Nova Scotia general election, 2003

Nova Scotia general election, 2003

1999 ← members August 5, 2003 members → 2006 members

52 seats of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly 27 seats needed for a majority   First party Second party Third party   Leader John Hamm Darrell Dexter Danny Graham Party Progressive Conservative New Democrat Liberal Leader's seat Pictou Centre Cole Harbour Halifax Citadel Last election 30 11 11 Seats won 25 15 12 Seat change -5 +4 +1 Popular vote 148,182 126,479 128,417 Percentage 36.32% 31.00% 31.47% Swing -2.88% +1.03% +1.66%

Riding map of Nova Scotia showing winning parties.

Premier before election John Hamm Progressive Conservative Elected Premier John Hamm Progressive Conservative

The 36th Nova Scotia general election was held on August 5, 2003 to elect members of the 59th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The ruling Progressive Conservative Party, led by Premier John Hamm, was reduced to a minority government.

Election

The election was called by Conservatives, who decided to hold a rare summer election in the hope of strengthening their hold on the legislature. Running against them were the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Darrell Dexter, and the Liberal Party, led by Danny Graham.

Hamm's party ran on a policy of fiscal management, tax cuts, and on their record of fulfilling most of their promises. While the NDP agreed in principle to tax cuts, their main cause was the creation of a public auto insurance company. The Liberals were the only party to criticize the tax cuts.

For the most part, the campaign was quiet and uneventful. Hamm received criticism for a great number of spending programs, including a $150 tax rebate cheque sent to Nova Scotians right before the election. The party was also criticized for holding an election in the summer when most people have other concerns. Darrell Dexter's friendly, non-confrontational style, was popular with many voters, and was a marked change from his party's usually strident socialism. Danny Graham, a young leader, was popular, but failed to make much of a mark.

The election was considered a mild failure for the Liberals and Conservatives, and something of a success for the NDP.

This election is also notable for being one of the last Canadian provincial elections in which British subjects could vote (a tiny number can still vote provincially in Saskatchewan if they were qualified in 1971).

General results

Results by party

Party		Party leader	# of candidates	Seats				Popular vote
				1999	Dissolution	Elected	% Change	#	%	Change
	Progressive Conservative	John Hamm	52	30	31	25	-16.7%	148,182	36.32%	-2.88%
	New Democratic	Darrell Dexter	52	11	11	15	+36.4%	126,479	31.00%	+1.03%
	Liberal	Danny Graham	52	11	7	12	+9.1%	128,417	31.47%	+1.66%
	Independents		6	0	1	-	-100%	1,694	0.42%	+0.13%
	Nova Scotia Party	Gerry Rodgers	16	0	0	-	-	1,637	0.40%	-0.33%
	Marijuana Party	Michael Patriquen	11	*	0	-	*	1,608	0.39%	*
	Vacant				2
Total			189	52	52	52		408,017	100%

• The Marijuana Party did not contest the 1999 general election.

Results by region

Party name			HRM	C.B.	Valley	S. Shore	Fundy	Central	Total
Parties winning seats in the legislature:
	Progressive Conservative	Seats:	4	2	3	7	5	4	25
		Popular vote:	30.97%	26.68%	38.41%	45.57%	50.67%	42.94%	36.32%
	New Democratic Party	Seats:	11	2	-	-	1	1	15
		Popular vote:	40.67%	26.21%	23.15%	25.10%	27.51%	25.59%	31.00%
	Liberal	Seats:	3	5	4	-	-	-	12
		Popular vote:	27.14%	45.71%	37.13%	29.06%	20.85%	29.21%	31.47%
Parties not winning seats in the legislature:
	Independents	Popular vote:	0.13%	1.40%	-	-	0.74%	0.41%	0.42%
	Nova Scotia Party	Popular vote:	0.70%	-	0.75%	0.27%	0.23%	-	0.40%
	Marijuana	Popular vote:	0.40%	-	0.56%	-	-	1.85%	0.39%
Total seats:			18	9	7	7	6	5	52

Riding results

• bold denotes a cabinet minister or party leader
• † denotes an incumbent not seeking re-election

