In the final “Home Office” conversation with New Brunswick party leaders, Huddle editor Mark Leger speaks with PC leader Blaine Higgs about a range of issues, including the decision to cut ties with a candidate who shared a social media post promoting violence against the transgender community; his opposition to funding abortion services at a private clinic; a proposed ban on glyphosate spraying; and economic growth in a province feeling good about its ability to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
Oh, and they also talked about his summer and the times he was able to relax with his daughters and young grandchildren. And like any parent or grandparent sometimes he needed a break.
“We had a great time with our grandchildren,” he says. “I’m an avid swimmer and I love time in the water. We had such a hot summer that when I got up to the country we were jumping off the boat and swimming under it. They were of the age this year where we could play games like hide-and-seek around the boat. It was fun.”
“Now, mind you, it was good that I could go underwater; they were in their life jackets and I would dive underwater to give me a little break and get away from them for a few minutes,” he joked.
Despite the many difficult issues faced by the province and his minority government, he is encouraged by how well the province is doing, especially with how it managed the Covid-19 crisis better than most provinces.
“Our province is starting to see itself differently, I think [because of] the Covid experience and working together to achieve success,” he says. “I see this around the province. Years back, people would look from the outside and say, ‘whatever New Brunswick does, do the opposite.’ Well, they’re not saying that now. That’s exciting for me. We need to build on that.”
Listen to the interview with Blaine in the player above or one of many podcast platforms.
The Huddle “Home Office” podcast, available on Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher and Apple podcast platforms, features conversations with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia community leaders, entrepreneurs, analysts and Huddle reporters about the issues and events that accelerate and enrich the growth of the region’s economy and culture.
Other podcasts in this series:
- Why David Coon Is Campaigning For A Green ‘Minority’ Government In N.B.
- Why Kris Austin Believes Minority Government Is Good For Business In New Brunswick
- Kevin Vickers On Economic Growth, Progressive Social Change And Morning Runs
- Mackenzie Thomason On Minimum Wage, The Irvings And Campaigning With A Metre Stick
This story was originally published by Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
