Moncton East provincial by-election, 2007

A provincial by-election was held in New Brunswick on March 5, 2007 to fill the vacancy in the Legislative Assembly riding of Moncton East.^[1]

As a result of Bernard Lord's resignation, a by-election had to be called within six months of January 31, 2007. The date was set for March 5, 2007. The governing Liberals were hopeful that they could win the seat as it was held by Liberal Ray Frenette from 1974 to 1998 and because they are showing strength in recent opinion polls across the province.

Candidates

• The Liberal leader, Premier Shawn Graham, said he would not interfere in the nomination process, leaving it up to the riding to determine a candidate but that, as he has only three women in his caucus, he added that he "will be actively searching for women to run".^[2] Of the three candidates there were two men (Chris Collins, Daniel LeBlanc) and one woman (Gilberte Losier). Chris Collins, a Moncton city councillor, was nominated as the Liberal candidate.
• Chad Peters, a staffer with the Conservative Party's legislative office, and a former Elvis impersonator, was nominated on February 10, 2007.^[3]
• Hélène Lapointe, a former president of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party, was acclaimed her party's nominee on February 17, 2007.^[3]

Results

By-election on March 5, 2007
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Chris Collins	2,628	58.3%	+17.7%
	Progressive Conservative	Chad Peters	1,508	33.4%	-21.4%
	New Democrat	Hélène Lapointe	373	8.3%	+3.7%

References

1. ^ N.B. Grits win byelection in former Tory riding. CTV News, March 5, 2007.
2. ^ Daniel McHardie, "Liberal throws hat in ring for Lord's Moncton East seat", page A2, Telegraph-Journal, December 16, 2006.
3. ^ ^{a b} Quentin Casey. "Tory candidate takes first step toward filling Lord's sizeable shoes", page A1, Telegraph-Journal, February 12, 2007