Bernie's too smart to commit political suicide. Anyway, he'll get at least one more term to prove himself here in New Brunswick because that's the kind of polite folk we are. As far as how far he is up the Irving's collective asses, don't forget, they own over 40% of the private enterprise in this province and have global holdings that are only dwarfed by the oil shieks and the hi-tech barons who have wealth mostly on paper rather than land, factories, mines, shipyards, ships, refineries, etc. The Irvings wield real power globally, so any premier, from a small or large province, would at least have to "take into consideration" what the Irvings have to say. Bernie is walking a fine line... rather well.