Miramichi MP Jake Stewart faces party turmoil ahead of election

A Conservative MP in New Brunswick is facing some challenges as he gears up for re-election this year. Jake Stewart, the MP for Miramichi-Grand Lake, has reportedly lost support from former staffers and members of the local party organization.

The turmoil began when Stewart sent a cease-and-desist letter to Shawn Morrison, a former Conservative staffer, following a heated exchange on social media. This incident came on the heels of the resignation of the financial agent for the Conservative riding association in Miramichi-Grand Lake, Denver Brennan, who cited a lack of trust in the current board and staff within Stewart’s office.

Brennan also described the atmosphere at Stewart’s office as toxic and manipulative, and claimed that eight other individuals had left their positions with the MP over a three-year period. Despite these allegations, one former staffer, Aiden Ingersoll, was seen in a social media photo with Stewart.

Stewart, a first-term MP and former provincial cabinet minister, has been nominated as the Conservative candidate for the upcoming federal election. However, he has remained silent in response to requests for interviews.

The situation escalated further when Stewart appeared to challenge Morrison to a physical confrontation in a Facebook post. Morrison and Brennan declined to comment on the matter, while Kelly Wilson, the president of the Conservative riding association board, did not respond to inquiries.

Adding to the controversy, Stewart’s office in Miramichi was closed for several weeks after the Christmas break, with a sign citing “security reasons.” Despite this closure, Stewart was seen greeting constituents at the office in photos posted on social media.

The cease-and-desist letter sent to Morrison accused him of engaging in malicious behavior, including unwelcome contact with Stewart’s staff and spouse. The letter warned Morrison to cease his actions or face potential legal consequences.

Stewart’s political career has seen its share of ups and downs, including a bid for the provincial Progressive Conservative Party leadership in 2016. He was appointed as minister of aboriginal affairs in 2018 but was later dropped from cabinet after the PC party won a majority in 2020.

Stewart resigned as an MLA in 2021 to run for federal office and was successfully elected as MP for Miramichi-Grand Lake later that year. He was an early endorser of Pierre Poilievre for leader of the federal Conservative Party following the ousting of Erin O’Toole in 2022.

The future of Stewart’s re-election campaign remains uncertain as he navigates through these controversies and challenges within his own party.