PC Leader Blaine Higgs says he expects to govern eventually but won't cut deals

Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgssays the lieutenant-governor has told him he'll be asked to form a government if the Liberals lose a confidence vote in the legislature, but he won't cutany deals to make it happen or stay in power.

"I'm hopeful we will form a minority government, because that's exactly what the province voted for," Higgs told reporters after his meeting withLt.-Gov.JocelyneRoyVienneauin Fredericton, which lasted more than an hour.

At the meeting,Higgsalsoasked that the legislature be called back as soon as possible. Gallant has suggested it could happen anytime before Christmas.

PC Leader Blaine Higgs meets with Lt.-Gov. in aftermath of election

6 years ago

Duration 17:18

Blaine Higgs says he expects the chance to govern but he won't cut deals to make it happen or stay in power.

The legislature is set to resume Oct. 23, a date set long before the election andsubject to change.

"She said thisisn't going to go on, we can't have this instability in the province," Higgs said. "She gave every indication this will not go months, it'll go days and weeks."

I have the most seats. That is typically how democracy works and I'mcalling on Brian Gallant to realize he lost the election.- Blaine Higgs, leader of the PC party

After the meeting, Higgsmade it clear there would not be another election until the Liberalsgive governing a try, and then the Conservatives if necessary.

Neither won enough seats Monday for a majority, but the PCs came out one seat ahead of the Liberals.

Higgs said he would not form a coalition and was adamant he will not"work things out" with Gallant. But Higgsdid say heis willing to work with other parties in the legislative assembly.

"I have faith in both the Green Party and People's Alliance," he said. "I'm not cutting deals to stay in power."

Getting on with the job

Meanwhile, Green Party Leader DavidCoon has arranged to have individualphone conversations on Thursday with bothHiggsand Gallant to "look at what kind of government might be built in the Legislative Assembly."

"It's going to be tough negotiations over the next couple of weeks," he said in an interview withInformation Morning Fredericton.

"What we need here is an agreement to enable the legislature to function and a government to serve the people of this province."

• Greens predict 'tough negotiations' with Liberals, PCs over governing partnership
• Liberals court Greens for governing partnership
• Liberals and PCs continue battle over who will govern N.B.

Initially,Higgsindicated he would be meeting withRoyVienneauon Tuesday, but that meeting was postponed to Thursday, which last for more than an hour.

Liberal Leader Brian Gallant met withRoyVienneauon Tuesday morning and said she gave himpermission to continue governing while he and his Liberals try to win theconfidence of the legislature.

But Higgs fired back that Gallant was merely "prolonging the inevitable" andit's "sad Gallant is so focused on his future career."

The PC leader urged the premier to call the legislature, so New Brunswick can have a legitimate government again.

"I have the most seats. That is typically how democracy works and I'mcalling on Brian Gallant to realize he lost the election.

"The province deserves and needs a functioning government."

He said there are timely issues that need addressing, and he cited delays in compensatingflood victims and the harm being done to New Brunswick companies by the 20 per cent U.S. tariffs on softwood lumber.

Crossing the floor

But Higgsalso emphasized he wouldn't make backroom deals with other parties or MLAs, sayingvoters are "sick and tired of people holding onto power."

He suggested this set him apart from Gallant.

"It's evident he's desperate to hold onto power and he's trying to buy time with the hopes he can convince one of myMLAsto cross the floor," Higgs said.

Although he wouldn't say who,Higgssaid he was present when one of his MLAs received a call from Liberals on Wednesday night suggesting the MLA cross the floor.

BeforeHiggsmet with RoyVienneau, a Liberal staffershared copies of a PC to Liberal email about discussing the next government.

"All of a sudden the reception got real bad when I got on the phone," he said.

Before Higgs met with Roy Vienneau, a Liberal staffershared copies of an email from a PC to a Liberalabout discussing the next government.

Higgs said he did not authorize anyone to speak with other MLAs about crossing the floor.

"I will not buy anyone to cross the floor. I will not and have not offered anyone something to join."

Higgs and Gallant have been clashing this week over how to interpret the electionresults where the PCs won 22 seats compared to the 21 seats held by the Liberals. A party needs 25 seats for a majority government.

The People's Alliance and the Green Party each won three seats.

After his meeting with Roy Vienneau, Higgs was to meet withhis caucus at the Fredericton Inn.

Subscribe to our election newsletter

Get the latest election updatesdelivered right to yourinbox with The506er.Subscribe here. And then let us know what you think byemailing us:the506er@cbc.ca.