New Brunswick voters handed Premier Blaine Higgs and his Progressive Conservatives a majority.

The provincial election was the first in Canada to be called during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Higgs’ political rivals described the snap election as unsafe and unneeded, but voters disagreed.

The Tories won 27 seats in the 49-seat legislature, while the Liberals dropped to 17.

The Green party held the three seats they won in 2018, and the People’s Alliance won two seats.

The premier says New Brunswickers showed the country how elections can be held safely during a pandemic.

Soon after Higgs delivered his victory speech, Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers announced he would be stepping down.