40th New Brunswick general election

The 2018 provincial election resulted in no party winning a majority of seats in the legislature for the first time since the 1920 provincial election. On election night, Blaine Higgs claimed victory for the Progressive Conservative Party, saying his team had received a mandate from New Brunswickers; however, Liberal Party leader and incumbent premier Brian Gallant stated his intention to remain in office with a minority government by securing support on a vote-by-vote basis.[2] Over the following days, the lieutenant governor, Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau, met with both leaders, and gave Gallant permission to continue in office and attempt to seek the confidence of the legislative assembly,[3] while Higgs was told that if Gallant was unable to secure the confidence of the house, Higgs would be called on to form government.[4]

After the election, both Kris Austin of the People's Alliance and David Coon of the Green Party were noncommittal in their support.[5][6] Gallant pursued a partnership with the Green Party, ruling out any arrangement with the Progressive Conservative Party or People's Alliance because they were perceived as not sharing the Liberal Party’s “values.”[7] Higgs initially ruled out any formal agreements with other parties, but later said that a four-year agreement like in British Columbia would be ideal for stability.[8] On September 28, Austin agreed to provide stability for a Progressive Conservative minority government on a "bill-by-bill basis" for eighteen months, though no formal agreement was made.[9]

On November 2, the legislative assembly voted 25-23 for a motion, introduced by the Progressive Conservatives, to amend the throne speech to declare no confidence in the government. Subsequently, Gallant indicated his intention to resign the premiership and recommend to the lieutenant governor that Higgs be given the mandate to form government.[10] Higgs' minority government was sworn into office on November 9.[11]

On November 15, 2018 Brian Gallant announced his resignation as leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Association.[12] He was succeeded by Kevin Vickers, who assumed the party leadership on April 24, 2019.[13]

The PC minority government's seat total dropped to 21 on September 10, 2019 upon the death of Progressive Conservative MLA Greg Thompson.

On February 14, 2020, Robert Gauvin resigned as deputy premier and from the Progressive Conservative caucus to sit as an independent MLA. He cited the government's health reforms, including the nighttime closure of six hospital emergency rooms, as the reason for his resignation. Gauvin's departure reduced the PC's seats to 20, and resulted in the government's support being less than the combined total of the opposition, leading to questions of the government's survival.[14]

• Elections New Brunswick