Content area
Full Text
CHRIS HALL (CBC-TV):
Canada has been coping with COVID-19 restrictions for six months now. But that didn't stop New Brunswick from holding a provincial election, the first since the pandemic began. The province has one of the lowest case counts in the country and began reopening earlier than most provinces. Even so, candidates and campaign staff have been forced to adjust in advance of Monday's vote. Jacques Poitras covers New Brunswick politics for the CBC and joins me now from Fredericton. Jacques, thanks for doing this
JACQUES POITRAS (REPORTER):
Hi, Chris.
CHRIS HALL (CBC-TV):
So what's this campaign been like compared to the others you've covered over the years.
JACQUES POITRAS (REPORTER):
It's really different. Premier Blaine Higgs, progressive conservative premier, called this election and though he said he didn't want to have to do it, his party did have the most time to prepare and it shows. I went to a Higgs campaign stop last week in a public park in Fredericton. Almost all campaign events are being held outdoors for all parties. And at this one there were yellow and orange cones on the ground on the grass arranged in circles. And I spoke to campaign manager Louis Leger.
LOUIS LEGER (CAMPAIGN MANAGER):
So right off the bat there is a table and people can wash their hands. There is masks, there's signage everywhere, there's also little things on the ground to remind people that they have to social distance. Everybody wears a mask. The podium that is being used is being wiped every time.
JACQUES POITRAS (REPORTER):
And Chris, another big difference that I noticed immediately at this event and at all leader tour events was the crowd. There were a few local candidates, a handful of party supporters and that was it.
LOUIS LEGER (CAMPAIGN MANAGER):
It's the first time ever that I've ever been involved in anything that you almost have to discourage people from coming. So that's different. A lot of people want to attend nominations, for example, and saw the public meeting and we have to say, well, if it's not your riding, could you stay in your riding and not attend and leave the people from that riding?
JACQUES POITRAS (REPORTER):
Now the biggest change though, Chris,...