NB Premier Higgs Demotes 2 Ministers Who Voted Against Informing Parents on Gender-Identity Issues

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs delivers the State of the Province address in Fredericton, N.B., on Feb. 9, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Stephen MacGillivray)

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shuffled his cabinet, removing two ministers who voted against a gender-identity policy that requires parental permission to change a child’s pronouns.

In a tweet on June 27, Higgs announced the addition of five ministers to cabinet and the removal of two ministers who voted against the government—demoting local government minister Daniel Allain and transportation and infrastructure minister Jeff Carr to backbenchers.

Allain has been replaced by Glen Savoie, and Carr’s position has been taken over by Richard Ames.

“Our government’s new cabinet is aligned with our priorities of standing up for New Brunswickers,” said Higgs on social media. “Our cabinet is full of energetic, dedicated ministers who work tirelessly to make our province a better place to live. We’re excited about this renewal as we work to keep New Brunswick strong.”

Higgs said the ministers should have expected the consequences of voting against their own party.

“I think the very oath they take speaks for itself in that regard … To not address the situation is putting the government in a very vulnerable situation,” Higgs said. “So, we have to respect the parliamentary system we’re in … in the cabinet you have to have solidarity.”

Earlier this month, two ministers resigned, blaming Higgs’s leadership style and changes made to the province’s policy on sexual orientation in schools.

Opposition

At a news conference following the swearing-in of new cabinet ministers, Higgs said, “I think when you have cabinet ministers that take a position against the government, in the legislature voting against in the legislature, it’s very significant.”

Higgs said that under the parliamentary system, cabinet confidentiality and cabinet support are “paramount, and that speaks for itself.” While Higgs said it was not a whipped vote, “I never made it a free vote either.”

One day before the cabinet shuffle, Allain told reporters he was not sure he would still be in cabinet after the expected shuffle. “There’s a process,” he said at a news conference in Grand Bouctouche. “We serve at the pleasure of the premier.”

Allain and Carr both signed a letter this month stating they had “extreme disappointment in a lack of process and transparency” about the province’s policy changes on gender identity, and voted with the Liberal Opposition against their own party.

Carr, who served eight months in his role as transportation minister, issued a statement on June 27, stating he had been removed from the cabinet, and said he and other government MLAs had skipped a Question Period earlier this month “out of pure frustration.”

Carr alleged the premier had failed “to keep his promises to caucus on an agreed path forward,” adding, “I care about working with people to make policies that improve the lives of everyone, especially our most marginalized and vulnerable.”

Gender Identity Policy

The premier and New Brunswick’s education minister Bill Hogan announced on June 8 that as of July 1, students under the age of 16 cannot change their names or pronouns in school without parental consent.

The new policy requires the school to talk to students about contacting their parents on the issue, or directing the student to a mental health professional to “work with them in the development of a plan to speak with their parents if and when they are ready to do so.”

“We believe that it’s fundamentally wrong to not share this information with the parents if we are using [a student’s preferred name] on a daily basis,” Hogan said. “If we are using it on a daily basis, it puts teachers in a really challenging position.”

Higgs said the province had to find a solution “where we do not exclude parents in their child’s life.” He said the policy is “taking a strong position for families,” and standing up for parents.

The premier also said he recognized there was “some building to do” after some riding presidents wrote letters to the provincial council asking for a leadership review.

The new cabinet includes the following portfolios: Sherry Wilson, women’s equality, and addictions and mental health; Kathy Bockus, seniors; Greg Turner, economic development; Mary Wilson, service New Brunswick; Greg Turner, opportunities New Brunswick; Jill Green, social development; Arlene Dunn, post-secondary education, training, and labour, as well as aboriginal affairs and immigration; and Tammy Scott-Wallace, tourism.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.