Nova Scotia general election, 2009

2009 Nova Scotia general election
Nova Scotia
June 9, 2009

52 seats of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
27 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Darrell Dexter Stephen McNeil Rodney MacDonald
Party New Democratic Liberal Progressive Conservative
Leader since 2001 2007 2006
Leader's seat Cole Harbour Annapolis Inverness
Last election 20 seats, 34.63% 9 seats, 23.44% 23 seats, 39.57%
Seats won 31 11 10
Seat change +11 +2 −13
Popular vote 186,556 112,160 101,203
Percentage 45.24% 27.20% 24.54%
Swing +10.61% +3.76% -15.03%


Premier before election

Rodney MacDonald
Progressive Conservative

Premier-designate

Darrell Dexter
New Democratic

The 38th Nova Scotia general election was held on June 9, 2009 to elect members of the 61st House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The government was defeated on a money bill on May 4, and the Nova Scotia House of Assembly was dissolved by Lieutenant Governor Mayann Francis on May 5.[1] thereby triggering an election. The NDP won a majority government, forming government the first time in the province's history, and for the first time in an Atlantic Canadian province. The governing Progressive Conservatives were reduced to third place.

Campaign

The election campaign began on May 5, 2009, after the New Democrats and Liberals voted against the Offshore Offset Revenues Expenditure Act, legislation that would have permitted the government to divert its revenues from oil and gas development in the Atlantic Ocean from debt payment, as required under current provincial law, to fund extra spending in the 2009 budget.[2] As the Progressive Conservatives won only a minority government in the 2006 election, at least one of the two opposition parties would have been required to vote in favour of (or abstain from voting on) the legislation for it to pass.

Timeline

Results by party

Party Party leader # of
candidates
Seats Popular vote
2006 Dissolution Elected % Change # % Change
     New Democratic Darrell Dexter 52 20 20 31 +55.0% 186,556 45.24% +10.61%
     Liberal Stephen McNeil 52 9 9 11 +22.2% 112,160 27.20% +3.76%
     Progressive Conservative Rodney MacDonald 52 23 21 10 −56.5% 101,203 24.54% −15.03%
Green Ryan Watson 52 0 0 0 0.0% 9,636 2.34% +0.01%
     Independents 4 0 1 0 0.0% 2,796 0.68% +0.64%
  Vacant 1  
Total 212 52 52 52 0.0% 411,310 100.00% 0.00%

Candidates lined up.[4]

Results by region

Party name HRM C.B. Valley S. Shore Fundy Central Total
Parties winning seats in the legislature
     New Democratic Party Seats: 14 2 2 5 4 4 31
     Popular vote: 54.07% 40.16% 27.05% 43.03% 41.76% 50.10% 45.26%
     Liberal Seats: 4 3 4 - - - 11
     Popular vote: 28.65% 29.57% 46.46% 18.11% 14.60% 16.84% 27.22%
     Progressive Conservative Seats: - 4 1 2 2 1 10
     Popular vote: 14.36% 28.34% 23.89% 36.08% 37.44% 31.32% 24.52%
Parties not winning seats in the legislature
Green Popular vote: 2.88% 1.78% 2.60% 1.90% 1.89% 1.74% 2.33%
     Independents Popular vote: 0.03% 0.14% N/A 0.88% 4.32% N/A 0.67%
Total seats: 18 9 7 7 6 5 52

