29 Facts About Blaine Higgs

Blaine Myron Higgs was born on March 1,1954 and is a former Canadian politician who served as the 34th premier of New Brunswick from 2018 to 2024 and leader of the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party from 2016 to 2024.

Blaine Higgs lost his seat in the riding of Quispamsis to Aaron Kennedy of the Liberal Party.

Blaine Higgs resigned as leader of the Progressive Conservative party a week after the election.

Blaine Myron Higgs was born on March 1,1954, in Woodstock, New Brunswick.

Blaine Higgs was educated at a small elementary school, being taught by his mother and his aunt, later attending Canterbury High School.

Blaine Higgs graduated from UNB in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering; he started working for Irving Oil the following week, and spent the next 33 years working for the company and climbing the corporate ladder.

Blaine Higgs finished Queen's University's executive management training program in 1993, and further took Babson Executive Training and Education finance and leadership courses.

Blaine Higgs retired from Irving Oil in 2010; by this time, he had been the director of logistics and distribution.

Blaine Higgs initially supported the Liberal Association but later left for reasons he cited as the party having lacked "common-sense democracy".

Blaine Higgs supported an elected Senate, opposed the Meech Lake Accord, favoured fixed terms for government, and stated "We do not have an obligation to cater to those people who can speak the common language, English, and refuse to do so".

On May 6,2010, Blaine Higgs launched his campaign for his debut candidacy in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick during the 2010 provincial elections shortly after retiring from Irving Oil.

On October 12,2010, Blaine Higgs was sworn-in as Minister of Finance, Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation, Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Investment Management Corporation, Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation, and Chair of the Board of Management.

Blaine Higgs served as Minister of Human Resources until October 9,2012.

Blaine Higgs represents the electoral district of Quispamsis as a member, and, since October 22,2016, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.

At 64 years of age at the time of swearing-in, Blaine Higgs is the oldest person to be sworn in as Premier in New Brunswick history, and in April 2019 became the oldest ever Premier in New Brunswick history, surpassing Leonard Percy de Wolfe Tilley in both records.

In 2019, Blaine Higgs began repealing several financial assistance programs for New Brunswick students attending post-secondary institutions.

Blaine Higgs's party deemed programs such as the Timely Completion Benefit, established in May 2009, to be "very costly".

In 2020, Blaine Higgs opted out of a federal program to fund public transit in New Brunswick, as he "misunderstood details" of the federal program designed to rescue municipal transit services.

Blaine Higgs claimed multiple times that the funding was for capital projects, but according to a government backgrounder on the agreement, that specific program was meant to address the operating deficits and revenue shortfalls caused by the pandemic.

Blaine Higgs's government had to deal with the Canadian Union of Public Employees strike in October and November 2021.

The chiefs later walked out on a meeting with Blaine Higgs following his refusal to commit to an independent inquiry, stating that they were 'losing faith' in him.

Blaine Higgs further stated that the lawsuit might lead to Indigenous people winning control of 60 per cent of the province's land, including private homes and businesses.

Blaine Higgs led the provincial government response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Brunswick.

Blaine Higgs argued that stability in government was required for the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery.

Blaine Higgs ranked first in both the government spending and deficits and debt categories, and seventh in taxation.

The opposition Liberals and Greens have argued that Blaine Higgs is not spending enough on public services, such as health care, education, and housing.

Blaine Higgs has received at least a dozen letters from his own party, including current party members and riding association presidents, to trigger a leadership review.

Blaine Higgs hired Steve Outhouse as his principal secretary and campaign manager for the 2024 New Brunswick general election.

Outhouse, who previously campaigned for the re-election of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, was paid a monthly salary of $20,776 in taxpayers' money, or $125,656 total by Blaine Higgs, which drew criticism from David Coon for being well above the average of around $150,000 to $175,000 annually.