| Tuesday, October 22, 2024 |
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Global journal • News • Weather • Opinion • Sports |
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Premier-elect Susan Holt celebrates her historic election victory in Fredericton Monday night. The Liberal leader is the first female premier of New Brunswick. Photo: Andrew Waugh/Brunswick News |
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Susan Holt is New Brunswick’s first-ever female premier, returning the provincial Liberals to power with an election night majority that made huge and unexpected inroads in the province’s south while also sweeping key Moncton ridings. Liberals were elected in 31 ridings, while the Progressive Conservatives had 16, and the Greens two.
It’s the best provincial Liberal finish since the Frank McKenna landslides of the 1990s. “New Brunswickers wanted a change,” Holt told reporters in Fredericton on Monday night. “They were frustrated and feeling like their concerns weren’t being heard, that they weren’t being cared for by their government.
“They responded to both our leadership style and the issues that we’re tackling.” In doing so, Holt has denied Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs the rarefied air of three straight election victories. The night also cost Higgs his seat. |
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Holt, Coon win ridings; Jill Green loses Fredericton North |
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Green party Leader David Coon waves to his supporters at Dolan's Pub in Fredericton after winning his new riding of Fredericton-Lincoln on Monday night. Photo: Julia Sheehan/Brunswick News |
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Liberal MP calls on Trudeau to step down |
Liberal MP Sean Casey has called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down, citing concerns about a potential Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre, Global News reported. Casey said there are up to 30 Liberal MPs who have signed an internal document urging Trudeau's resignation, which will be discussed at the upcoming caucus meeting on Wednesday. He argues that despite the government's accomplishments, emotional factors have led to a decline in public support and will influence voting. Casey said there are a number of viable candidates who could replace Trudeau, and there about half a dozen people "who are rumoured to be interested."
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Biden concerned over leaked classified documents |
U.S. President Joe Biden is "deeply concerned" over the unauthorized release of classified documents detailing Israel's potential retaliation plans against Iran, Associated Press reported. On Saturday, The White House confirmed an ongoing investigation into the matter, and on Monday, spokesman John Kirby said it was unclear whether the information was leaked or hacked. The classified documents, attributed to U.S. intelligence agencies, reveal Israel's military preparations following Iran's missile attack on October 1. Marked as top secret and shared within the "Five Eyes" alliance, which includes the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, the documents were posted on Telegram. The administration is working to prevent further disclosures.
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King Charles accused of 'genocide' |
During King Charles' visit to Australia's Parliament House on Monday, an Indigenous senator accused him of "genocide," Reuters reported. After the monarch's speech acknowledging Indigenous landowners, Senator Lidia Thorpe, an Indigenous activist, yelled that she did not accept him as Australia's monarch and demanded the return of stolen land, and artifacts. She also called for a treaty. Thorpe was prevented from approaching the King and escorted out. The outburst highlighted ongoing tensions over Australia's colonial history and Indigenous rights. Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the incident was "unfortunate political exhibitionism." Thousands of people came out to see the king during his visit.
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Former premier Blaine Higgs, alongside his wife Marcia, concedes the election Monday night in Quispamsis. Photo: Barbara Simpson/Brunswick News |
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A third mandate is a tough one. We had challenges within – that's very true – but I ran with a conviction of we do what’s right for the province.
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After losing his own seat Monday night, Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs plans to discuss a “leadership transition” in the coming days with his party’s caucus. Flanked by his wife Marcia, Higgs, who lost the riding of Quispamsis by 193 votes to Liberal candidate Aaron Kennedy, hinted at his future while calling on the now 16-member PC caucus to “keep the torch burning and to rebuild our party.” “I think my leadership days are over,” Higgs told media at his somber campaign party at St. Louis Bar & Grill in Quispamsis. “I’m going to talk with the new caucus members and we’ll decide from there what the next steps are, but I won’t do that tonight.”
The 70-year-old former Irving Oil executive, who was first elected in 2010 under the David Alward banner and went on to serve as finance minister, has led the Progressive Conservative party since 2016. |
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Liberal newcomer Tania Sodhi toppled incumbent finance minister Ernie Steeves in Moncton Northwest. Ph |
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