2006 Nova Scotia general election

2006 Nova Scotia general election
← 2003 June 13, 2006 2009 →
52 seats of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
27 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
LIB
Leader Rodney MacDonald Darrell Dexter Francis MacKenzie
Party Progressive Conservative New Democratic Liberal
Leader since February 11, 2006 June 2, 2002 October 23, 2004
Leader's seat Inverness Cole Harbour Ran in Bedford (lost)
Last election 25 seats, 36.32% 15 seats, 31.00% 12 seats, 31.47%
Seats won 23 20 9
Seat change Decrease2 Increase5 Decrease3
Popular vote 160,119 140,128 94,872
Percentage 39.57% 34.63% 23.44%
Swing Increase3.33% Increase3.52% Decrease7.99%
Popular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each riding.
Premier before election

Rodney MacDonald
Progressive Conservative

Premier after election

Rodney MacDonald
Progressive Conservative

The 2006 Nova Scotia general election was held on June 13, 2006 to elect members of the 60th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada.

Premier Rodney MacDonald, who led a Progressive Conservative minority government in the legislature, called for the election on May 13, 2006, hoping for a majority government to better advance his agenda and a clear mandate for himself as he had not yet fought an election as leader.

Ultimately, MacDonald was returned to power leading another, slightly smaller, minority government against a strengthened New Democratic Party sitting as the Official Opposition and a weakened Liberal Party. Liberal leader Francis MacKenzie was defeated in his riding of Bedford.

Timeline

  • September 29, 2005 - Premier John Hamm, leader of the Progressive Conservative minority government, announces his intent to resign as soon as the party chooses a new leader.
  • February 11, 2006 - Rodney MacDonald is elected to replace Hamm as leader.
  • February 24, 2006 - MacDonald becomes Premier and his cabinet is sworn in.
  • May 9, 2006 - MacDonald's government introduces an "election-style" budget in the legislature.
  • May 13, 2006 - Premier Rodney MacDonald calls a general election for June 13, 2006.[1]

Campaign

MacKenzie was an outspoken critic of the governing Tories and accused them of living in a "fantasy world" due to their promise to cut taxes and increase spending in the 2006-07 budget.[2]

No single issue dominated the election campaign, with all parties offering up various promises for university students to seniors.[3]

Results

The Progressive Conservatives gained several points in the popular vote, but made a net loss of two seats, with losses to the NDP partially countered by the PCs doubling their representation on MacDonald's native Cape Breton Island at the expense of the Liberals. The gap between the Liberals and NDP also significantly increased, in both the popular vote and seat count; while the Liberals and NDP had previously been nearly even, the NDP gained a significant advantage on the Liberals and moved into position as the primary opposition to the governing PCs.

Results by party

↓
23 20 9
Progressive Conservative New Democratic Liberal
PartyVotes%+/–Seats
2003DissolutionSeatsSeat Change
Progressive Conservative160,11939.57Increase 3.33252523Decrease 2
New Democratic Party140,12834.63Increase 3.52151520Increase 5
Liberal94,87223.44Decrease 7.9912109Decrease 3
Green9,4112.33NewNewNew0New
Independents1530.04Decrease 0.38010Steady
Vacant–1––
Total404,683100.00–525252–
Popular vote
PC
 
 39.57%
New Democratic
 
 34.63%
Liberal
 
 23.44%
Others
 
 2.36%
Seats summary
PC
 
 44.23%
New Democratic
 
 38.46%
Liberal
 
 17.31%

Results by region

Party name HRM C.B. Valley S. Shore Fundy Central Total
Parties winning seats in the legislature:
  Progressive Conservative Seats: 3 4 3 5 5 3 23
  Popular vote: 31.22% 42.62% 36.14% 49.08% 54.06% 42.90% 39.59%
  New Democratic Party Seats: 13 2 - 2 1 2 20
  Popular vote: 46.57% 25.58% 23.44% 32.29% 26.49% 34.44% 34.50%
  Liberal Seats: 2 3 4 - - - 9
  Popular vote: 19.29% 29.80% 38.35% 16.46% 16.70% 21.03% 23.56%
Parties not winning seats in the legislature:
Green Popular vote: 2.92% 1.83% 2.07% 2.16% 2.72% 1.58% 2.31%
  Independents Popular vote: - 0.17% - - 0.03% 0.05% 0.04%
Total seats: 18 9 7 7 6 5 52

Retiring incumbents

Progressive Conservative
New Democratic
Independent

Nominated candidates

Legend
bold denotes party leader
† denotes an incumbent who is not running for re-election or was defeated in nomination contest

