Nova Scotia Liberal Party | |
---|---|
Active provincial party | |
Leader | Zach Churchill |
President | Dr. Paul Doucette |
Secretary | Sandy Schembri |
Founded | 1883 |
Headquarters | 5151 George Street Suite 1400 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2T3 |
Youth wing | Nova Scotia Young Liberals |
Ideology | Liberalism |
Political position | Centre |
National affiliation | Liberal Party of Canada |
Colours | Red |
Seats in House of Assembly | 15 / 55 |
Website | |
Official website | |
The Nova Scotia Liberal Party (officially the Liberal Association of Nova Scotia [1] ) is a centrist provincial political party in Nova Scotia, Canada and the provincial section of the Liberal Party of Canada. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in Nova Scotia, under the leadership of Zach Churchill. The party was in power most recently from the 2013 election until the 2021 election. [2] [3]
The party is descended from the pre-Confederation Reformers in Nova Scotia who coalesced around Joseph Howe demanding the institution of responsible government. The Liberals (Reformers) formed several governments in the colony between 1848 and 1867.
The party split during the debate on Confederation, with Howe and most other Liberals forming an Anti-Confederation Party, while supporters of confederation joined Tory Charles Tupper's Confederation Party. Howe, himself, initially opposed Confederation, but accepted it as a reality after initial attempts to scuttle it failed.
In 1868, Howe joined the pro-Confederation forces, serving for a time in the federal Cabinet of Sir John A. Macdonald.
The Anti-Confederation Party took most of Nova Scotia's seats in the House of Commons of Canada in 1867, as well as forming the government of the new province under William Annand. The new, post-1867 Liberal Party was organised by Annand and his anti-Confederate forces, while the Conservative Party was organised by Tupper and supporters of Sir John A. Macdonald's coalition in the province.
Prior to 1956, the Nova Scotia Liberal Party had ruled the province for 76 of its 89 years, most of that time with fewer than five opposition members. It had also ruled prior to confederation, and was responsible for bringing the first responsible government to North America. From 1882 to 1925, the Liberals held power for an unbroken 43 years, the second longest serving political dynasty in Canadian history, behind the Alberta PCs. [4]
From 1956, the Tories gained significant ground with Robert Stanfield's reformation of the "Progressive Conservatives", and have successfully challenged the Liberals for control of the government. The Liberals faltered in the province at the beginning of the 21st century, and for a time were the third-largest party in the House of Assembly, behind the Tories and the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. After the Nova Scotia Liberal Party's dismal performance in the 2006 election (and failing to win his own seat), leader Francis MacKenzie announced his resignation. [5] He was succeeded by Stephen McNeil. In the 2009 election, the Liberals moved out of third-party status and formed the official opposition once again. In the 2013 election, the Liberals won a majority government, their first since the 1993 election under John Savage, and took office for the first time in 14 years. [6] Under McNeil, a self-described fiscal conservative, the party pushed for balanced provincial budgets and took a firm stance against public sector unions. [7]
The Nova Scotia Liberals are the provincial section of the federal Liberal Party of Canada. The two parties have a shared membership, and Liberal Members of Parliament often become Liberal Members of the Legislative Assembly, and vice versa. Gerald Regan, for instance, became leader of the provincial party after serving as a Liberal MP. He joined the federal Liberal government after serving as premier of Nova Scotia. Angus L. Macdonald, the province's most storied Liberal premier, split his term into two by spending five years as a federal Liberal cabinet minister in the wartime government of William Lyon Mackenzie King.
