Vickers mulling Liberal run in N.B.
HALIFAX• Kevin Vickers, who became Canada’s ambassador to Ireland after being hailed as a hero for helping to end the 2014 attack on Parliament Hill, is considering a move into politics.
The former sergeant-atarms of the House of Commons said Monday he’s considering a run for the Liberal leadership in his native New Brunswick.
Vickers has already met with at least one potential supporter in caucus.
“He has a great array of experience from all of his different careers that he’s held, and he understands what’s happening in this world,” said Lisa Harris, Liberal MLA for Miramichi BayNeguac, who has met with Vickers.
On Oct. 22, 2014, Vickers fired the shots that killed gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, who had stormed into Centre Block on Parliament Hill after killing a soldier at the National War Memorial.
Harris said Vickers would be an exciting candidate for the party’s leadership. Their meeting came about after she had heard “rumblings” that Vickers was considering a political run a few weeks ago, and she said the two had a chat about current issues in the province and her experiences as an MLA.
Former premier Brian Gallant announced recently that he’ll be stepping down as Liberal leader earlier than planned, saying the party needs to move on.
Vickers said he’s a “long ways from making a decision,” noting that he’s been in public service for nearly 43 years, and there’s much to consider before making another four-year commitment.
“It’s a long haul,” he said from Trout Brook, N.B.
Vickers said that if he decides to run, he would hope to heal relations between the province’s English and French-speaking residents — a contentious issue during the recent provincial election.
“I don’t think there’s a linguistic divide; I think there may be a divide based on misunderstandings, misinformation,” said Vickers.
“There’s so much negativity, there’s so much misinformation that’s used for promotion of agendas that are based not on fact.”
The next Liberal leader could have a shot at power within 18 months.
The Liberals handed power to Blaine Higgs’ Tories in November after losing a confidence vote.