Valcourt, a popular politician from Edmundston, had served as an Member of Parliament from 1984 to 1993, and served in the cabinets of Prime MinistersBrian Mulroney and Kim Campbell. The New Brunswick Tories had been in shambles for the better part of a decade. They were shut out of the legislature in 1987, and won only 2 seats and third place in 1991. The internal meltdown of the CoR party had left them lots of room on the right, and polls showed that there would be a competitive race.
The Liberals, however, were again victorious. McKenna's personal popularity combined with vote-splitting between the Conservatives and the remanents of CoR allowed the Liberals to maintain a large majority while the Tories managed only 6 seats.
Also of note, there were 55 ridings in this election, as opposed to 58 in previous elections. It was the first time boundaries were redrawn in New Brunswick since 1974.
New rules were brought in at the start of 2004 to limit any individual from contributing more than $5,000 in any calendar year to a party and its candidates.
The specific limits on candidates' election expenses for the 2006 election varied from riding to riding because they were based on the number of electors in a constituency.
This law was challenged during the 2000 election, by Stephen Harper when he headed up the National Citizens Coalition, on the grounds that the law is an unconstitutional limit on the freedom of expression and of the voters' rights to be fully informed of all points of view.
NewBrunswick sells substantial amounts of electricity to other provinces and to the U.S. The largest thermal plant is found at Belldune, the biggest hydroelectric station at Mactaquac, and the lone nuclear installation at Point Lepreau, on the Bay of Fundy.
NewBrunswick, with an area of 73,440 sq km (28,355 sq mi), is the eighth largest province in Canada; approximately 2% of the land area is owned by the federal government.
NewBrunswick is represented in the Parliament of Canada by ten senators, appointed for life by the federal government, and ten elected members of the House of Commons.
Feeds |
Contact