In the 2009 election, Stephen McNeil led the Liberals to Official Opposition status, winning 11 seats. [8]
In the 2013 election, the McNeil Liberals won a majority government, defeating the NDP government of Darrell Dexter. [9]
In the 2017 election, the McNeil Liberals retained a reduced majority of 27 seats in the legislature. [10]
On August 6, 2020, McNeil announced he will step down as party leader and that he will continue to act as premier and as the party's leader until the a replacement is found. [11] On February 23, 2021, Rankin became the 29th Premier of Nova Scotia, replacing McNeil. [12] Rankin called a snap election for August 17, 2021, which his Liberal Party lost. [13] Rankin was personally re-elected in Timberlea-Prospect. [14]
Name | Riding | Year elected |
---|---|---|
Zach Churchill | Yarmouth | 2010 |
Patricia Arab | Fairview-Clayton Park | 2013 |
Braedon Clark | Bedford South | 2021 |
Rafah DiCostanzo | Clayton Park West | 2017 |
Ali Duale | Halifax Armdale | 2021 |
Tony Ince | Cole Harbour | 2013 |
Keith Irving | Kings South | 2013 |
Ben Jessome | Hammonds Plains-Lucasville | 2013 |
Carman Kerr | Annapolis | 2021 |
Ronnie LeBlanc | Clare | 2021 |
Derek Mombourquette | Sydney-Membertou | 2015 |
Lorelei Nicoll | Cole Harbour-Dartmouth | 2021 |
Iain Rankin | Timberlea-Prospect | 2013 |
Kelly Regan | Bedford Basin | 2009 |
Fred Tilley | Northside-Westmount | 2021 |
Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1867 | William Annand | 58.6 | 36 / 38 | 21 | 1st | Majority | |
1871 | 52.2 | 24 / 38 | 12 | 1st | Majority | ||
1874 | Philip Carteret Hill | 55.0 | 22 / 38 | 2 | 1st | Majority | |
1878 | 45.1 | 6 / 38 | 16 | 2nd | Opposition | ||
1882 | None | 51.8 | 24 / 38 | 18 | 1st | Majority | |
1886 | William Stevens Fielding | 54.7 | 28 / 38 | 4 | 1st | Majority | |
1890 | 52.2 | 29 / 38 | 1 | 1st | Majority | ||
1894 | 51.9 | 25 / 38 | 4 | 1st | Majority | ||
1897 | George Henry Murray | 55.0 | 34 / 38 | 9 | 1st | Majority | |
1901 | 56.7 | 36 / 38 | 2 | 1st | Majority | ||
1906 | 53.2 | 32 / 38 | 4 | 1st | Majority | ||
1911 | 51.1 | 26 / 38 | 10 | 1st | Majority | ||
1916 | 50.4 | 31 / 43 | 5 | 1st | Majority | ||
1920 | 44.4 | 29 / 43 | 2 | 1st | Majority | ||
1925 | Ernest Howard Armstrong | 36.3 | 3 / 43 | 26 | 2nd | Opposition | |
1928 | William Chisholm | 47.2 | 18 / 43 | 15 | 2nd | Opposition | |
1933 | Angus Lewis Macdonald | 52.6 | 22 / 30 | 4 | 1st | Majority | |
1937 | 51.0 | 25 / 30 | 3 | 1st | Majority | ||
1941 | Alexander Stirling MacMillan | 52.6 | 22 / 30 | 3 | 1st | Majority | |
1945 | Angus Lewis Macdonald | 52.7 | 28 / 30 | 6 | 1st | Majority | |
1949 | 51.0 | 27 / 37 | 1 | 1st | Majority | ||
1953 | 49.0 | 22 / 37 | 5 | 1st | Majority | ||
1956 | Henry Hicks | 159,666 | 48.2 | 18 / 43 | 4 | 2nd | Opposition |
1960 | 147,951 | 42.6 | 15 / 43 | 3 | 2nd | Opposition | |
1963 | Earl Wallace Urquhart | 134,873 | 39.7 | 4 / 43 | 11 | 2nd | Opposition |
1967 | Gerald Regan | 142,945 | 41.8 | 6 / 46 | 2 | 2nd | Opposition |
1970 | 174,943 | 46.1 | 23 / 46 | 17 | 1st | Minority | |
1974 | 206,648 | 47.9 | 31 / 46 | 8 | 1st | Majority | |
1978 | 175,218 | 39.4 | 17 / 52 | 14 | 2nd | Opposition | |
1981 | Sandy Cameron | 139,604 | 33.2 | 13 / 52 | 4 | 2nd | Opposition |
1984 | 129,310 | 31.3 | 6 / 52 | 7 | 2nd | Opposition | |
1988 | Vince MacLean | 186,007 | 39.6 | 21 / 52 | 15 | 2nd | Opposition |
1993 | John Savage | 243,298 | 49.7 | 40 / 52 | 19 | 1st | Majority |
1998 | Russell MacLellan | 158,620 | 35.3 | 19 / 52 | 21 | 1st | Minority |
1999 | 128,795 | 29.8 | 11 / 52 | 8 | 3rd | Third party | |
2003 | Danny Graham | 128,417 | 31.5 | 12 / 52 | 1 | 3rd | Third party |
2006 | Francis MacKenzie | 94,872 | 23.4 | 9 / 52 | 3 | 3rd | Third party |
2009 | Stephen McNeil | 112,160 | 27.2 | 11 / 52 | 2 | 2nd | Opposition |
2013 | 190,112 | 45.7 | 33 / 51 | 22 | 1st | Majority | |
2017 | 157,541 | 39.5 | 27 / 51 | 6 | 1st | Majority | |
2021 | Iain Rankin | 155,026 | 36.67 | 17 / 55 | 10 | 2nd | Opposition |
Sir Charles Tupper, 1st Baronet,, M.D. was a Canadian Father of Confederation who served as the sixth prime minister of Canada from May 1 to July 8, 1896. As the premier of Nova Scotia from 1864 to 1867, he led Nova Scotia into Confederation. He briefly served as the Canadian prime minister, from seven days after parliament had been dissolved, until he resigned on July 8, 1896, following his party's loss in the 1896 Canadian federal election. He is the only medical doctor to have ever held the office of prime minister of Canada and his 68-day tenure as prime minister is the shortest in Canadian history.
