New Brunswick Liberals to hold convention, elect new leader in June

An official with the New Brunswick Liberals says the party will choose a new leader near the end of June.

Keiller Zed, executive director of the New Brunswick Liberal Association, says the party’s board of directors met Saturday and unanimously voted to hold a leadership convention on June 22 at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre.

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Last month, former premier Brian Gallant announced he would step down as Liberal leader earlier than planned, saying the party needs to move on.

Gallant had announced his intention to resign in November after his party failed to form a minority government in the weeks following the Sept. 24 provincial election.

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Zed says Gallant will remain on as party leader until the winter caucus meeting on Feb. 13, where the caucus will elect an interim leader until the June convention.

According to the party’s constitution, candidates must submit their nomination papers no less than two weeks before the convention.

At least one prominent New Brunswick politician has said he will not seek the nomination. MP Wayne Long issued a tweet on Sunday that he’s “100% focused on being re-elected” in the upcoming federal election.

With a file from Alexander Quon