Former minister Daniel Allain announces he won't run in next election

Another Progressive Conservative MLA has announced he won't be a candidate in this year's provincial election, the second member of Premier Blaine Higgs's caucus to quit politics this week.

Moncton East MLA Daniel Allain posted the announcement on his Facebook page Friday morning. He said he'll remain in the legislature until the election is called.

Allain joins New Maryland-Sunbury MLA Jeff Carr in opting this week not to run.

The two PC members were shuffled out of Higgs's cabinet last June after voting against the government on an opposition motion calling for more study of changes to Policy 713 on gender identity in schools.

At the time, Allain said the political party he had supported for decades "is in a crisis. … I'm asking the question: is it worth the fight?"

Last fall, however, he sounded more conciliatory, saying he met with Higgs in a bid to help unify the party and the relationship between the premier and his caucus was "going in the right direction."

He also said at the time that he planned to run in the new Moncton-area riding of Champdoré-Irishtown this year.

Troubled by 'extreme right' in party

But in an interview with Radio-Canada and CBC News, Allain said he met with Higgs last week to discuss whether he could play "a greater role" in preparing the PC Party and the government for the election scheduled for Oct. 21.

"After that meeting, it was just time for me to take a break," he said. "I love playing a role, and some of those roles were already taken. … There wasn't a place for me."

Allain also made clear he's not comfortable with some of the social conservatives now involved with the party, including Hampton-Fundy-St. Martin's candidate Faytene Grasseschi and campaign manager Steve Outhouse.

He said they are part of the "extreme right" and their involvement goes against "the natural instincts" of the PC Party, which he said has always been closer to the centre of the political spectrum.

"I'm very progressive," he said. "Are there files I don't agree with? That's OK. The party is a big tent."

No regrets about Policy 713 vote

Outhouse responded in an email that he wished Allain well and that the party is "a broad voter coalition, and that means there is diversity of views and opinions. I believe this is a strength of PCNB, not a weakness."

He said the party will be united in the next election on a platform built on making life more affordable, protecting health care and keeping the budget balanced. "On that we can all agree."

Allain said he had no regrets about his vote last June for the Liberal Opposition motion urging the government to ask the child and youth advocate to make recommendations on Policy 713 before it was changed.

"As politicians, we're there to vote, we're there to ensure that minorities are defended, and it was a question of integrity and values for me. I have no regrets. I would make the same decision again."

He did not rule out returning to provincial politics in the future.

Higgs responded to the announcement with a statement about both Allain and Carr.

"I want to acknowledge their time serving in cabinet and for the work they are continuing to do on behalf of their constituents," he said.

"It is good to know they are committed to fulfilling their roles as MLAs until the next election is called. I wish them both well in their future endeavours."

Allain is the fourth PC MLA since early February to announce a departure.

Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland announced Feb. 2 that he won't run again. The same day, Arlene Dunn, who held several cabinet positions, resigned. She quit as an MLA the following week.

Cabinet minister Gary Crossman and MLA Ross Wetmore have also said they will retire after this mandate.

Three other PC MLAs who voted with the opposition on Policy 713, Dorothy Shephard, Trevor Holder and Andrea Anderson-Mason, have yet to officially announce if they will run again.

Allain was first elected in the 2020 election. He had been an adviser to two previous PC premiers, Bernard Lord and David Alward.

Allain was first elected in the 2020 election. He had been an adviser to two previous PC premiers, Bernard Lord, left, and David Alward. (CBC)

As a minister, he became Higgs's francophone lieutenant, the government's lead spokesperson in the French-language media.

He also stickhandled the government's complex restructuring of local government.