Christian conservative group recruiting thousands to back Higgs

A Christian conservative group rallying support for New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs now have enough signatures to be a decisive factor in any leadership review vote.

It and another organization rallying support for the embattled Progressive Conservative leader have flexed their muscles in the last month, gathering enough names to swing the vote in his favour.

"A lot of times it's hundreds or even dozens of people that can make a difference in some of these elections," said Faytene Grasseschi, who runs the group 4 My Canada from Quispamsis, outside Saint John.

As of Wednesday she said she had collected almost 9,000 names from across Canada, including 2,000 from New Brunswick who could sign up as provincial PC members.

"If it goes to a leadership review, I think it's buying that membership and making your voice heard," said Grasseschi.

"This is just basic democracy, right?"

Another group, Right Now, has more than 1,200 signatures. Co-founder Alissa Golob estimates more than 90 per cent of them are from New Brunswickers who are eligible to become provincial party members.

"We'll be ready if it does come to a leadership review or if it comes down to an election," said Golob, who describes her organization as non-religious.

Twenty-six PC riding association presidents have signed letters calling for a review, hoping to trigger a vote by members on whether to dump Higgs. New Brunswick's premier has lost or fired several cabinet ministers in recent months over his leadership style, and stance on issues like a gender policy in the province's schools. 

The next hurdle is a two-thirds vote by the party's governing body to schedule a convention. But if that happens, Higgs has a good chance of surviving thanks to Grasseschi and Golob.

Just 2,732 PC members cast ballots in the third and final round of the party's 2016 leadership vote that Higgs won.

His margin was 394 votes — far fewer than the number of names collected by 4 My Canada and Right Now.

"The nation and our communities are shaped by those who show up in the process," Grasseschi said.

The two groups started mobilizing last month after Higgs faced a cabinet and caucus revolt in the legislature over changes to Policy 713.