PARTIES RACE TO ENLIST CANDIDATES FOR SNAP ELECTION

At least three of New Brunswick’s political parties are promising a full slate of candidates ahead of next month’s provincial election. Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs called a snap election Monday, leaving political parties fewer than two weeks to confirm candidates for all of the province’s 49 constituencies. The deadline is Aug. 28. The Tories released a list Friday of 30 nominated candidates but Higgs told a news conference later that day 46 people had already been chosen. He said the final three would be in place by the middle of next week. Asked if he was having any difficulty finding people to run for his party, Higgs simply responded: “No.” The Liberals only had seven people listed as confirmed candidates on their website Friday but party officials said 38 people have been confirmed so far. They said the party will have a complete 49-person list in place by Wednesday. Green leader David Coon pledged earlier in the week his party would field 49 candidates. The People’s Alliance said Friday they had 21 confirmed candidates.