Opinion polls

Polling firm Dates Link Prog. Cons. New Democratic Liberal Green
2009 Election Results June 9, 2009 PDF 24.54% 45.24% 27.20% 2.34%
Angus Reid Strategies June 4, 2009 PDF 23% 47% 26% 3%
Corporate Research Associates June 1, 2009 HTML 26% 44% 28% 2%
Corporate Research Associates May 7–16, 2009 HTML 28% 37% 31% 3%
Corporate Research Associates February 2009 HTML 30% 36% 31% 3%
Corporate Research Associates November 2008 HTML 33% 37% 27% 3%
Corporate Research Associates August 2008 HTML 33% 36% 28% 3%
Corporate Research Associates May 2008 HTML 27% 38% 30% 4%
Corporate Research Associates February 2008 HTML 32% 37% 28% 3%
Corporate Research Associates November 2007 HTML 32% 39% 25% 3%
Corporate Research Associates August 2007 HTML 32% 35% 28% 5%
Corporate Research Associates May 2007 HTML 29% 37% 26% 7%
Corporate Research Associates February 2007 HTML 35% 36% 25% 3%
Corporate Research Associates November 2006 HTML 32% 37% 26% 4%
Corporate Research Associates August 2006 HTML 33% 35% 24% -
2006 Election Results June 2006 40% 35% 24% 2%

Riding results

Annapolis Valley

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   NDP   Liberal   Green   Other
Annapolis Kent Robinson
971 - (11.10%)
Henry Spurr
1,131 - (12.93%)
Stephen McNeil
6,446 - (73.70%)
Jamie Spinney
198 - (2.26%)
Stephen McNeil
Clare Jimmy Doucet
459 - (8.75%)
Paul Comeau
1,326 - (25.29%)
Wayne Gaudet
3,392 - (64.68%)
Diane Bean
67 - (1.28%)
Wayne Gaudet
Digby-Annapolis Cindy Nesbitt
852 - (15.39%)
Sherri Oliver
1,092 - (19.73%)
Harold Theriault
3,514 - (63.48%)
Namron Bean
78 - (1.41%)
Harold Theriault
Hants West Chuck Porter
3,364 - (37.24%)
Barbara Gallagher
2,401 - (26.58%)
Paula Lunn
3,065 - (33.93%)
Sheila Richardson
204 - (2.26%)
Chuck Porter
Kings North Mark Parent
3,079 - (36.08%)
Jim Morton
3,535 - (41.43%)
Shirley Fisher
1,541 - (18.06%)
Anna-Maria Galante-Ward
378 - (4.43%)
Mark Parent
Kings South David Morse
2,759 - (28.14%)
Ramona Jennex
4,038 - (41.18%)
Paula Howatt
2,639 - (26.91%)
Brendan MacNeill
369 - (3.76%)
David Morse
Kings West Chris Palmer
1,667 - (20.20%)
Carol Tobin
1,422 - (17.23%)
Leo Glavine
5,015 - (60.77%)
Nistal Prem de Boer
149 - (1.81%)
Leo Glavine

South Shore

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   NDP   Liberal   Green   Other
Argyle Chris d'Entremont
2,818 - (64%)
Melvin Huskins
759 - (17.24%)
Lionel LeBlanc
752 - (17.08%)
Barbara Lake
74 - (1.68%)
Chris d'Entremont
Chester-St. Margaret's Judy Streatch
2,762 - (27.47%)
Denise Peterson-Rafuse
4,835 - (48.09%)
Jo-Ann Grant
2,122 - (21.11%)
Ryan Cameron
335 - (3.33%)
Judy Streatch
Lunenburg Peter Zwicker
2,399 - (28.30%)
Pam Birdsall
4,069 - (48.01%)
Rick Welsford
1,374 - (16.21%)
Jason Remai
145 - (1.71%)
Milton Countway
489 - (5.77%)
(vacant)a
Lunenburg West Carolyn Bolivar-Getson
3,045 - (33.50%)
Gary Ramey
3,600 - (39.60%)
Mark Furey
2,297 - (25.27%)
Emily Richardson
148 - (1.63%)
Carolyn Bolivar-Getson
Queens Kerry Morash
1,936 - (28.87%)
Vicki Conrad
4,012 - (59.82%)
Wayne Henley
674 - (10.05%)
Stuart Simpson
85 - (1.27%)
Vicki Conrad
Shelburne Eddie Nickerson
1,637 - (23.59%)
Sterling Belliveau
3,844 - (55.41%)
Darian Huskilson
1,356 - (19.54%)
Robin Smith
101 - (1.46%)
Sterling Belliveau
Yarmouth Richard Hurlburt
4,537 - (61.34%)
David Olie
1,696 - (22.93%)
David Mooney
1,041 - (14.07%)
Ronald Mills
123 - (1.66%)
Richard Hurlburt
^a - Previously held by Progressive Conservative Michael Baker, who died in office on March 2, 2009.

