Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia

The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, registered under the Nova Scotia Elections Act as the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, is a moderate right-of-centre political party in Nova Scotia, Canada.

History

It originated from the Confederation Party of Charles Tupper. Tupper united members of the pre-Confederation Conservative Party (who were predominantly United Empire Loyalists and members of the business elite) and supporters of Sir John A. Macdonald's national Conservative coalition. The party supported Macdonald's protectionist National Policy, nation-building, and the unification of British North America.

Canadian confederation was initially unpopular in Nova Scotia, and the party was out of government for most of the late 19th century. It only formed government for a few of the years between 1867 and 1956.

The modern party was built by Robert Stanfield after World War II. Stanfield, the scion of a wealthy textile family, considered himself a socialist at university and, while he later moderated his views, he always remained a progressive. Under his leadership, what was by then the "Progressive Conservative Party" became a moderate Red Tory organization. Stanfield took over the party in 1948 when it had no seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and by 1956, had built it into an organization that was able to sweep to power.

Stanfield left to become leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party in 1967. Rodney MacDonald lead the party in the provincial House of Assembly with 10 out of 52 seats. On June 24, 2009, MacDonald stepped down as leader. Karen Casey was named the interim leader.

As the only candidate in the leadership election, Jamie Baillie became leader of the Nova Scotia PC Party on October 30, 2010.^[1] He led the party into the 2013 election, and won eleven seats to form the Official Opposition.^[2]

The party president is Janet Fryday Dorey. The party also has a recognized youth wing called the Nova Scotia Young Progressive Conservative Association. Its president is Pat Thomson and executive vice-president is Matt Gaul.

Current elected members

Party leaders

See also

• List of Nova Scotia premiers
• List of political parties in Canada
• Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia leadership election, 2006
• Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia leadership elections

References

Provincial political parties in Nova Scotia Represented in the Legislative Assembly Liberal (33) Progressive Conservative (11) New Democratic (7) Other parties recognized by Elections Nova Scotia Green Portal:Politics List of political parties Politics of Canada

Politics of Nova Scotia The Crown Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II Lieutenant-Governor John James Grant Former lieutenant-governors Premier Stephen McNeil Former premiers Executive Council (Cabinet) Opposition Leader Jamie Baillie Former Opposition Leaders House of Assembly Current members Past General Assemblies Speaker of the Assembly Kevin Murphy Former Speakers Political parties Progressive Conservative Liberal New Democratic Green Elections 2013 general election Past elections Other provinces and territories BC AB SK MB ON QC NB NS PEI NL YU NT NU