Darrell Dexter

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Darrell Dexter (born in Halifax, Nova Scotia) is a Canadian politician. He is the leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party, and represents the riding of Cole Harbour in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. He is the Leader of the Official Opposition.

Dexter grew up in the rural community of Milton, Nova Scotia as the son of a sheet metal worker[1]. He attended the University of King's College where he received a Bachelor of Journalism degree. He also earned Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Dalhousie University. After service in the Canadian Navy he worked as a lawyer in Dartmouth . He was elected to the city council of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994. He is married with one son[2].

He was first elected to the provincial House of Assembly in the 1998 election serving in the critic portfolios of Economic Development and Health. He was subsequently re-elected in 1999 and 2003. In 2001 Dexter was elected leader of the Nova Scotia NDP, replacing Helen MacDonald. Dexter is also infamous for his affinity for wearing plaid shirts[3], a rare choice for a politician.

1 Nova Scotia general election, 2003
2 Nova Scotia general election, 2006
3 After the 2006 Election
- 3.1 External link

[edit] Nova Scotia general election, 2003

Dexter led the Nova Scotia NDP through its first campaign trailing in third place in many polls and in danger of losing seats[4]. The NDP looked to consolidate its strong support in the Metro Halifax area, and make gains in the conservative rural mainland and their former stronghold of Cape Breton, which had been ceded to the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.

Dexter campaigned on a seven-point platform [5]:

A provincial Crown corporation for car insurance to lower rates by 50 per cent
100 per cent health coverage for seniors in nursing homes
Reduce waiting lists for surgery and diagnostic tests
Remove HST for home heating oil and children's prescription drugs in Year 3
More resources in the classroom
Freeze tuition fees for one year, introduce a student debt relief plan
Balance the budget

Conversely, he was criticized by Liberals for supporting a tax cut introduced by the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party government[6]. During the Leaders' Debate, all three leaders were criticized for a poor performance, including Dexter[7].

On election night (August 5, 2003), Dexter and the NDP did make small gains in the popular vote and won four more seats, including two in Dexter's hometown of Dartmouth, one in Cape Breton and one in Pictou County.

[edit] Nova Scotia general election, 2006

The MacDonald Government called an election for June 13, 2006 and Dexter was once again the NDP's candidate for Premier. At the outset, most pollsters had the NDP at the same level of support it had in 2003, roughly 30% and behind the Tories in second place. Many supporters felt that this would be the election that the party would win government[8]. Dexter's campaign on a platform to improve services for seniors, lowering the cost of heating oil for homes, a 10% cut in post-secondary education tuition, subsidized child care and public auto insurance.

During the campaign, the Provincial Liberal party ran a unimpressive campaign to the benefit of Dexter and the NDP, and also the PCs[9]. Dexter performance in the leaders' debate was improved in the eyes of many pundits[10].

The NDP did not win government, but did make major gains on election day. The party gained five seats for a total of 20, the party's best performance in its history[11]. Dexter also was easily re-elected in his own seat of Cole Harbour with 59.5%. The NDP gained roughly 4% of the popular vote to 34.5%. The NDP also won seats in the South Shore region of Nova Scotia, an area where it had not performed well previously, specifically Shelburne and Queens [12].

[edit] After the 2006 Election

Dexter said he would continue to co-operate with the Conservative government. He rejected overtures from Liberal Leader Francis MacKenzie to form a coalition government.