“Whether you’re a man or a woman; English or French; rural or urban; North, South, East, West; a person of faith, a member of the LGBTQ community, a young person … you belong to this party,” he said.
Now, he said, the party needs to put aside its differences and offer the province an alternative to the country's only Liberal provincial government.
"We are at our best when we are socially progressive, fiscally conservative, believe in the rights of the individual, prioritize private growth, believe in bilingualism, care for society's most vulnerable, are fiscally responsible, and work to create strong families and communities."
He criticized Premier Susan Holt's government for multibillion-dollar budget deficits, deteriorating health care access, poor public education outcomes, high cost of living and public safety concerns.
And he announced plans for a party policy convention in early 2027 to work out a platform for the next general election scheduled for October 2028.
"We will show you a better plan for a stronger New Brunswick," he told hundreds of party members at a convention hall in downtown Fredericton.
"I need you with me because it's time to think big."
Allain, who does not have a seat in the legislature, replaces former premier Blaine Higgs who quit after the party lost its majority government to the Liberals in the 2024 election.
After serving four years as a city councillor for francophone-majority Dieppe, N.B., Allain was elected to the provincial legislature in 2020 and appointed local government minister by Higgs.
He was kicked from cabinet three years later when he voted with opposition parties to request a review of the Higgs government's changes to a school policy on LGBTQ students.
Allain told reporters the party will have a "robust discussion" on the topic as the party firms up its election platform ahead of the next election scheduled for October 2028.
But he added the party has chosen a leader that believes in a "socially progressive party and a fiscally conservative party."
Allain won the leadership with 58.5 per cent of the ballots over his competitor Don Monahan, a rookie legislator who was elected to the New Brunswick's legislative assembly two years ago.
Some party members said their new leader worked a tireless ground game for the last two years to get the support he did, after he decided not to run in the 2024 provincial election.
For his part, Monahan said he supported Allain's leadership and called for a unified party. He added it was up to Allain to chose a house leader that would serve as the leader of the official Opposition.
Allain said he didn't need a seat in the legislative assembly as he leads an effort to rebuild the party. He pointed out former PC premier Bernard Lord and current Premier Susan Holt did not have seats when they were elected leader.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Conservatives will turn their attention to the legislature with the fall session set to begin Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026.
By Eli Ridder | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
via @lizi.beth