Fundy-Northeast

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   NDP   Liberal   Green   Other
Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley Steve Streatch
2,265 - (29.07%)
Gary Burrill
3,697 - (48.09%)
Willie Versteeg
1,649 - (21.16%)
Margaret Whitney
181 - (2.32%)
Brooke Taylor
Colchester North Karen Casey
3,811 - (50.25%)
Arthur Hartlen
2,362 - (31.14%)
Lorenda Ebbett
1,250 - (16.48%)
Judy Davis
161 - (2.12%)
Karen Casey
Cumberland North Keith Hunter
1,359 - (17.23%)
Brian Skabar
3,170 - (40.19%)
Brent Noiles
1,073 - (13.60%)
Aviva Silburt
127 - (1.61%)
Ernest Fage
2,159 - (27.37%)
Ernest Fage
Cumberland South Murray Scott
4,334 - (67.66%)
Don Tabor
1,659 - (25.90%)
Joseph Archibald
325 - (5.07%)
Danny Melvin
88 - (1.37%)
Murray Scott
Hants East Todd Williams
1,567 - (16.82%)
John MacDonell
6,052 - (64.96%)
Maurice Rees
1,467 - (15.75%)
Emerich Winkler
231 - (2.48%)
John MacDonell
Truro-Bible Hill Hughie MacIsaac
2,544 - (30.23%)
Lenore Zann
4,070 - (48.37%)
Bob Hagell
1,643 - (19.52%)
Kaleigh Brinkhurst
158 - (1.88%)
Jamie Muir

Central Halifax

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   NDP   Liberal   Green   Other
Halifax Chebucto David Atchison
544 - (6.91%)
Howard Epstein
4,446 - (56.47%)
Jane Spurr
2,535 - (32.20%)
Chris Hanlon
348 - (4.42%)
Howard Epstein
Halifax Citadel Ted Larsen
1,000 - (12.99%)
Leonard Preyra
3,785 - (49.17%)
Gerry Walsh
2,584 - (33.57%)
Ryan Watson
329 - (4.27%)
Leonard Preyra
Halifax Clayton Park Debbie Hum
1,084 - (10.56%)
Linda Power
3,924 - (38.24%)
Diana Whalen
5,030 - (49.02%)
Amanda Hester
172 - (1.68%)
Jonathan Dean
51 - (0.50%)
Diana Whalen
Halifax Fairview Paul Henderson
893 - (12.16%)
Graham Steele
4,680 - (63.71%)
Brad Armitage
1,544 - (21.02%)
Jane Hester
229 - (3.12%)
Graham Steele
Halifax Needham Jason Cameron
536 - (6.76%)
Maureen MacDonald
5,336 - (67.30%)
Graham Estabrooks
1,690 - (21.31%)
Kris MacLellan
367 - (4.63%)
Maureen MacDonald

