Formed from two merged Fredericton ridings, Fredericton-West Hanwell is comprised of two PC held ridings. Large components of Fredericton-Silverwood and York are the basis for the new riding and provide a close race primarily between the Liberals and Conservatives, though there is a strong New Democrat component here as well. Given that people vote for leaders, and the NDP leader is running here; it could turn into an interesting threeway race.
Incumbent PC MLA Brian Macdonald is a veteran of the Canadian military and has been involved with several programs overseas. He was a policy advisor to Defence Minister Peter Mackay. He studied economics in England. Despite his impressive history, he has not yet been given a cabinet post by the premier.
NDP Leader Dominic Cardy will give it his all to win over the newborn riding. When Cardy took over the party in 2012, the party was in serious debt. Cardy balanced the books and modernized the party mechanics. He has worked with former US President Jimmy Carter to release underaged political prisoners in Bangladesh. He models his brand of social democracy in the form of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Liberal Bernadine Gibson is a healthcare worker who has concerns about the current system. She says she has studied the healthcare system of New Brunswick for twenty years and has ideas on how to fix it. Gibson says that NB lacks the services it needs, especially in the fields of senior care and mental health care.
Green Gayla MacIntosh is a self described ordinary person. She has been a tree planter for Natural Resources, a volunteer at her church, and a volunteer with Scouts. Her reasons for running is to see a more environmentally friendly government and a better tomorrow.
There is no People’s Alliance candidate running here.
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