Valley

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PC NDP Liberal Green Independent
Annapolis Blair Hannam
2,041
24.57% 		Calum MacKenzie
1,391
16.75% 		Stephen McNeil
4,668
56.20% 		Ken McGowan
206
2.48% 		Stephen McNeil
Clare Arnold LeBlanc
1,622
28.08% 		Paul Comeau
1,269
21.97% 		Wayne Gaudet
2,803
48.53% 		Diane Doucet-Bean
82
1.42% 		Wayne Gaudet
Digby—Annapolis Jimmy MacAlpine
2,170
36.42% 		Andrew Oliver
663
11.13% 		Harold Theriault
3,034
50.91% 		Namron Bean
92
1.54% 		Harold Theriault
Hants West Chuck Porter
2,969
34.60% 		Sean Bennett
2,486
28.97% 		Paula Lunn
2,924
34.08% 		Sam Schurman
201
2.34% 		Ron Russell†
Kings North Mark Parent
4,153
50.07% 		Jim Morton
2,190
26.40% 		Madonna Spinazola
1,757
21.18% 		Christopher Alders
195
2.35% 		Mark Parent
Kings South David Morse
3,788
42.37% 		David Mangle
3,130
35.01% 		Ray Savage
1,797
20.10% 		Steven McGowan
226
2.53% 		David Morse
Kings West John Prall
2,801
33.18% 		Greg Hubbert
1,590
18.83% 		Leo Glavine
3,940
46.67% 		Nistal Prem de Boer
112
1.33% 		Leo Glavine

South Shore

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PC NDP Liberal Green Independent
Argyle Chris d'Entremont
3,158
67.65% 		Charles Muise
531
11.38% 		Christian Surette
913
19.56% 		Patricia Saunders
66
1.41% 		Chris d'Entremont
Chester-St. Margaret's Judy Streatch
3,950
42.67% 		Jane Matheson
2,833
30.60% 		Rick Fraughton
2,192
23.68% 		Joanne MacKinnon
282
3.05% 		Judy Streatch
Lunenburg Michael Baker
3,969
49.40% 		Chris Heide
2,669
33.22% 		Rick Welsford
1,200
14.94% 		Stuart Simpson
196
2.44% 		Michael Baker
Lunenburg West Carolyn Bolivar-Getson
3,637
43.21% 		Bill Smith
3,299
39.19% 		Martin Bell
1,324
15.73% 		Brendan MacNeill
157
1.87% 		Carolyn Bolivar-Getson
Queens Kerry Morash
2,998
48.59% 		Vicki Conrad
3,053
49.48% 		Margaret Whitney
119
1.93% 		Kerry Morash
Shelburne Eddie Nickerson
2,353
35.00% 		Sterling Belliveau
2,438
36.27% 		Kirk Cox
1,790
26.63% 		Derek Jones
141
2.10% 		Cecil O'Donnell†
Yarmouth Richard Hurlburt
5,170
64.30% 		John Deveau
1,667
20.73% 		Dolores Atwood
1,051
13.07% 		Matt Granger
152
1.89% 		Richard Hurlburt

Fundy-Northeast

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PC NDP Liberal Green Independent
Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley Brooke Taylor
4,790
63.85% 		Gary Burrill
1,891
25.21% 		Carolyn Matthews
657
8.76% 		Leona MacLeod
164
2.19% 		Brooke Taylor
Colchester North Karen Casey
3,809
50.96% 		Rob Assels
1,511
20.21% 		Bob Taylor
1,979
26.47% 		Judy Davis
176
2.35% 		Bill Langille †
Cumberland North Ernie Fage
4,640
62.64% 		Kim Cail
1,085
14.65% 		Bruce Alan Fage
1,480
19.98% 		Darryl Whetter
202
2.73% 		Ernie Fage
Cumberland South Murray Scott
5,082
76.76% 		Andrew Kernohan
753
11.37% 		Mary Dee MacPherson
681
10.29% 		James Dessart
92
1.39% 		David Raymond Amos
13
0.20% 		Murray Scott
Hants East Wayne Fiander
2,715
30.62% 		John MacDonell
4,712
53.13% 		Malcolm A. MacKay
1,237
13.95% 		Michael Hartlan
204
2.30% 		John MacDonell
Truro-Bible Hill Jamie Muir
3,711
47.27% 		Jim Harpell
2,248
28.64% 		Ron Chisholm
1,674
21.32% 		Barton Cutten
217
2.76% 		Jamie Muir

