David Coon will be stepping down as leader of New Brunswick’s Green Party after 14 years at the helm.
“With the Greens firmly woven into the body politic of our province, it’s time for a new leader who will grow our party’s electoral success to the point where more New Brunswickers will see our party as one that’s capable of winning provincial elections,” said Coon, who made the announcement in Fredericton Thursday morning.
Coon said he will remain the leader until his successor is chosen. He will stay on as the MLA for Fredericton Lincoln and will also continue to carry out his critic roles.
“It’s been an honour to serve the people of this province and my party in my capacity as a political leader in New Brunswick,” said Coon.
“I have led our party through four provincial elections and quadrupled popular support for the Greens, firmly entrenching our party in the body politic of our province.”
Coon has been the leader of New Brunswick’s Green Party since 2012. He was the first Green MLA elected to the provincial legislature in 2014, representing Fredericton South. He was re-elected in Fredericton South in 2018 and 2020 and elected in the new riding of Fredericton Lincoln in 2024.
Coon noted more than 50,000 New Brunswickers voted for the Green Party in each of the last two provincial elections.
“I’m proud to play the leadership role in building the Green Party into a party with support from every corner of the province,” he said.
“The doubters said it couldn’t be done but we have definitely proved that the Greens have staying power.”
The party says it will make an announcement about a leadership convention in the coming weeks.
Coon said he made Thursday’s announcement with an eye towards the next provincial election, scheduled for Oct. 16, 2028.
“I wanted to make sure the new leader has a runway of two years or so to introduce themselves to New Brunswickers and to prepare for the election in 2028, because it’s going to be an important one,” said Coon.
Green Party MLA Megan Mitton was at Coon’s announcement and was pressed by reporters if she was considering a leadership bid. Mitton said it was something she would consider.
“Today is about David,” said Mitton. “I’m not going to make any announcements or anything today.”
Former Green Party MLA Kevin Arseneau, who was defeated in the 2024 election, said he received a call from Coon on Wednesday night informing him of the announcement to come.
“David has done so much for the party,” said Arseneau, who was also asked by several reporters on Thursday about his considerations for a leadership bid.
“I promised a bunch of people that I would think about it with openness and seriousness,” said Arseneau in an interview.
Coon was an environmental advocate for more than 30 years, spending most of that time with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, before entering provincial politics.
Jamie Gillies, coordinator of the communications and public policy department at Fredericton’s St. Thomas University, said the New Brunswick Green Party would be approaching a crossroads without Coon as leader.
“There aren’t many politicians like David Coon,” said Gillies. “I think he’s a bit of a legend.
“It’s a rebuilding phase for (the party), and to figure out what direction they want to go in, as the sole third party that’s politically viable in the province.”
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
