Liberal Leader Brian Gallant has won his seat of Shediac Bay-Dieppe in the New Brunswick election.
Gallant spent the final day on the campaign trail urging voters he is the candidate that will bring change to New Brunswick.
The New Brunswick Liberal leader attended a campaign rally in Saint-Antoine, drawing on one of his political inspirations. Standing in front of an image of former Liberal premier Louis Robichaud, Gallant said he’s ready to lead the province toward change.
In 1960, Robichaud became the first Acadian to be elected premier. Gallant – who was born in the Acadian community of Shediac Bridge – said he’s looked up to Robichaud for years.
Gallant was elected in the riding of Kent in a byelelection last April, winning the seat previously held by former Liberal premier Shawn Graham. Graham’s Liberals were taken down to 13 seats in the 2010 election after David Alward and the Progressive Conservatives stormed to victory, winning 42 seats in the legislature.
This election, Gallant ran in the riding of Shediac Bay-Dieppe. The riding was created in last year’s redistribution of electoral boundaries – it’s the first time the riding has been contested.
Gallant said he’s proud of the campaign he’s run over the past 32 days.
He’s promised to bring more than 1,700 jobs to the province, which has one of the worst employment records in Canada, by way of $900 million spent on infrastructure.
Gallant and the Liberals have led the polls leading up to election day, however recent polls showed the gap between the Liberals and Alward’s PC party is narrowing.
Polls closed at 8pm (click here for live election results).
At dissolution, the PC held 41 seats, the Liberals 13 and one Independent seat. Redistribution will see the total number of seats cut from 55 to 49 this election.
With files from The Canadian Press
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