Suburban Halifax

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   NDP   Liberal   Green   Other
Bedford-Birch Cove Len Goucher
2,268 - (20.75%)
Brian Mosher
3,552 - (32.50%)
Kelly Regan
4,861 - (44.48%)
Neil Green
248 - (2.27%)
Len Goucher
Halifax Atlantic Brian Phillips
965 - (11.22%)
Michèle Raymond
5,243 - (61.09%)
Jim Hoskins
2,003 - (23.29%)
Anthony Rosborough
378 - (4.40%)
Michele Raymond
Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville Barry Barnet
2,218 - (23.05%)
Mat Whynott
4,815 - (50.03%)
Patrick Doyle
2,381 - (24.74%)
Shawn Redmond
210 - (2.18%)
Barry Barnet
Sackville-Cobequid Jessica Alexander
976 - (12.46%)
Dave Wilson
5,120 - (65.34%)
Scott Hemming
1,548 - (19.75%)
Ian Charles
192 - (2.45%)
Dave Wilson
Timberlea-Prospect Gina Byrne
795 - (9.10%)
Bill Estabrooks
6,174 - (70.70%)
Lisa Mullin
1,535 - (17.58%)
Tom Trappenberg
229 - (2.62%)
Bill Estabrooks
Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank Gary Hines
1,696 - (18.45%)
Percy Paris
5,007 - (54.47%)
Bill Horne
2,290 - (24.91%)
Damon Loomer
199 - (2.16%)
Percy Paris

Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   NDP   Liberal   Green   Other
Cole Harbour Mike Josey
939 - (11.05%)
Darrell Dexter
5,849 - (68.82%)
Tony Ince
1,509 - (17.76%)
Donna Toews
202 - (2.38%)
Darrell Dexter
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage Lloyd Jackson
1,074 - (15.90%)
Becky Kent
4,402 - (65.17%)
Orest Ulan
1,054 - (15.60%)
Denise Menard
225 - (3.33%)
Becky Kent
Dartmouth East Bert Thompson
873 - (9.66%)
Joan Massey
3,908 - (42.95%)
Andrew Younger
4,133 - (45.43%)
Anna Mukpo
184 - (2.02%)
Joan Massey
Dartmouth North David Losey
568 - (7.95%)
Trevor Zinck
4,053 - (56.75%)
Jim Smith
2,316 - (32.43%)
Alex Donaldson
205 - (2.87%)
Trevor Zinck
Dartmouth South-Portland Valley George Jordan
1,389 - (13.58%)
Marilyn More
5,583 - (54.59%)
Colin Hebb
2,946 - (28.8%)
David Croft
310 - (3.03%)
Marilyn More
Eastern Shore Bill Dooks
2,557 - (34.69%)
Sid Prest
3,628 - (49.22%)
Loretta Halleran
992 - (13.46%)
Michael Marshall
194 - (2.63%)
Bill Dooks
Preston Dwayne Provo
1,076 - (24.83%)
Janet Sutcliffe
1,314 - (30.33%)
Keith Colwell
1,888 - (43.57%)
Sarah Densmore
55 - (1.27%)
Keith Colwell

Central Nova

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   NDP   Liberal   Green   Other
Antigonish Angus MacIsaac
3,613 - (38.08%)
Maurice Smith
3,338 - (35.18%)
Miles Tompkins
2,378 - (25.06%)
Rebecca Mosher
160 - (1.69%)
Angus MacIsaac
Guysborough-Sheet Harbour Ron Chisholm
1,750 - (24.96%)
Jim Boudreau
3,621 - (51.64%)
Lloyd Hines
1,558 - (22.22%)
Amy Florian
83 - (1.18%)
Ron Chisholm
Pictou Centre Pat Dunn
3,519 - (44.64%)
Ross Landry
3,650 - (46.3%)
Neil MacIsaac
567 - (7.19%)
Jim Lindsey
147 - (1.86%)
Pat Dunn
Pictou East J. Ed. MacDonald
1,984 - (25.94%)
Clarrie MacKinnon
4,893 - (63.98%)
Francois Rochon
642 - (8.39%)
Robbie White
129 - (1.69%)
Clarrie MacKinnon
Pictou West Leonard Fraser
1,466 - (19.99%)
Charlie Parker
4,226 - (57.63%)
Paul Landry
1,471 - (20.06%)
Chelsea Richardson
170 - (2.32%)
Charlie Parker

