New Brunswick voters shun Premier Bernard Lord
{{date|September 19, 2006}}
{{Canadian news}}
Voters in the [[w:Canada|Canadian]] province of [[w:New Brunswick|New Brunswick]] narrowly defeated the [[w:New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party|Progresive Conservative]] government of [[w:Premier|Premier]] [[w:Bernard Lord|Bernard Lord]] giving [[w:Shawn Graham|Shawn Graham]]'s [[w:New Brunswick Liberal Party|Liberals]] a narrow upset victory in yesterday's [[w:New Brunswick general election, 2006|general election]]. 

While the Tories edged the Liberals in the popular vote by a margin of 47.65% to 47.00%, the Liberals will form a [[w:majority government|majority government]] having won 29 seats to the Conservatives' 26 while the [[w:New Democratic Party of New Brunswick|New Democratic Party]] was shut out. Graham, 38, will become premier displacing Lord, 40, who held the office for two terms. Lord becomes the first New Bruwnswick premier to fail to win a third term since the 1950s.

"Welcome to a new era for our province," said Graham in his victory speech. "It is with great humility tonight that I accept this mandate from the people of New Brunswick."

"But the first thing we will do is bring back the pride of New Brunswickers," he said. "Today, New Brunswickers made a choice and that choice was change. You have chosen hope. We can not wait another day. We have worked to earn your trust and now we will work to keep your trust."

Lord accepted the result telling his supporters that "serving as Premier for the last seven years has been an honour and a privilege. I was hoping that we had the energy [to win] but in the end I accept the decision of the people of New Brunswick." 

In the election, the Liberals picked up two seats from the Tories in northern New Brunswick where the government had made several controversial hospital closings.

== Sources ==
{{wikipediapar|New Brunswick general election, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1158617412193
|title=Voters opt for change, oust Lord
|author=Chris Morris, Canadian Press
|pub=Toronto Star
|date=September 19, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060919.wxnewbrunswick19/BNStory/National/home
|title=Liberals grab majority in New Brunswick
|author=Shawna Richer
|pub=Globe and Mail
|date=September 19, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nbvotes2006/story/2006/09/18/nb-libwinclose.html
|title=Liberals topple Lord's Tories in New Brunswick|author=
|pub=CBC News
|date=September 18, 2006}}
    
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[[Category:New Brunswick]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]
Voters in the Canadian province of New Brunswick narrowly defeated the Progresive Conservative government of Premier Bernard Lord giving Shawn Graham's Liberals a narrow upset victory in yesterday's general election. 

While the Tories edged the Liberals in the popular vote by a margin of 47.65% to 47.00%, the Liberals will form a majority government having won 29 seats to the Conservatives' 26 while the New Democratic Party was shut out. Graham, 38, will become premier displacing Lord, 40, who held the office for two terms. Lord becomes the first New Bruwnswick premier to fail to win a third term since the 1950s.

"Welcome to a new era for our province," said Graham in his victory speech. "It is with great humility tonight that I accept this mandate from the people of New Brunswick."

"But the first thing we will do is bring back the pride of New Brunswickers," he said. "Today, New Brunswickers made a choice and that choice was change. You have chosen hope. We can not wait another day. We have worked to earn your trust and now we will work to keep your trust."

Lord accepted the result telling his supporters that "serving as Premier for the last seven years has been an honour and a privilege. I was hoping that we had the energy to win but in the end I accept the decision of the people of New Brunswick." 

In the election, the Liberals picked up two seats from the Tories in northern New Brunswick where the government had made several controversial hospital closings.

*
New Brunswick Canada North America Politics and conflicts Elections