Valley

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		PC		NDP		Liberal		Other
Annapolis		Frank Chipman 2795 - (31.42%)		Adrian Nette 1395 - (15.68%)		Stephen McNeil 4522 - (50.83%)		Harry Wilson (NSP) 185 - (2.08%)		Frank Chipman
Clare		Marc Boudreau 1456 - (25.26%)		Don Melanson 760 - (13.19%)		Wayne Gaudet 3547 - (61.55%)				Wayne Gaudet
Digby-Annapolis		Gordon Balser 2339 - (40.00%)		Deborah Trask 755 - (13.20%)		Harold Theriault, Jr. 2666 - (45.26%)		Gordon Reid (NSP) 92 - (1.54%)		Gordon Balser
Hants West		Ron Russell 3871 - (46.15%)		Sean Bennett 2200 - (26.23%)		Randy Matheson 2118 - (25.25%)		Chummy Anthony (Mar.) 148 - (1.76%) Connie Brauer (NSP) 51 - (0.61%)		Ron Russell
Kings North		Mark Parent 4063 - (50.29%)		Jim Morton 2340 - (28.94%)		Michael Landry 1533 - (28.94%)		Ben Friesen (Mar.) 147 - (1.82%)		Mark Parent
Kings South		David Morse 3347 - (37.65%)		David Mangle 2794 - (31.43%)		Maura Ryan 2682 - (30.17%)		Victor Harris (NSP) 67 - (0.75%)		David Morse
Kings West		Jon Carey 2929 - (35.58%)		Greg Hubbert 2275 - (27.51%)		Leo Glavine 3045 - (36.91%)				Jon Carey

South Shore

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		PC		NDP		Liberal		Other
Argyle		Chris d'Entremont 2345 - (47.95%)		Charles Muise 595 - (12.17%)		Aldric d'Entremont 1946 - (39.89%)				Neil LeBlanc †
Chester-St. Margaret's		John Chataway 3451 - (37.33%)		Hinrich Bitter-Suermann 3412 - (36.90%)		Mitt Larsen 2249 - (24.25%)		Sue Gault (NSP) 141 - (1.52%)		John Chataway
Lunenburg		Michael Baker 3734 - (46.36%)		Chris Heide 2625 - (46.36%)		Jim Davis 1695 - (21.05%)				Michael Baker
Lunenburg West		Carolyn Bolivar-Getson 3111 - (39.65%)		David Ferguson 2180 - (27.80%)		John MacDonald 2550 - (32.55%)				Don Downe †
Queens		Kerry Morash 2721 - (44.19%)		Vicki Conrad 2300 - (37.35%)		Win Seaton 1137 - (18.46%)				Kerry Morash
Shelburne		Cecil O'Donnell 3702 - (48.62%)		Kendall Stoddard 810 - (10.62%)		Clifford Huskilson 3107 - (40.75%)				Cecil O'Donnell
Yarmouth		Richard Hurlburt 4656 - (56.48%)		Gillian Rowley 1142 - (13.85%)		Phil DeMille 2446 - (29.67%)				Richard Hurlburt

Fundy

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		PC		NDP		Liberal		Other
Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley		Brooke Taylor 4695 - (64.34%)		Kathryn Belzer 1694 - (23.22%)		Joan Barnhill 908 - (12.44%)				Brooke Taylor
Colchester North		Bill Langille 3324 - (45.22%)		Garfield Forrest 1860 - (25.07%)		John Davidson 2183 - (29.70%)				Bill Langille
Cumberland North		Ernest Fage 4609 - (61.20%)		Kim Cail 1105 - (14.87%)		Marsh Fox 1380 - (19.41%)		Jason Blanch (Ind.) 337 - (14.87%)		Ernest Fage
Cumberland South		Murray Scott 4898 - (71.70%)		Scott McKee 745 - (10.90%)		Harriet McCready 1189 - (17.40%)				Murray Scott
Hants East		Mary Lou LeRoy 1640 - (19.54%)		John MacDonnell 4783 - (56.98%)		Larry Matthews 1866 - (22.22%)		Ken Smith (NSP) 106 - (1.26%)		John MacDonnell
Truro-Bible Hill		Jamie Muir 3862 - (47.11%)		Jim Harpell 2314 - (28.23%)		Jeff Yuill 2021 - (24.66%)				Jamie Muir

