight of its defining principles, such as equality between English and French-speaking communities, fiscal responsibility, and access to essential services. He highlighted a lack of openness and accessibility within the party, noting an exodus of elected officials, resignations from the provincial executive, and alienation of key volunteers. Williston, who has been associated with the party since childhood, has been a vocal critic of Higgs, particularly in relation to recent policy changes and the premier’s leadership style.
Williston expressed his belief that Higgs has turned the Progressive Conservative party into a platform for his personal agenda. He cited a shift in the party’s operations since 2020, including limited policy discussions at meetings and insufficient debate before policy changes are implemented. Williston managed campaigns for Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland and former cabinet minister Daniel Allain, but ultimately could not support Higgs in his reelection bid due to disagreements with the direction of the party. The internal revolt against Higgs began with the resignation of former education minister Dominic Cardy in October 2022, followed by several other ministers criticizing the premier’s leadership style.
Since the 2020 election, 11 Tories have announced their departure from provincial politics, including former ministers Allain, Trevor Holder, Dorothy Shephard, and Jeff Carr. Williston’s effort to trigger a review of Higgs’s leadership last summer did not meet official party criteria, falling short of the required number of party members and riding presidents requesting the review. Williston accused the party of referring the requests to a lawyer who found technical reasons to disqualify some of them, allowing Higgs to prevent the review from taking place. Despite the unsuccessful leadership review, Williston stated in his resignation letter that he remains unrepentant about his actions over the past year and believes that openness and accessibility are fundamental principles that should guide the party’s direction.
Representatives for Higgs did not immediately respond to Williston’s resignation. The former regional vice-president emphasized the need for the party to return to its traditional values and ensure that members have a say in determining the party’s direction and leadership. Williston’s resignation reflects broader discontent within the Progressive Conservative party, with members feeling disenfranchised, hopeless, or unhappy about the party’s current trajectory. As the party prepares for upcoming challenges, the fallout from Williston’s resignation and the ongoing internal dissent against Higgs’s leadership will likely continue to shape the political landscape in New Brunswick.
