Blaine Higgs

Blaine Higgs was born in Woodstock, New Brunswick. He graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1993, he completed the Executive Management Training Program at Queen’s University. He also has taken courses in Financial Acumen and Leadership and Influence at Babson Executive Training and Education.

Immediately following university, Mr. Higgs joined Irving Oil Limited in Saint John, New Brunswick, where he held numerous positions of increasing responsibility in engineering, refining operations and in the transportation sector in a career that spanned 33 years. Prior to retirement in May 2010, he was Director of Logistics and Distribution, with overall responsibility for the transportation and bulk storage requirements for the reliable supply of refined products to customers throughout Eastern Canada and New England.

He was a member of the Irving team negotiating with Repsol on the Canaport LNG project. He also served on the Board of Directors for Canaport LNG and the New Brunswick Gateway Council.

He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick on September 27, 2010, representing the riding of Quispamsis, a position he held for 14 years. On October 12, 2010, he was sworn-in as Minister of Finance, Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation, Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Investment Management Corporation, Minister responsible for the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation, and Chair of the Board of Management. He also served as Minister of Human Resources until October 9, 2012.

Mr. Higgs was reelected to the Legislative Assembly on September 22, 2014 and in 2016 he was elected Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. He became Premier of the Province of New Brunswick in 2018, a position he held for 6 years until being defeated in 2024. The provincial budget was balanced each year and the debt was reduced by over 15% during this 6 year period.