One of only two vacant seats, Cambellton-Dalhousie is a left leaning riding but by no means a guaranteed seat for the Gallant Liberals. Though the former seat holder, Donald Arseneault, won the riding by nearly 3000 votes in 2014; the nature of his departure may negatively affect the Liberal Party in 2018.
Campbellton-Dalhousie is a newer riding made up of two former ridings which did swing from red to blue and back to red again. That may give some hope to Tory voters in the riding who saw the 2014 landslide with great dismay. The Liberal image may also be tarnished after Donald Arseneault accepted a position with Canada’s Building Trade Unions while attempting to hold his position as an MLA. The integrity commissioner found Arseneault innocent and verified that no laws were broken, but the appearance of a conflict of interest is undeniable. Gallant gave Arseneault an ultimatum to keep the CBTU post or keep his seat in the legislature; Arseneault chose the CBTU.
Replacing Donald Arseneault on the Liberal ticket is former Liberal Member of Parliament, Guy Arseneault. Guy has nine years experience in Ottawa having served from 1988 to 1997. After retiring from federal politics, Guy was active in education and with the teachers’ union. Always championing better standards for education in New Brunswick, Guy may be able to bring luster back to the Liberal name after Donald’s departure.
The Progressive Conservatives offer no slouch in their candidate Diane Cyr. Cyr has served on Campbellton’s city council for ten years. She’s an avid volunteer and festival coordinator. Realistically, in this riding, if anybody has a chance to beat the Liberals, it is Diane Cyr and the Progressive Conservatives.
The Green Party has selected an environmental faithful; Annie Theriault. A vocal opponent of New Brunswick’s failing environmental policies on social media, Theriault makes clear her disapproval of glyphosate herbicides, deforestation, and toxic dumping in her community of River Charlo. Her campaign has been off to a slow start, but she is surrounded by a passionate group of young environmentalists.
Therese Tremblay will represent the New Democrats in Cambellton-Dalhousie. Therese is a retired union and labour activist. She has worked with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Restigouche District Labour Council (RDLC).
Peoples Alliance have offered former small business owner and retiree Robert Boudreau. Boudreau has travelled across Canada and lived in several Canadian cities before returning home to New Brunswick. PANB didn’t offer in this riding in 2014; their presence this year may hurt Diane Cyr’s chances of building stronger numbers for the PC.
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