Kris Austin
Kris Austin (born 1979) is the former leader of the People's Alliance of New Brunswick and current member of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick and an MLA in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. On October 13, 2022 he was appointed minister of public safety and solicitor-general by Premier Blaine Higgs.
The Honourable Kris Austin MLA | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Public Safety | |
| Assumed office October 13, 2022 | |
| Premier | Blaine Higgs |
| Preceded by | Bill Hogan |
| Leader of the People's Alliance of New Brunswick | |
| In office June 5, 2010 – March 30, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | New Party |
| Succeeded by | Rick DeSaulniers |
| Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly for Fredericton-Grand Lake | |
| Assumed office September 24, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Pam Lynch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1979 (age 44–45) Hamilton, Ontario |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Other political affiliations | People's Alliance of New Brunswick (2010– 2022) |
| Occupation | Minister |
Austin led the People's Alliance into the 2010 provincial election and 2014 provincial elections in which the party won no seats. In the 2018 provincial election the party won three seats including Austin's riding of Fredericton-Grand Lake. He was re-elected in the 2020 provincial election in which his party lost one seat, electing two MLAs.
On March 30, 2022, Austin announced he will be leaving the People's Alliance of New Brunswick to join the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.
Austin is a Baptist minister and has worked in public relations.
Austin's appointment to provincial cabinet in the Higgs government was denounced by the Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick due to his opposition to Acadian rights and official bilingualism.