Nova Scotia Election: NDP Becomes Official Opposition, Liberals Face Major Defeat
The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party (NDP) has emerged as the official opposition following a significant setback for the Liberals on election night.
Global News projects that Progressive Conservative (PC) Leader Tim Houston will secure a second majority government. This comes after Houston called a snap election, despite previously pledging to stick to a fixed election date.
At the dissolution of the legislature, the PCs held 34 seats, the Liberals 14, the NDP six, and one was held by an independent. By 11:59 p.m. Atlantic time on Tuesday, the PCs were leading or elected in 40 ridings, the NDP in 10, and the Liberals in three. Independent Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin is expected to retain her Cumberland North seat.
NDP leader Claudia Chender was re-elected in Dartmouth South, making history as the first woman to officially lead the opposition in Nova Scotia. She follows Karla MacFarlane, who held the role briefly in 2018.
“While this isn’t the outcome we hoped for, our vision for a different kind of government has resonated,” Chender said at her election night party. “The end of this election means the start of the next one. After three years of broken promises and backroom deals from Tim Houston, the Conservatives won’t get away with it anymore.”
Liberal Leader Faces Tough Night
Liberal Leader Zach Churchill faced a nail-biting battle in his Yarmouth riding. At one point, he led by just five votes, but by late evening, he was tied with PC candidate Nick Hilton at 5,017 votes each, with one poll left to report.
Churchill, who has been a member of the legislature since 2010 and became party leader in 2022, took responsibility for the Liberals’ poor performance, calling the results “not what we wanted as a party.”
“This loss is mine alone, and I’m okay with that,” he told supporters, adding that he would discuss his future with his family and the party after the final results are confirmed.
Historic Low for the Liberals
This election marks the worst outcome for the Liberals since 2006 when they won just nine seats. In contrast, the NDP had formed the Official Opposition with 20 seats at that time.
Both opposition leaders, Churchill and Chender, criticized Houston’s decision to call the snap election, labeling it a broken promise. This election also marked their first campaigns as leaders of their respective parties.
- Published By Team Nation Press News
