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Higgs said last week he finds it sad that some are attempting to “pick away” at historical traditions in the province, and he won’t change the prayer practices so long as he’s premier.

A spokeswoman for Kris Austin, the leader of the People’s Alliance Party of New Brunswick, said her leader is on the record opposing Arseneau’s plan. The People’s Alliance has been providing support to the minority Tory government.

“He (Austin) is opposed to removing prayer from the legislature because it is tradition. He has stated he would vote against the motion,” wrote spokeswoman Laverne Stewart.

However, Arseneau said the tradition argument from Higgs and Austin isn’t sufficient.

“If we would only think about tradition, Catholics wouldn’t be allowed to vote in New Brunswick, and women wouldn’t be allowed to vote.”

He said he’ll carry on his push to have a system of silence similar to that practised in some provincial and municipal jurisdictions in Canada.

Raissa Marks, a 39-year-old resident of Riverview, N.B., wrote to Arseneau to express her support of his effort, even as it faces a likely defeat in the legislature.

“When I learned last week that they did a Christian prayer at the beginning of the legislature … I felt they were doing something there that didn’t represent me and my religion,” she said.

“I think this has opened an important conversation and reflection among those who pay attention to what’s going on.”

The neighbouring provinces of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia both continue to have Christian prayers said before the legislature opens to the public, while there is no prayer in Newfoundland and Labrador.