Alliance with Alliance?

One of the small parties in New Brunswick is offering to provide support for a Progressive Conservative minority government for up to a year and a half.

People’s Alliance Leader Kris Austin said Friday he met with Lt.-Gov. Jocelyne Roy Vienneau and told her he has an agreement with the Tories.

“Kris Austin met with the lieutenant-governor this morning to discuss working with other parties in the upcoming legislative assembly to make government work,” said an emailed news release from the party.

“Mr. Austin informed her honour that he has met with Blaine Higgs and has agreed to provide stability for a Progressive Conservative minority government for up to 18 months.”

“People’s Alliance members of the legislature will continue to hold the government to account with the expectation that all parties must work together in the best interest of New Brunswickers.”

Monday’s New Brunswick election produced a narrow result, with the Tories winning 22 seats to the Liberals 21. Neither was able to reach the 25 seats needed for a majority.

The Green Party went from one to three seats and People’s Alliance earned three seats, with both party leaders winning in their respective ridings.

Higgs had met with the province’s lieutenant-governor on Thursday, and emerged to say Liberal Premier Brian Gallant should resign or immediately recall the legislature.

Higgs also said at the time he had no plans to form a formal coalition government with either of the third parties.

However, he also indicated on Thursday that he was open to a more informal arrangement.

“The deal is not something that has to be a signed document that People’s Alliance Leader Kris Austin participates in the CBC televised debate of the provincial election in Riverview, N.B. on Wednesday. Sept. 12. One of the small parties in New Brunswick is offering to provide support for a Progressive Conservative minority government for up to a year and a half.

says, ‘Here, I’ll give you this thing, if you give me that,”’ he told reporters.

Gallant had previously said he would not form a coalition with the People’s Alliance, saying there

are “fundamental values” the Liberals don’t share with the smaller party.

The People’s Alliance party has pledged to eliminate duality in government services - including

school buses and health care and do away with the office of the official languages commissioner.

Gallant had hoped to come to an agreement with the Greens.