PCs 'reschedule' annual general meeting

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The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick (PCNB) says it will “reschedule” its annual general meeting after receiving feedback that it was “detracting from election preparation.”

The event was to be held in Fredericton on May 24-25, but the party held a virtual meeting on Friday night, and a motion to reschedule it passed.

The party hasn’t held an AGM since November 2022. According to party bylaws, an AGM must be held every two years, meaning it could be held as late as November this year.

Longtime party member and former executive Roger Léger, who has publicly clashed with Premier Blaine Higgs several times, wasn’t at Friday night’s meeting, but said he’s since heard about what happened.

“I understand, and it’s an interpretation, that there were about 80 registrations (for the AGM) … I understand there was a substantial number of those that were identified as progressives, which became embarrassing to that (leadership) gang,” Léger said.

He added that the “early bird” prices for the AGM, which he said started at $150 per person, were “undemocratic” and “outrageous for New Brunswick standards.” The regular rate for a ticket was $195, Léger said. 

Later, via email, he said that what happened on Friday “will be remembered as the day the Higgs PC party died.”

“What more can we expect from an undemocratic premier, premier’s office, premier’s executive and premier’s council? In a healthy party democracy, the premiership reports to the party.”