New Brunswick·NewIt’s been nearly six months since people living in Miramichi West have had provincial representation, but Premier Susan Holt said Wednesday those constituents won’t have to wait much longer. Premier says government announcements in the area have nothing to do with impending vote Silas Brown · CBC News · Posted: Sep 03, 2025 3:37 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoPremier Susan Holt said she would campaign with the Liberal Party’s candidate following a school announcement in Upper Miramichi, but has not yet called a byelection for the riding. (Silas Brown/CBC)It’s been nearly six months since people living in Miramichi West have had provincial representation, but Premier Susan Holt said Wednesday those constituents won’t have to wait much longer.”We’re not going to let it go to the last minute,” Holt said.”Everybody’s back from summer vacation. Schools are open, so it’s coming soon.”A byelection must be called in the riding by Sept. 25. The riding has been vacant since former MLA Mike Dawson resigned to run in April’s federal election.Holt said the delay in calling the byelection was primarily due to the time of year. “Most people told us they don’t want a summer election,” she said.”They don’t want to be trying to fit in time to go to the polls when they’re taking the opportunity to be on their … ATV or out on the water or fishing. So we want to drive high participation and the best way to do that is to do it in the fall when folks are used to voting.”WATCH | Vote for Miramichi West is coming soon, premier says:Holt won’t wait until last minute to call Miramichi West byelectionThe New Brunswick riding has been vacant for nearly six months and the byelection must be called by Sept. 25. Former premier Blaine Higgs waited 10 months to call a byelection for the same riding — a vacancy that also came about from an MLA looking to make the jump to federal politics. Holt was speaking from the government’s launch of its universal school breakfast program. The event was hosted by the Central New Brunswick Academy in Upper Miramichi, which sits squarely within the Miramichi West riding. In a video posted to social media on Monday, Holt said that following the announcement she’d be campaigning with the party’s candidate for the riding. From left, Liberal candidate Hannah Fulton Johnston, Green Party candidate Genevieve MacRae and PC candidate Kevin Russell have put their names in the draw for Miramichi West. (Jacques Poitras/CBC, Green Party of New Brunswick)However, when asked if the launch was held in the riding on purpose, Holt said they were simply looking for a school that had a successful existing food program. Central New Brunswick Academy “is a good example of a place that’s had a successful FeedNB partnership and a breakfast program in place where you can see the benefits with students,” Holt said.”We were looking for a school that exemplified local food and a successful school food program. And we found one right here in the heart of the Miramichi River Valley.”After several years of provincial New Brunswick Day celebrations being held in Fredericton, Holt opted to return to the tradition of rotating host communities. For this year, Doaktown was chosen, which also sits inside the Miramichi West riding. That decision, Holt said, was due to the town’s ability and willingness to hold the celebration on short notice. The riding has long been held by the PCs, but has spent nearly 18 months in the past few years without an MLA, as back-to-back provincial representatives have left for a shot at a seat in Ottawa.When the byelection is called, Miramichi River Valley Mayor Kevin Russel will run for the Tories, while Liberal staffer Hannah Fulton Johnston will run for the governing party. The Green Party is running Genevieve MacRae, the party’s executive director. ABOUT THE AUTHORSilas Brown is a Fredericton-based video journalist. You can reach him at silas.brown@cbc.ca.
Holt promises Miramichi-West byelection coming soon, deadline looms to fill vacant seat
