Now that we're looking into candidate's pasts, will someone take a look at Quispamsis PC candidate Blaine Higgs? @cbcjones @nthlstrgn @s_awde7 @BradMPerry @silasjvbrown @travisfortnum @thecaitdiaries
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Higgs' pamphlet from his 1989 COR leadership heavily anti-French but also promised "to strength the family unit, while maintaining personal social and moral standards befitting of a leader." In the context of the times clearly a homophobic reference to Richard Hatfield 
News coverage found that in addition to his distaste for minority rights protections generally (pamphlet: "strengthen unity by identifying common interests and desires") he wanted a referendum on bilingualism, abortion and capital punishment
In 1985, Higgs penned an 11 page letter to a committee studying bilingualism and laid out his worldview. Among other things, he said the internment of Japanese-Canadians during WW2 was "in the interest of of national defense (sic)". Not sure what that had to do with bilingualism
Pages 5-8
Pages 9-11
Other highlights of Higgs' diatribe:
- envy for Americans' single language, uniculturalism and nationalism;
- disdain for "unrealistic fantasies of linguistic rights"
- Quebecers aren't real Canadians because they pursue "'French Power' at any cost"
(and that's only to page 3!)
- envy for Americans' single language, uniculturalism and nationalism;
- disdain for "unrealistic fantasies of linguistic rights"
- Quebecers aren't real Canadians because they pursue "'French Power' at any cost"
(and that's only to page 3!)
More highlights:
- NB is "the sacrificial province" for bilingualism
- anglophones voted for Hatfield in spite of his support for bilingualism because "the name Hatfield saved him for many years"
- NB is "the sacrificial province" for bilingualism
- anglophones voted for Hatfield in spite of his support for bilingualism because "the name Hatfield saved him for many years"
Still more(!):
- calling for the creation of a majority-rights party "dedicated solely to the preservation of the English" that "will truly represent the majority" in spite of "the media" portraying them of having "bigotry"
(@realDonaldTrump would be proud)
- calling for the creation of a majority-rights party "dedicated solely to the preservation of the English" that "will truly represent the majority" in spite of "the media" portraying them of having "bigotry"
(@realDonaldTrump would be proud)
And more:
- describing anglophone support for francophones rights as "thrown in as a token gesture"
- descries "English speaking moderates" who fall for a conspiracy led by people "on a payroll of some sort to fight for this cause... in many cases a government payroll"
- describing anglophone support for francophones rights as "thrown in as a token gesture"
- descries "English speaking moderates" who fall for a conspiracy led by people "on a payroll of some sort to fight for this cause... in many cases a government payroll"
- describing the Canadian Parents for French interest group as a tool to cause "moderates (to be) overtaken by compassion" that was "not started by French parents... but organized and funded by the Federal government"
(how many conspiracies have we found so far, I lost track?)
(how many conspiracies have we found so far, I lost track?)
Blaine Higgs, 1985: "I cannot support arguments that New Brunswick residents are suffering because they cannot get services in their mother tongue"
Replace "in their mother tongue" with "that are sensitive to their gender and sexual identity" and it could have been last week!
Replace "in their mother tongue" with "that are sensitive to their gender and sexual identity" and it could have been last week!
Blaine Higgs, 1985: Bilingual francophones should stop seeking service in French, accept it in English and "grow up and start acting like responsible citizens in the real world?
Higgs questioned "cultural motivation of the Acadians", says if he hadn't left his village he would be unemployed, implies Acadians should move and assimilate if they want jobs, and says if we are "plagued with language restrictions" no one will invest.
Yes, he said "plagued"
Yes, he said "plagued"
Blaine Higgs begins his conclusion to this angry, hateful diatribe with:
"I would like to emphasize that I am not supporting bigotry but reality and I am sure that many of the moderates both Anglophone and Francophone would agree"
BUT then he says...
"I would like to emphasize that I am not supporting bigotry but reality and I am sure that many of the moderates both Anglophone and Francophone would agree"
BUT then he says...
"I urge all New Brunswickers to examine the issues at hand. Look closely at the real driving force behind the French cause and the source of the funds that support it. I do not wish to hold any prejudices against the Francophones but I feel our current course is one of...
...division and conflictions (sic). I wish only to return to the system where qualification and ability takes precedence over the language one speaks."
One might say: these words were written 31-35 years ago, surely a man can change. Yes, perhaps. But the tone and turns of phrase are identical to how speaks today. And these were not whims posted quickly on Facebook. How much time did it take him to write and rewrite 11 pages?
Blaine Higgs carefully considered these words and they were his core beliefs. Can those change? Again, perhaps, but only through some remarkable revelation. How and when did this happen for Higgs, if it did at all?
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