Let The Games Begin

It’s September 19th, and the much-anticipated New Brunswick election showdown is officially underway. Candidates on both sides are out in full force, with election campaign signs sprouting like spring dandelions and doors being knocked on as they scramble to win your vote. Long gone are the days of politicians hand shaking, kissing babies, and promising the moon. Today’s campaigns are well armed with digital battlegrounds, dominated by social media, with Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram..

But let’s face it, convincing either a diehard Liberal or Conservative to switch sides? That’s about as likely as seeing a snowman survive in hell. Politics, very much like religion, is deeply ingrained. If you were born Liberal, chances are you’ll die Liberal—and the same goes for Conservatives. So, where do we go from here?

To be brutally honest I don't think either party has all the answers. The bigger question looming large before us is which party has a vision that truly benefits the current and future generations of New Brunswickers? From where I’m sitting, politics today has become far too divisive. The terms "partisanship" and "opposition" feel more like a sport than a service to the people. Are we electing leaders to win a game at the citizens expense or to deliver real solutions to serious provincial issues?

Even George Washington, in his 1796 farewell speech, warned against partisan politics, fearing they would lead to a “spirit of revenge” where politicians fight for power instead of governing for the good of the people. Two and a half centuries later, what have we really learned?

As someone who’s survived nearly 50 years in the fast-paced world of information technology, I’ve come to trust my version of common sense, logic, and the laws of probability far more than the hollow promises of political possibility. Although I’ve cast my vote in every provincial and national election, I’ve never donated a cent to a any political party until recent years. For me, it’s never been about "the party"—it’s always been about strong leadership and a clear vision for New Brunswick.

Frank McKenna, a leader with a vision for New Brunswick, is one of the few politicians that I respected and who fit that bill. He wasn’t just a politician; he was a problem solver who saw the Information Age as an important key in the future of New Brunswick. Under his leadership, the province became a tech trailblazer with the formation of the New Brunswick Information Highway Secretariat. At national IT conferences, New Brunswick was held in high regard, leading the way in information technology.

Fast forward a few years to when I attended a New Brunswick Progressive Conservative leadership dog and pony event hosted by Blaine Higgs. As usual, I went in with my usual doubts and skepticism about politics. But then Higgs said something that shifted my perspective: “We have to get politics OUT of governing.” I thought now there's a novel idea, In that moment, I realized that here was someone who, at the very least, was focused on leadership and problem-solving—someone with a vision who might be able to steer New Brunswick in the right direction.

This province doesn’t need another politician. Based on my life and business experience, and applying some common sense, I’m placing my bets on Blaine Higgs come October 21st, 2024.

It’s something worth thinking about.