Speculation of a fall election in New Brunswick has been rampant.

But Premier Blaine Higgs is not confirming or denying reports.

In a statement, he says the legislature is scheduled to open a new session on Oct. 17.

“As with all of the decisions I make as Premier, my focus is always on doing what is best for New Brunswick. As a government and as a province we have so much to be proud of. We’ve gone from crippling debt to an economic and employment leader in the country with the largest growth in population since confederation,” said Higgs.

“Our strong financial footing is helping us deal with the significant challenges we are facing in health care, housing and affordability. The average citizen is struggling to make ends meet.

“The question we face is will the focus be on delivering results for New Brunswickers or will it be 12 months of political drama causing instability and stagnation in government? My focus and responsibility is to the citizens of this province ensuring we continue on our path of demonstrated continuous improvement.”

New Brunswickers are currently scheduled to go to the polls on Oct. 21, 2024.