Central Halifax

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		PC		NDP		Liberal		Other
Halifax Chebucto		Sandy Phillips 1983 - (23.72%)		Howard Epstein 3682 - (44.04%)		Kenzie MacKinnon 2592 - (31.00%)		Scott Higgins 103 - (1.23%)		Howard Epstein
Halifax Citadel		Jane Purves 2466 - (30.28%)		Peter Delefes 2542 - (31.17%)		Danny Graham 3042 - (37.36%)		Michael Patriquen (Mari.) 59-(0.71%) James Marchoine (NSP) 38 - (0.48%)		Jane Purves
Halifax Clayton Park		Mary Ann McGrath 3034 - (34.52%)		Roberta Morrison 2312 - (34.52%)		Diana Whalen 3329 - (37.62%)		Greg Lavern 152 - (1.72%)		Mary Ann McGrath
Halifax Fairview		Bruce MacCharles 1684 - (22.45%)		Graham Steele 3439 - (45.85%)		Susan Hayes 2284 - (30.45%)		David Boyd (NSP) 94 - (1.25%)		Graham Steele
Halifax Needham		Linda Carvery 1377 - (18.66%)		Maureen MacDonald 3709 - (50.26%)		Mike Rogers 2178 - (29.51%)		Blair Baxter (NSP) 116 - (1.57%)		Maureen MacDonald

Suburban Halifax

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		PC		NDP		Liberal		Other
Bedford		Peter Christie 4114 - (43.85%)		Bob Watson 2055 - (21.97%)		Richard Zurawski 3208 - (43.85%)				Peter Christie
Halifax Atlantic		Linda Mosher 2996 - (33.68%)		Michele Raymond 3327 - (37.40%)		Ian MacKinnon 2382 - (26.78%)		Gerald Rodgers (NSP) 191 - (2.15%)		Robert Chisholm †
Hammonds Plains Upper Sackville		Barry Barnet 3322 - (40.99%)		Brenda Haley 2229 - (27.82%)		Pam Streeter 2419 - (29.89%)		Melanie Patriquen (Mar.) 105 - (1.30%)		Barry Barnet
Sackville-Cobequid		John Giannakos 2426 - (28.43%)		Dave Wilson 3881 - (45.22%)		Bob Harvey 2147 - (25.23%)		Michael D. Patriquen (Mar.) 97 - (1.12%)		John Holm †
Timberlea-Prospect		Barry Fraser 1535 - (18.2%)		Bill Estabrooks 5049 - (60.06%)		Bruce Holland 1829 - (21.74%)				Bill Estabrooks
Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank		Gary Hines 3141 -(37.91%)		Percy Paris 2778 - (33.53%)		David Merrigan 2240 - (26.43%)		Alex Neron (Mari.) 92 - (1.1%) Heather Sawers (NSP) 86 - (1.04%)		Gary Hines

Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		PC		NDP		Liberal		Other
Cole Harbour		Brian Thomas 2387 - (26.39%)		Darrell Dexter 4977 - (55.50%)		Peter Foy 1523 - (16.98%)		Jessica Gould (NSP) 102 - (1.14%)		Darrell Dexter
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage		Henry McInroy 1641 - (23.99%)		Kevin Deveaux 3997 - (58.44%)		Brian Churchill 1121 - (16.39%)		Kallee McPherson (NSP) 80 - (1.17%)		Kevin Deveaux
Dartmouth East		Terry Degen 3107 - (34.62%)		Joan Massey 3272 - (36.61%)		Debra Barlow 2321 - (26.05%)		Hugo St-Onge (Mar.) 112 - (1.26%) Scott Anderson (NSP) 98 - (1.10%) Sebastien Theriault 28 - (0.36%)		Jim Smith †
Dartmouth North		Jane MacKay 1900 - (26.46%)		Jerry Pye 3799 - (53.05%)		Rosemary Godin 1300 - (18.11%)		Pat Gould (NSP) 96 - (1.34%) Marc-Andre Roy (Mar.) 75 - (1.04%)		Jerry Pye
Dartmouth South-Portland Valley		Tim Olive 2813 - (31.86%)		Marilyn More 3844 - (43.30%)		Colini MacEachern 2218 - (24.84%)				Tim Olive
Eastern Shore		Bill Dooks 3073 - (45.02%)		Sidney Prest 2427 - (35.57%)		Randy Carter 1326 - (19.41%)				Bill Dooks
Preston		David Hensbee 1361 - (32.92%)		Douglas Sparks 1331 - (31.97%)		Keith Colwell 1411 - (33.9%)		Marc-Boris St-Maurice (Mar.)50 - (1.21%)		David Hensbee