Central Halifax

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PC NDP Liberal Green Independent
Halifax Chebucto Sean Phillips
1,720
22.09% 		Howard Epstein
4,216
54.15% 		Peter Verner
1,481
19.02% 		Christopher Harborne
369
4.74% 		Howard Epstein
Halifax Citadel Bill Black
2,724
37.45% 		Leonard Preyra
3,054
42.03% 		Devin Maxwell
1,181
16.25% 		Nick Wright
307
4.23% 		Vacant
Halifax Clayton Park Mary Ann McGrath
2,450
26.86% 		Linda Power
3,040
33.33% 		Diana Whalen
3,404
37.32% 		Sheila Richardson
307
3.37% 		Diana Whalen
Halifax Fairview Bruce MacCharles
1,649
23.13% 		Graham Steele
4,172
58.51% 		Cecil MacDougall
1,055
14.80% 		Kris MacLellan
254
3.56% 		Graham Steele
Halifax Needham Andrew Black
1,330
18.17% 		Maureen MacDonald
4,438
60.62% 		Errol Gaum
1,220
16.66% 		Amanda Myers
333
4.55% 		Maureen MacDonald

Suburban Halifax

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PC NDP Liberal Green Independent
Bedford Len Goucher
4,090
42.22% 		John Buckland
2,019
20.84% 		Francis MacKenzie
3,286
33.92% 		Mary McLaughlan
292
3.01% 		Peter G. Christie †
Halifax Atlantic Bruce Cooke
2,690
32.08% 		Michèle Raymond
4,151
49.51% 		Jim Hoskins
1,281
15.28% 		Rebecca Mosher
262
3.13% 		Michele Raymond
Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville Barry Barnet
3,704
42.02% 		Mat Whynott
3,178
36.05% 		Pam Streeter
1,766
20.03% 		Scott Cleghorn
167
1.89% 		Barry Barnet
Sackville-Cobequid Steve Craig
2,499
30.42% 		Dave Wilson
4,477
54.50% 		David Major
1,051
12.80% 		Elizabeth Nicolson
187
2.28% 		Dave Wilson
Timberlea-Prospect Jaunita Cirtwell
2,034
24.16% 		Bill Estabrooks
5,317
63.15% 		Lisa Mullin
851
10.11% 		Thomas Trappenberg
217
2.58% 		Bill Estabrooks
Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank Gary Hines
3,275
40.17% 		Percy Paris
3,782
46.39% 		Thomas Deal
909
11.15% 		William Lang
186
2.28% 		Gary Hines

Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PC NDP Liberal Green Independent
Cole Harbour Sheila McKeand
1,788
20.63% 		Darrell Dexter
5,327
61.46% 		Stephen Beehan
1,347
15.54% 		Michael McFadden
206
2.38% 		Darrell Dexter
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage Don McIver
1,201
18.93% 		Kevin Deveaux
4,086
64.40% 		Brian Churchill
903
14.23% 		Beverly Woodfield
155
2.44% 		Kevin Deveaux
Dartmouth East Jim Cormier
2,942
33.27% 		Joan Massey
3,822
43.22% 		Tracey Devereaux
1,842
20.83% 		Elizabeth Perry
238
2.69% 		Joan Massey
Dartmouth North Troy Myers
1,895
27.46% 		Trevor Zinck
3,414
49.47% 		Ian Murray
1,365
19.78% 		Alex Donaldson
227
3.29% 		Jerry Pye†
Dartmouth South-Portland Valley Tim Olive
3,041
32.52% 		Marilyn More
4,493
48.05% 		Brian Hiltz
1,509
16.14% 		Daniel Melvin
308
3.29% 		Marilyn More
Eastern Shore Bill Dooks
3,232
45.93% 		Sid Prest
2,871
40.80% 		Judith Cabrita
746
10.60% 		Elizabeth van Dreunen
188
2.67% 		Bill Dooks
Preston Dwayne Provo
1,620
36.83% 		Douglas Sparks
843
19.17% 		Keith Colwell
1,853
42.13% 		David Farrell
82
1.86% 		Keith Colwell

