New Brunswick

Saint John East byelection set for November

The byelection to replace Gary Keating after his sudden resignation is scheduled for Nov. 17

Gary Keating resigned just 22 days after election

Byelections in the first half of a government’s mandate tend to favour the party in power. Bernard Lord’s Progressive Conservatives picked up Campbellton, Caraquet and Kent South in 2001, which had been won by the Liberals in 1999. Shawn Graham’s Liberals won Lord’s Moncton East seat in 2007, after the former premier resigned. (CBC)

The byelection in Saint John East to replace Liberal Gary Keating after his sudden resignation is scheduled for Nov. 17.

Keating announced his resignation just 22 days after the provincial election.

In a written statement, Keating, who had not yet been sworn in, said he realized during the campaign how the long hours and travel would affect his family and health and apologized to his constituents.

The Liberals still have a majority after Keating's resignation.

His resignation leaves the legislature with 26 Liberals, 21 Conservatives and a single Green MLA.

Progressive Conservative party president Jason Stephen said Glen Savoie will again be their candidate.

Savoie lost by nine votes to Keating.

With files from the Canadian Press