Cape Breton

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   NDP   Liberal   Green   Other
Cape Breton Centre Chris Ryan
479 - (7.33%)
Frank Corbett
5,096 - (80.14%)
Joe MacPherson
685 - (10.77%)
Chris Alders
99 - (1.56%)
Frank Corbett
Cape Breton North Cecil Clarke
3,477 - (44.47%)
Russell MacDonald
3,312 - (42.36%)
Ken Jardine
921 - (11.78%)
Chris Milburn
108 - (1.38%)
Cecil Clarke
Cape Breton Nova Cory Hann
276 - (4.14%)
Gordie Gosse
4,735 - (71.07%)
Donnie Morrison
1,549 - (23.25%)
Michael Milburn
102 - (1.53%)
Gordie Gosse
Cape Breton South Steve Tobin
1,387 - (15.12%)
Wayne McKay
3,332 - (36.33%)
Manning MacDonald
4,278 - (46.65%)
Cathy Theriault
174 - (1.9%)
Manning MacDonald
Cape Breton West Alfie MacLeod
3,962 - (43.47%)
Delton MacDonald
2,797 - (30.69%)
Josephine Kennedy
2,212 - (24.27%)
Michael Parsons
174 - (1.9%)
Alfie MacLeod
Glace Bay Tom MacPherson
810 - (11.41%)
Myrtle Campbell
2,829 - (39.84%)
David Wilson
3,380 - (47.6%)
Todd Pettigrew
82 - (1.15%)
David Wilson
Inverness Rodney MacDonald
5,402 - (56.17%)
Michael MacIsaac
1,971 - (20.49%)
Shaun Bennett
1,905 - (19.81%)
Nathalie Arsenault
339 - (3.53%)
Rodney MacDonald
Richmond John Greene
1,045 - (17.92%)
Clair Rankin
1,477 - (25.33%)
Michel Samson
3,228 - (55.36%)
John Percy
81 - (1.39%)
Michel Samson
Victoria-The Lakes Keith Bain
2,417 - (38.68%)
Fraser Patterson
1,680 - (26.88%)
Gerald Sampson
1,912 - (30.6%)
James V. O'Brien
143 - (2.29%)
Stemer MacLeod
97 - (1.55%)
Keith Bain

Shifts in control

Progressive Conservative to NDP

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   NDP
Kings North 2006 Mark Parent 2009 Jim Morton Mark Parent
Kings South 2006 David Morse 2009 Ramona Jennex David Morse
Chester-St. Margaret's 2006 Judy Streatch 2009 Denise Peterson-Rafuse Judy Streatch
Lunenburg 2006 Peter Zwicker 2009 Pam Birdsall (vacant)
Lunenburg West 2006 Carolyn Bolivar-Getson 2009 Gary Ramey Carolyn Bolivar-Getson
Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley 2006 Steve Streatch 2009 Gary Burrill Brooke Taylor
Truro-Bible Hill 2006 Hughie MacIsaac 2009 Lenore Zann Jamie Muir
Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville 2006 Barry Barnet 2009 Mat Whynott Barry Barnet
Eastern Shore 2006 Bill Dooks 2009 Sid Prest Bill Dooks
Guysborough-Sheet Harbour 2006 Ron Chisholm 2009 Jim Boudreau Ron Chisholm
Pictou Centre 2006 Pat Dunn 2009 Ross Landry Pat Dunn

Independent to NDP

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  Independents   NDP
Cumberland North 2007 Ernest Fage 2009 Brian Skabar Ernest Fage

Progressive Conservative to Liberal

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   Liberal
Bedford-Birch Cove 2006 Len Goucher 2009 Kelly Regan Len Goucher

NDP to Liberal

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  NDP   Liberal
Dartmouth East 2006 Joan Massey 2009 Andrew Younger Joan Massey

References

Bibliography

External links