Voters will likely consider several issues when they head to the ballot box in October, according to a politics professor.
J.P. Lewis, who teaches at the University of New Brunswick, expects health-care access and education to remain top of mind.
Lewis said a new issue this election that was not around in 2018 or 2020 are cost of living and affordability for New Brunswickers.
“In recent months, New Brunswickers and Canadians when they’re polled, those are their main concerns and I can’t imagine it moving in a different direction,” Lewis told our newsroom, adding it will probably be the “ballot issue.”
Lewis said there is always the possibility of “formative events” during the election that may bring other issues to the front burner.
The professor said early polls indicate the Liberals will continue to dominate in the north and the Progressive Conservatives in the south and southwest.
“That leaves us with probably a dozen ridings that could be very interesting and will tell us who’s going to win the election,” said Lewis.
That includes the ridings of former Saint John cabinet ministers Arlene Dunn, Trevor Holder and Dorothy Shephard, who are not running in this election.
Lewis said there are also a handful of ridings in Greater Moncton that he will be looking to as toss-ups and will probably decide the election.
The election will take place on Oct. 21.
