Moncton Centre MLA Chris Collins announced this morning that he will run as an Independent in the upcoming provincial election.
Collins was first elected as an MLA in 2007, and was re-elected again in 2010 and 2014 as a Liberal.
“My work in Moncton Centre is not yet done. I am not done serving my constituents,” Collins says.
Collins was at the centre of allegations of harassment against an employee in the Legislature, and was suspended from the Liberal caucus.
The complaint was founded in part by a Legislative Administration Committee, and a statement and apology was issued by Collins last week.
It read, “With regards to the recent investigation, multiple allegations were made but an overwhelming majority of the allegations have been deemed to be unfounded, the few remaining related to incidents in which I spoke in a manner that was perceived to be inappropriate by the complainant. For that, I am very apologetic.
In a news release issued this morning he says, ““We need someone to keep these political parties honest. I’m an Independent unchained candidate who recognizes that we are in a fiscal crisis in this province, and we can’t afford Brian Gallant spending our own money to buy elections.”
The election is scheduled for September 24.