CLOSE in N.B.

Progressive Conservatives won a narrow victory in Monday’s provincial election, with 22 seats to the Liberals’ 21. Two smaller parties each won three seats and potentially hold the balance of power —

Voters in New Brunswick have turned have their backs on the province’s entrenched two-party system for the first time in a generation, electing enough third-party candidates to leave the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives in a virtual dead heat in a minority legislature.

Four hours after the polls closed Monday, the Tories had won 22 seats, the incumbent Liberals had 21, the right-of-centre People’s Alliance had three and the Greens three. The NDP was shut out of the race.

A total of 25 seats is needed for a majority in the 49-seat house, which means the third parties were poised to play a key role in deciding who governs the province: incumbent Liberal Brian Gallant, who is seeking a second term in office, or Progressive Conservative Blaine Higgs.

Even though Higgs won the most seats, parliamentary tradition suggests that the incumbent premier will be given the first opportunity to govern by the lieutenantgovernor.

Higgs claimed victory Monday, saying his team had a mandate from the people.

“As in any race, the one who has the most numbers wins,” he said as supporters roared their approval from a former warehouse in Quispamsis. “I’ve been speaking with some constitutional experts — so we’re good.”

As Higgs spoke, the final seat numbers appeared to change, leaving the two main parties temporarily in a tie at 21.

“It’s going to be a long night,” he said. “I guess probably Brian Gallant and I will both be lined up at the lieutenant-governor’s office in the morning.”

Gallant made it clear he plans to meet today with the lieutenant-governor to explain that he intends to continue governing the province by securing support in the legislature on a voteby-vote basis.

“Clearly there’s some uncertainty tonight,” Gallant told supporters at an elementary school in GrandeDigue, which is along the province’s east coast.

“There is, for the first time in this generation, a minority situation. We have heard New Brunswickers loud and clear ... New Brunswickers have sent third parties into the legislature in a way they haven’t done before.”

Pundits say the People’s Alliance Party, led by Kris Austin, is more closely aligned with the Tories than any other party. And the Greens share more in common with the Liberals.