reputation on the line, according to pundits, due to his choice of a high-profile candidate and his announcing over $50 million in spending over the course of the four-week campaign. As a result, many viewed this election as a huge blow to Lord's leadership and that it, along with two years of opinion polling showing Lord's PCs trailing the Liberals, the beginning of the end of his government. The by-election also had immediate province-wide repercussions, bringing the standings in the legislature to 27 government, 27 opposition and the speaker. These standings would mean that the absence of one government member - even if he or she did not vote with the opposition - could defeat the government. Timeline October 13, 2005 - Elizabeth Weir resigns from the seat to accept the post of President and CEO of the new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency. October 14, 2005 - Michelle Hooton announces she will be a candidate for the Progressive Conservatives in the by-election. October 15, 2005 - The Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives both hold their conventions, which were previously scheduled. Bernard Lord, the premier and leader of the PCs, drops the writ at his convention. October 17, 2005 - Hooton is acclaimed as PC candidate. October 18, 2005 - Dr. Ed Doherty is acclaimed as Liberal candidate. October 20, 2005: Glen Jardine files papers to run as an independent. Dan Robichaud is elected as New Democratic Party candidate in a three-way race, though only 19 people voted at his nominating meeting. October 21, 2005 - The Liberals announce their platform for the by-election, promising to invest $50 million in and around the riding if they win the next general election. The Liberals highlight that the majority of this money would come from federal funding which is available but Lord has refused to accept based on the conditions attached thereto. They argue that Lord is putting politics ahead of people. November 1, 2005 - An all candidates debate is co-hosted by Rogers Cable and the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal newspaper, Independent Glen Jardine does not participate due to his late announcement as a candidate. The debate is televised twice, once on each of the two following days. November 8, 2005 - An all candidates debate is held live on popular radio talk show Talk of the Town on CFBC. All four candidates participate. November 9, 2005 - Michelle Hooton unveils her