New BrunswickThere are pressing issues to be addressed in the communities on the Miramichi River, but there’s been no elected representative here to raise them in the corridors of power in Fredericton since Mike Dawson resigned in late March.Premier Susan Holt has until Sept. 25 to call byelection to fill seat vacant since MarchJacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Aug 28, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoThere may be pressing issues to be addressed, but some communities along the Miramichi River have had no elected representative in Fredericton since late March. (Roger Cosman/CBC)There’s the cramped, old, worn-and-torn fire hall in Doaktown, and the Doak historical site down the road.And there’s health care and housing. And roads. And the fate of the old Anderson Bridge.All of these provincial issues are priorities in communities on the Miramichi River, but there’s been no elected representative here to raise them in the corridors of power in Fredericton for five months and counting.This riding, Miramichi West, has been without an MLA since late March, when Progressive Conservative MLA Mike Dawson resigned to run in the federal election.Joan Wilson says it’s not fair that the riding of Miramichi West has gone so many months without an MLA. (Roger Cosman/CBC)”I don’t like it one little bit. It’s not fair,” 82-year-old Joan Wilson said outside the grocery store in Doaktown.”If we wanted anything, who are we going to go to? There’s no one in this constituency anymore. I don’t like it personally.” Doaktown Mayor Art O’Donnell has a hefty to-do list that he’d like to push forward, starting with provincial support for the new $2.7 million fire hall the village plans to build.The village also has submitted a proposal to take over running the Doak Provincial Heritage Site, which would involve provincial funding.Doaktown Mayor Art O’Donnell says he has a hefty to-do list and needs the support of a local MLA to tackle them. (Roger Cosman/CBC)”None of those files have really moved because if we’re not in the face of the ministers or the government in Fredericton, then they have another MLA from somewhere in the province that’s taking them away from Doaktown,” he said.Premier Susan Holt must call the byelection within six months of Dawson’s resignation, which gives her until Sept. 25.WATCH | ‘I don’t like it one little bit’: Miramichi West residents await byelection: On the Miramichi, voters are waiting to elect a new MLAThe riding of Miramichi West has been without an elected member of the New Brunswick Legislature since March. Many expected the call shortly after New Brunswick Day, on Aug. 4, when her government chose to hold the official provincial celebration in Doaktown.But that didn’t happen.If Holt waits until the last minute, it’s possible a new MLA would not be seated in time for the legislature reconvening on Oct. 21. ‘The people need a voice,’ says Doaktown resident Joyce Peters. (Roger Cosman/CBC)”You should have somebody representing you at all times,” Doaktown resident Joyce Peters told CBC News this week. “The people need a voice.”Liberal candidate Hannah Fulton Johnston, a Doaktown resident who works as a Liberal staffer in Fredericton, said she has not been part of the discussions about when to call the byelection.Johnston pointed out that previous PC premier Blaine Higgs waited 10 months to call a byelection in the same area after MLA Jake Stewart resigned to run federally in 2021.Liberal candidate Hannah Fulton Johnston says she hasn’t been part of discussions about when to call the byelection. (Roger Cosman/CBC)It was the Liberals in opposition who successfully pushed to tighten up the election law to prevent that kind of delay again.”I think we’re still within that window, so I look forward to when the premier decides to make that announcement, but I’m already up and running,” she said.Still, nothing in the newly tightened six-month rule prevented Holt from calling the byelection even earlier.”That’s not a question I can answer unfortunately,” Fulton Johnston said. “That decision lies with the premier. I can’t answer why.” A spokesperson for Holt said this week she had no updates to share on the timing.PC candidate Kevin Russell, the mayor of Miramichi River Valley, another municipality in the riding, said he noticed the lack of provincial representation.Progressive Conservative candidate Kevin Russell, the mayor of Miramichi River Valley, says there are issues to address with Fredericton, including the fate of the old Anderson Bridge. (Roger Cosman/CBC)”I haven’t had any returned messages or calls since our MLA went on to be an MP,” said Russell, who is on a two-month leave from the mayor’s position so he can campaign.The decision is in Holt’s hands, he said, but “I would prefer it be called sooner than later. … The only thing I can say is hopefully it gets called soon.” Russell has identified health care, affordability and housing as the top issues.He is also trying to find out whether the Liberal government will respect a decision made by the previous Higgs government just before the last election about the Anderson Bridge.Decision pending on Anderson BridgeA new replacement bridge is due to be finished this year, and the PCs planned to leave the old bridge in place for all-terrain vehicles rather than demolish it.Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson said in May that there had been no decision about that.It’s the kind of issue that an MLA could be pushing, Russell said.Fulton Johnston is highlighting her experience in government as something she can use to get things done for the riding.She also argues “the fantastic job” Holt is doing to reform health care will lead to better access, including at an expanded Blackville health centre.”The idea is to have all of the services available locally, so it’s a one-stop shop.”The Green Party has yet to identify its candidate for the byelection.The PCs have won this area in every election since 2010, but O’Donnell — who as mayor won’t endorse any party — said some voters want an MLA who can influence government decisions.”People are talking about that,” he said.Another factor for some voters will be that two successive PC members “abandoned” the riding to run federally, he added.Riding in perpetual election modeIncluding general elections and byelections, the vote coming this fall will be the seventh time in six years that people here have gone to the polls to elect a federal or provincial member.”If you’re constantly in election mode, there’s so much dissension within the community,” O’Donnell said.”I see that a lot: mean statements back and forth. Get over it, get somebody in place and keep them there for four years.” ABOUT THE AUTHORJacques Poitras has been CBC’s provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.
Miramichi West waits, and waits, to choose a new MLA
