New N.B. party provokes fear of split vote

The Peoples Alliance expects to get official recognition by the end of the month, allowing it to be listed on the ballot in a general election in September.

The party says its aim is to reform politics by giving MLAs free votes on all issues.

"We feel that the people of the province need to have power back into their hands," said interim leader Kris Austin.

'It's better to work within the parties because as we split the parties, we split the vote.' Max White, former COR MLA

Austin, pastor at the Community Christian Church in Minto, N.B.,said the new party is a response to the anger stoked by a proposed NB Power deal with Hydro-Qubec, which angered many New Brunswickers before it was abandoned earlier this year.

"We have seen, basically, our system of government become more closed-door, there's too much secrecy," Austin said.

Fears of vote split

Max White, a former MLA for the Confederation of Regions party, which held official status in the legislature between 1991 and 1995, said the upstart party could help the governing Liberals.

"It's better to work within the parties because as we split the parties, we split the vote," White said.

White said COR split the vote and helped the Liberals win in 1995, something he now regrets.

Members of the Liberal Party say the formation of the new party reflects badly on the Progressive Conservatives and their leader, David Alward.

Donald Arseneault, the deputy premier, said the new party shows the Tories are splintering so close to the September election.

"It raises a lot of questions about the leadership of David Alward that he can't quite seem to keep his team intact, so that's quite interesting," Arseneault said.

The executive director of the party, Stirling Wright, is a former PC executive.

But Austin said not all People's Alliance members are former Conservatives.

Hesaid peopleshould forgetworries about vote splits in September and vote their conscience.

The party has nine riding associations and about 130 registered members, according to a report.

The party will meet in Oromocto this weekend to choose its leader.

New Brunswick voters will head to the polls on Sept. 27 in the province's first election with a fixed date.

When the legislature adjournedthere were 31 Liberals, 22 Tories and two vacancies.

Voters have not been kind to non-traditional parties in recent elections.

The New Democratic Party failed to elect a MLA in the 2006 election and at the same time the party had the worst showing in terms of the share of popular vote in more than 30 years.