Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative leadership conventions

The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, Canada, has held five leadership races since World War II. After the September 2005 retirement announcement of John Hamm, the Nova Scotia PC Party had its sixth leadership race.

1948 Leadership Convention

Party President Robert Stanfield won this convention handily in a two-man race. Stanfield would go on to become premier from 1956 to 1967. In 1967, he won the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and led that party for another nine years.

1967 Leadership Convention

With Stanfield's election as federal leader, the provincial leadership and premiership opened up. His long-time right-hand man, G.I. (Ike) Smith, ran for the leadership and was acclaimed.

1971 Leadership Convention

Three candidates, all in their thirties, ran for the leadership of the opposition Tories. Two former cabinet ministers, Gerry Doucet, the 33-year-old MLA for Richmond, and John Buchanan, the 39-year-old MLA for Halifax Atlantic were running against the 36-year-old mayor of Dartmouth, Rollie Thornhill.

First Ballot

*Gerald Doucet 282
*John Buchanan 242
*Rollie Thornhill 212

econd Ballot

Thornhill personally supported Buchanan, but "released" his delegates to support either candidate.

*John Buchanan 391
*Gerald Doucet 346

1991 Leadership Convention

After a couple of decades, including 12 years as premier, John Buchanan resigned the party leadership when he was summoned to the Senate.

Four candidates fought to succeed him as premier. Rollie Thornhill, from the 1971 race, would make a second run for the leadership, this time after sitting in the House as the MLA for Dartmouth South for 17 years. Caucus colleagues running were Donald Cameron, the MLA for Pictou East who entered the House when Thornhill did; and Tom McInnis, the 13-year MLA for Eastern Shore. Rounding out the field was Clair Callaghan, the principal of the Technical University of Nova Scotia (now part of Dalhousie University), and a candidate in the 1988 general election.

First Ballot

*Donald Cameron 754
*Rollie Thornhill 736
*Tom McInnis 680
*Clair Callaghan 178

econd Ballot

*Donald Cameron 801
*Rollie Thornhill 775
*Tom McInnis 762

Third Ballot

*Donald Cameron 1,201
*Rollie Thornhill 1,058

1995 Leadership Convention

In a one member one vote telephone election, John Hamm defeated Jim White and Michael MacDonald on the first ballot.

2006 Leadership Convention

See Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative leadership election, 2006