Central Nova

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		PC		NDP		Liberal		Other
Antigonish		Angus MacIsaac 4256 - (41.64%)		Terry O'Toole 1755 - (17.17%)		David A. Cameron 3650 - (35.72%)		Gene Purdy (Mar.) 560 - (5.48%)		Angus MacIsaac
Guysborough-Sheet Harbour		Ronnie Chisholm 2587 - (37.99%)		Jim Boudreau 2023 - (29.71%)		Gordon MacDonald 2199 - (32.30%)				Ronnie Chisholm
Pictou Centre		John Hamm 4262 - (54.71%)		Alexander MacIsaac 1571 - (20.42%)		Tim Daley 1789 - (22.69%)		Darryl Gallivan (Mar.) 170 - (2.18%)		John Hamm
Pictou East		Jim DeWolfe 3295 - (44.19%)		Bob Matheson 1929 - (25.89%)		John Fraser 2239 - (29.92%)				Jim DeWolfe
Pictou West		Paul Veniot 2530 - (32.68%)		Charlie Parker 3410 - (44.05%)		Ed MacMaster 1639 - (21.17%)		Doug Corbett (Ind.) 163 - (2.11%)		Muriel Baillie †

Cape Breton

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		PC		NDP		Liberal		Other
Cape Breton Centre		Rita Tighe-MacLeod 373 - (4.81%)		Frank Corbett 3929 - (50.64%)		Basil McGillivray 3456 - (44.55%)				Frank Corbett
Cape Breton North		Cecil Clarke 3754 - (43.46%)		Cecil Snow 1714 - (19.84%)		Mike White 3169 - (36.70%)				Cecil Clarke
Cape Breton Nova		Todd Marsman 684 - (10.48%)		Gordie Gosse 3168 - (45.19%)		Mel Crowe 3094 - (44.33%)				Paul MacEwan †
Cape Breton South		John Morrison 1677 - (17.05%)		Mike MacSween 2759 - (28.99%)		Manning MacDonald 5275 - (53.96%)				Manning MacDonald
Cape Breton West		Ivan Doncaster 2221 - (25.44%)		Douglas MacKinlay 1868 - (21.70%)		Russell MacKinnon 4616 - (52.86%)				Russell MacKinnon
Glace Bay		Mark Bettens 1351 - (16.20%)		Vince Hall 2342 - (29.00%)		David Wilson 4420 - (54.80%)				David Wilson
Inverness		Rodney MacDonald 5398 - (51.19%)		Tim Murphy 1277 - (12.11%)		Debbie Gillis 3871 - (36.71%)				Rodney MacDonald
Richmond		Richie Cotton 1850 - (31.18%)		Clair Rankin 1036 - (17.46%)		Michel Samson 3047 - (51.36%)				Michel Samson
Victoria-The Lakes		Keith Bain 2036 - (32.48%)		Nancy MacKeigan 934 - (14.90%)		Gerald Sampson 2284 - (36.44%)		Brian Boudreau (Ind.) 750 - (11.97%) Stemer MacLeod (Ind.) 120 - (4.21%)		Brian Boudreau

By-elections since the general election

Chester—St. Margaret's (Death of John Chataway), June 21, 2005:

By-election: Chester—St. Margaret's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	PC	Judy Streatch	2,955	36.27	-1.03
	Liberal	Rick Fraughton	2,548	31.27	+6.96
	NDP	Hinrich Bitter-Suermann	2,434	29.88	-6.99
	Independent	Michael Oddy	210	2.58	+1.06*
Total			9,270	100%

• *Ind. results compared to that of the NSP during the general election.

See also

• List of Nova Scotia general elections
• List of Nova Scotia political parties

References

• Government of Nova Scotia. "Election Summary From 1867 - 2006" (PDF). Elections Statistics. Elections Nova Scotia. http://electionsnovascotia.ns.ca/results/ele_summary.pdf. Retrieved 2006-12-02. 

External links

• CBC Nova Scotia Votes 2003
• Halifax Herald 2003 election website via Internet Archive.