The New Brunswick legislature in Fredericton. (Image: Brad Perry)
New Brunswick’s deputy premier is leaving the Progressive Conservative party over controversial health-care reforms.
During a news conference Friday morning, Robert Gauvin announced he will sit as an independent MLA.
Gauvin said after hearing from communities affected by emergency room closures earlier this week, he has to put the needs of residents before the party.
On Tuesday, the province’s two health authorities announced they would be closing emergency rooms overnight in six rural communities: Sussex, Sackville, Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, Perth-Andover, Grand Falls, and Caraquet.
The move has led to protests in Sussex and backlash from both residents and opposition political parties.
Gauvin said this is an attack on rural New Brunswick and that many are counting on him to defend it.
He added that Ambulance NB has already expressed that they aren’t prepared to deal with the closures. Some doctors fear they will be overworked and may need to leave the province.
Gauvin’s announcement leaves the PCs with 20 seats in the legislature, followed by the Liberals with 19 seats, the Greens and People’s Alliance with three seats each, two vacant seats, one independent, and the Liberal speaker.
With files from Christina Mulherin and Brad Perry.
