Mr. Higgs goes to Government House

Good evening,

The two third parties and their combined six seats hold the balance of power, but it isn't clear what, if any, formal agreements they will strike in the formation of a new government.

The Green Party will be speaking with both the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives, but "tough negotiations" are on the horizon. As for the People's Alliance, some politicians and groups believe a deal with the party is a non-starter based on the Alliance's language policies.

Also, PC Leader Blaine Higgs met with the lieutenant-governor today as the Tories chart their course to power, and the CBC's Robert Jones brings you the curious story of how a paperwork error may have determined the outcome of a riding and even the overall election result.

Here's what we're talking about on Election Day + 3:

Top headlines

• PC Leader Blaine Higgs says he expects to govern eventually but won't cut deals
  • It was Blaine Higgs's turn to meet with the Lt.-Gov. Jocelyne Roy Vienneau on Tuesday. After a meeting that lasted morethan an hour, the Tory Leader emerged to say he'll be asked to form a government if the Liberals lose a confidence vote. So, what path can Higgs take if he wants to govern? He discussed that Thursday.

• Kris Austin defends himself, as Acadian voices against People's Alliance multiply
  • The CBC's Gabrielle Fahmy writes, "Throughout the campaign, francophones have expressed shock and horror at what they perceived as their acquired rights up for debate for the first time in decades." With the People's Alliance holding three seats that could affect a confidence vote, politicians and members of the public are speaking out against the party, but leader Kris Austin says it's "fear-mongering."

Bathurst Mayor Paolo Fongemie and the president of the province's Acadian society, Robert Melanson, say any kind of co-operation with the People's Alliance is unacceptable. You can listen to their full interview below:

Bob Rae on the future of a minority government in New Brunswick

6 years ago

Duration 0:15

Former NDP premier and Liberal leader Bob Rae said while minority coalition governments can work well when there is a clear shared agenda, the numbers in New Brunswick election are so close it's hard to tell if stability can be achieved.

• This candidate wasn't on the ballot and it may have changed the Saint John Harbour race
  • Adam Salesse was running as an independent in Saint John Harbour, but when he went to vote he discovered his name wasn't on the ballot. The paperwork mix-up is a story in itself, but the riding was decided by 10 votes in an election where the leading parties were separated by one seat.

• Greens predict 'tough negotiations' with Liberals, PCs over governing partnership
  • Green Party Leader David Coon is predicting "tough negotiations" between his party and the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives as the political leaders continue to grapple with the province's minority government situation.

You can listen to the Green leader discuss the situation at length in the interview below:

• Bob Rae says minority rule is all about numbers but 3rd parties shouldn't overreach
  • "It's not about the theories about what you can do, but can you actually do it?" says Bob Rae, who's spent years holding seats during minority governments. The former federal Liberal MP and interim party leader discussed New Brunswick's current political landscape.

• Downgrade in credit rating looms as uncertainty grips New Brunswick government
  • New Brunswick could be facing a credit-rating reduction in the coming months if the provincial government fails to show a positive turnaround in its economic outlook, and the outcome of Monday's election hasn't helped its prospects.

Subscribe to our election newsletter

Get the latest election updates delivered right to your inbox with The 506er.Subscribe here.