Sterling Belliveau

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Sterling Belliveau is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, representing the riding of Shelburne for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. He was first elected in the 2006 election. Sterling defeated PC candidate L. Eddie Nickerson, Liberal candidate Kirk Cox, and the Green Party candidate Derek Jones. Previous to being elected as a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, Sterling served as a Municipal Councillor for the Municipality of Barrington, representing District 1 (Charlesville, Forbes Point and Woods Harbour).

Belliveau's victory came as somewhat of a surprise to many in the province of Nova Scotia, as Shelburne had never been won by an NDP. Belliveau campaigned largely on the in-action of the PC governments of John Hamm and more recently, Rodney MacDonald. The PC's had failed to complete a highway on time in the riding, and also the lack of commitment towards long-term nursing care beds hurt Tory candidate L. Eddie Nickerson. L. Eddie Nickerson was also nominated with less than four weeks to go in the campaign due to incumbant Cecil O'Donnell's reluctance to decide on his future. The bungling of the construction of a bridge in the Clyde region of the riding also turned that previously strong PC area towards the NDP. Belliveau was able to capitalize on voter unrest and capture the seat for his party. Belliveau, himself a self-employed fisherman, was very popular with the many fishermen in the riding due to his campaign pledges regarding the lobster fishery. Sterling now serves as the NDP Fisheries, and EMO critic in the official opposition of Darrell Dexter.