A Progressive Conservative minister has quit cabinet and another has announced he will not reoffer in the upcoming election.
“As we enter an election year, I have reached the difficult decision to not run again,” Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland said in an email Friday.
“I will continue to serve both in cabinet and as MLA until after the next election. I also will take on an active role in the next election campaign, to help Premier Higgs and my PCNB colleagues get re-elected.”
Holland, who was first elected in 2018 and serves as the MLA for Albert, also thanked the premier for having faith in him as a cabinet minister.
Saint John Harbour MLA Arlene Dunn also announced Friday that she has quit cabinet and will not be reoffering in the upcoming election.
“It is with mixed emotions that I announce that I am stepping away from my cabinet duties immediately and that I will be resigning my MLA seat in the near term. Serving the people of New Brunswick and representing the wonderful people in my riding of Saint John Harbour has been a true privilege and honour of a lifetime,” Dunn said in a statement.
Dunn held roles of post-secondary education, training and labour minister, Indigenous affairs minister, and the minister responsible for immigration.
Her responsibilities are being split up among two current cabinet ministers, Premier Blaine Higgs announced during a cabinet shuffle.
Greg Turner will take on the post-secondary education, training and labour portfolio, along with the immigration portfolio. He is currently responsible for Opportunities New Brunswick, as well as economic development and small business.
Holland will take over the Indigenous affairs portfolio while continuing to serve as minister of natural resources and energy development.
A provincial election is scheduled for October unless the premier calls one earlier.
