New BrunswickDaniel Allain, who led New Brunswick’s local governance reform in 2023, says he’s got the skills to bring the party back to its former gloryAllain made the announcement in front of about 200 party faithful at Moncton’s Avenir Centre on SaturdayVictoria Walton · CBC News · Posted: Oct 18, 2025 3:35 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoDaniel Allain is the first person in the race to lead New Brunswick’s Progressive Conservatives. (Victoria Walton/CBC)Daniel Allain formally announced his intention to run for the leadership of the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative party at an event in Moncton on Saturday.“We’re back,” he said from the stage as he became the first contender in the race. “I think I can help unite our party to make sure that we’re a viable alternative, when the time is right in 2028, to go against the status quo,” said Allain in an interview following his remarks.The party is looking for a leader to take them into the next election in 2028. Former premier Blaine Higgs stepped down after last year’s electoral defeat to the Liberals. Allain served as MLA for Moncton East from 2020 until 2024. He was also minister of local government and local governance reform until 2023, when Higgs dismissed him over a dispute about Policy 713.Allain was also previously a City of Dieppe councillor from 2016 to 2020.He says his experience with local government reform makes him the right person for the role. “I think I’ve got a certain set of skills,” he said.Support across the provinceAt least six of the province’s current PC MLAs were in attendance at Allain’s announcement, including Rob Weir, Bill Oliver, Tammy Scott-Wallace, and newly elected Kevin Russell.“He’s a team-builder, really,” said Scott-Wallace. “He’s very dynamic. He really cares very much about the grassroots people, which is important to me as a representative of a rural riding.”Tammy Scott-Wallace says she’s confident that the party has the building blocks to come back strong. (Myriam Breau/Radio Canada)Scott-Wallace said despite his party’s setback last fall, the future is bright.“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel,: she said. “All of those pieces are there, and I think it’s just a matter of bringing us together.”Many former MLAs from various governments were also present, including Ernie Steeves and Bruce Fitch.Réjean Savoie, who was a Miramichi-area MLA between 1999 and 2003, and again from 2022 to 2024, said he supports Allain.“I think Danielle is really the candidate that can reunite and restructure the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick,” Savoie said. Réjean Savoie says he thinks Allain will be able to connect to New Brunswickers in different areas of the province and bring them to the party. (Myriam Breau/Radio Canada)Former Moncton South MLA Greg Turner is also throwing his support behind Allain.“I just see him as a great potential future leader for our province,” Turner said.Other attendees included Sen. Rose-May Poirier, MP Mike Dawson, Maple Hills Mayor Erica Wallace, and City of Moncton councillors Bryan Butler and Shawn Crossman.Rebuilding the partyNew Brunswick’s PCs are rebuilding.Allain says he has a five-point plan for renewal of the party, starting with recruiting more members.“My campaign is to make sure that we renew the PC party in New Brunswick, that we have a conversation and we listen and respect people’s ideas,” he said.Allain didn’t give specifics on how he’d lead the party, saying there’s plenty of time for that. But he did mention health care, education, and cost of living when addressing the crowd.Allain announced his bid for the PC Party leadership in a room full of supporters at the Avenir Centre on Saturday. (Victoria Walton/CBC)“I am a conservative, fiscally. I am a conservative on a lot of social issues, but I’m also progressive on some social issues,” he said.The other goals are organizing the party structure, reaching people in all 49 electoral districts, fundraising, and committing to a policy convention in 2027.The PCs will hold their leadership convention on Oct. 17, 2026.ABOUT THE AUTHORVictoria Walton is a reporter at CBC New Brunswick, and previously worked with CBC P.E.I. She is originally from Nova Scotia, and has a bachelor of journalism from the University of King’s College. You can reach her at victoria.walton@cbc.ca.
Daniel Allain first to announce bid to lead N.B.s Progressive Conservative party