Central Nova

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PC NDP Liberal Green Independent
Antigonish Angus MacIsaac
4,629
48.28% 		Andrew MacDonald
1,827
19.06% 		Danny MacIsaac
2,953
30.80% 		Judy Dowden
179
1.87% 		Angus MacIsaac
Guysborough-Sheet Harbour Ron Chisholm
2,765
40.83% 		Jim Boudreau
2,540
37.51% 		David Horton
1,379
20.36% 		Marike Finlay-de Monchy
88
1.30% 		Ron Chisholm
Pictou Centre Pat Dunn
3,901
52.54% 		Danny MacGillivray
2,354
31.70% 		Troy MacCulloch
1,057
14.24% 		Samuel M. Clark
93
1.25% 		Dennis Tate
20
0.27% 		John Hamm†
Pictou East Sue Uhren
2,654
35.31% 		Clarrie MacKinnon
2,761
36.73% 		Danny Walsh
2,000
26.61% 		John A. Clark
102
1.36% 		Jim DeWolfe†
Pictou West Ronald Baillie
2,584
33.99% 		Charlie Parker
4,173
54.89% 		Sandy MacKay
698
9.18% 		Douglas Corbett
147
1.93% 		Charlie Parker

Cape Breton

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PC NDP Liberal Green Independent
Cape Breton Centre Darren Bruckschwaiger
2,274
28.44% 		Frank Corbett
3,490
43.65% 		Laura Lee MacDonald
2,152
26.92% 		Frances Oomen
79
0.99% 		Frank Corbett
Cape Breton North Cecil Clarke
4,310
50.71% 		Russell MacDonald
2,195
25.83% 		Fred Tilley
1,869
21.99% 		Mark Doucet
125
1.47% 		Cecil Clarke
Cape Breton Nova Todd Marsman
855
12.07% 		Gordie Gosse
4,315
60.92% 		Mel Crowe
1,794
25.33% 		Chris Milburn
119
1.68% 		Gordie Gosse
Cape Breton South Scott Boyd
3,261
32.36% 		Jamie Crane
2,160
21.43% 		Manning MacDonald
4,383
43.50% 		Stephen Doucet
273
2.71% 		Manning MacDonald
Cape Breton West Alfie MacLeod
4,729
53.76% 		Terry Crawley
1,344
15.28% 		Dave LeBlanc
2,488
28.28% 		Michael Milburn
236
2.68% 		Russell MacKinnon†
Glace Bay Mark Bettens
2,074
26.85% 		Myrtle Campbell
2,234
28.93% 		David Wilson
3,327
43.08% 		Todd Pettigrew
88
1.14% 		Dave Wilson
Inverness Rodney MacDonald
7,404
70.47% 		Tim Murphy
1,342
12.77% 		Mary MacLennan
1,627
15.49% 		John Gibson
133
1.27% 		Rodney MacDonald
Richmond John Greene
2,268
40.45% 		Mary Pat Cude
529
9.43% 		Michel Samson
2,722
48.55% 		Noreen Hartlen
88
1.57% 		Michel Samson
Victoria-The Lakes Keith Bain
3,001
47.48% 		Joan O'Liari
755
11.94% 		Gerald Sampson
2,272
35.94% 		Michelle Smith
173
2.74% 		Stemer MacLeod
120
1.90% 		Gerald Sampson

Opinion polls

A March 2006 poll by Corporate Research Associates asked voters who they would prefer as premier, 36 per cent of respondents picked Premier Rodney MacDonald, compared to 23 per cent for Darrell Dexter and 16 per cent for Francis MacKenzie. The same poll showed the Progressive Conservatives in the lead with 36 percent of voters compared to 29 percent for the New Democrats and 27 percent for the Liberals.[2]

Date Source PC NDP Liberal
5 Jun 2006 Corporate Research Associates 38 36 20
23 May 2006 Corporate Research Associates 34 27 30
Feb 2006 Corporate Research Associates 36 29 27
Nov 2005 Corporate Research Associates 35 32 28
Aug 2005 Corporate Research Associates 31 32 26
May 2005 Corporate Research Associates 36 30 27
Mar 2005 Corporate Research Associates 38 24 30
Dec 2004 Corporate Research Associates 35 28 30
Sep 2004 Corporate Research Associates 29 30 31
May 2004 Corporate Research Associates 28 33 30
Feb 2004 Corporate Research Associates 31 30 28
Nov 2003 Corporate Research Associates 28 32 29
5 Aug 2003 Election 36.3 31.0 31.5

Notes

  1. ^ "Nova Scotia vote called for June 13". CBC News. May 13, 2006.
  2. ^ a b "Parties & Leaders - Francis MacKenzie". CBC News. June 2, 2006. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  3. ^ "Tories win minority, lose two seats". CBC News. June 14, 2006. Retrieved December 27, 2023.

References

Further reading