Higgs accused of launching 'vicious' attack on PC critic during Saturday meeting

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has been accused of launching "a vicious verbal attack" against a member of the provincial Progressive Conservative party's governing body who questioned his leadership.

Regional vice-president John Williston said the premier was "over the top" and "aggressive" when he shouted at the member of the PC provincial council on the weekend. 

"He was clearly in a complete rage," Williston told CBC's Information Morning Fredericton. 

"If this is how the premier speaks to his cabinet, if this is how the premier communicates with his caucus, it's clearly a toxic work environment that none of us would be willing to accept in our own places of business."

Higgs is facing a revolt within his PC caucus and in the party over his leadership style, which critics say is a top-down system that ignores expertise and allows little input from ministers and MLAs.

Two ministers, Dorothy Shephard and Trevor Holder, have resigned from his cabinet in the last two weeks over their concerns about his approach.

Higgs's spokesperson Nicolle Carlin told CBC News on Monday morning that the premier will shuffle his cabinet on Tuesday.

Two other ministers, Daniel Allain and Jeff Carr, joined Shephard and Holder in voting against the government on June 15.

All four helped to pass an opposition Liberal motion calling for further consultations on the government's Policy 713, which sets out protections for LGBTQ students in schools.

That vote crystallized a growing discontent within the party that Shephard said goes far beyond just Policy 713.

Former party president Claude Williams said last week that there are letters from presidents of 26 PC riding associations asking for a leadership review — more than the 20 required to force the provincial council to vote on whether to hold a vote.

Williston said the letters weren't submitted at Saturday's meeting because the number continues to grow, with two more presidents signing on after the meeting because of the premier's behaviour.

Higgs said on Saturday that there was "a good frank open discussion here and I think we have a path forward."

Asked about Williams telling reporters he was disappointed in comments by the premier in the meeting, Higgs said his remarks were "about team building, it was about us working together and having good discussions internally."