After serving one term as mayor of Saint John Mel Norton is looking to make the jump from municipal to provincial politics.
At a crowded announcement at the Delta in the uptown, which included a number of municipal and provincial politicians, Norton officially launched his bid to become leader of the provincial Progressive Conservative party which makes him the fifth person to do so.
Big crowd here for leadership announcement from @Melnortonsj. pic.twitter.com/xsgQPXE7PO
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) May 4, 2016
Standing ovation for @Melnortonsj as he’s called to the podium. pic.twitter.com/Mgx1wJ4Eln
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) May 4, 2016
He says that over the last almost two months they have been spending time talking to New Brunswickers and most of that time has been spent north of Moncton and Fredericton speaking with people who may not necessarily know him or what he’s about.
“We also have to take the time to listen and understand the perspectives because there are very different perspectives between northern New Brunswick and southern New Brunswick,” says Norton.
In his speech Norton spoke about the economy and said that we have to be focused on building that. He also spoke about the need for unity in the province. He told reporters they are hearing that people in New Brunswick feel divided and that if often comes back to urban vs. rural which he says sometimes gets characterized as a language division. Norton says we need to do more to help the economy especially in rural New Brunswick.
“We need to have strong regions right across the province,” says Norton, “and this is something that right now especially in the rural parts of New Brunswick isn’t being felt and the reality is that the opportunities are less than what they need to be so we need to really focus on that.”
Another standing ovation when @MelnortonNB says he’s launching his bid to be the leader of the provincial PC party. pic.twitter.com/h5MHZkqqvP
— Laura Lyall (@LauraLyall) May 4, 2016
Near the end of his speech Norton said, “I humbly ask for your support on October 22.”
Norton joins Quispamsis MLA Blaine Higgs, Fredericton West-Hanwell MLA Brian Macdonald, Moncton lawyer Monica Barley and former MP Mike Allen as candidates. The leadership convention is on October 21 and 22 in Fredericton.
Congrats on entering the PC leadership race, @melnortonNB – your continued devotion to public service is applauded. #NBpoli
— Brian Gallant (@BrianGallantNB) May 4, 2016