Sir Adams George Archibald was a Canadian lawyer and politician, and a Father of Confederation. He was based in Nova Scotia for most of his career, though he also served as first Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1870 to 1872.
The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a social-democratic, progressive provincial party in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the provincial entity of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP). It was founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in 1932, and became the New Democratic Party in 1961. It became the governing party of Nova Scotia following the 2009 Nova Scotia election, winning 31 seats in the Legislature, under the leadership of Premier Darrell Dexter. It is the first New Democratic Party in Atlantic Canada to form a government, and the second to form a government in a province east of Manitoba. The party lost government at the 2013 election, losing 24 seats, including Dexter's seat. Gary Burrill, the party’s leader from 2016 to 2022, is credited with bringing the party back to its left-wing roots. The party currently holds 6 seats in the Legislature and has been led by Claudia Chender since June 2022.
Anti-Confederation was the name used in what is now the Maritimes by several parties opposed to Canadian Confederation. The Anti-Confederation parties were accordingly opposed by the Confederation Party, that is, the Conservative and Liberal-Conservative parties.
Hiram Blanchard was a Nova Scotia lawyer, politician, and the first premier of Nova Scotia. Blanchard won election to the Nova Scotia legislative assembly in Inverness in 1859 as a Liberal.
The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, is a moderate political party in Nova Scotia, Canada. Like most conservative parties in Atlantic Canada, it has been historically associated with the Red Tory faction of Canadian conservatism. The party is currently led by Pictou East MLA Tim Houston. The party won a majority government in the 2021 provincial election. The Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia and the Conservative Party of Canada are two separate entities.
The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a right wing conservative political party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The party has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony. It has historically followed the Red Tory tradition. The Progressive Conservative Party currently leads the provincial government since 2018 under Premier Blaine Higgs.
William Annand was a Nova Scotia publisher and politician. He was a member of the North British Society.
Stephen McNeil is a Canadian politician who served as the 28th premier of Nova Scotia, from 2013 to 2021. He also represented the riding of Annapolis in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2003 to 2021 and was the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party from 2007 to 2021.
The 2007 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election was held on April 27, 2007 at the Dartmouth Sportsplex, following the resignation of Francis MacKenzie, shortly after failing to win a seat in the 2006 election. This was the third leadership convention for the Liberals since 2002. In addition to the leadership convention, the party will hold its Annual General Meeting including the election of officers, adoption of policies, and potential constitutional amendments. It was won by Annapolis MLA Stephen McNeil.
Karen Lynn Casey is a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Colchester North in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, first as a Progressive Conservative, and then as member of the Liberal caucus from 2011 to 2021.
The 2009 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. 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.
Kelly Maureen Regan MLA is a Canadian politician who has served in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly since 2009, most recently as the MLA for Bedford Basin. She was first elected as the Member for Bedford-Birch Cove. Since is a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.
Zachariah John Churchill is a Canadian politician from Nova Scotia. He serves as the member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Yarmouth, first elected in 2010.
This page lists the results of leadership elections held by the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. Before 1930 leaders were chosen by the caucus.
Lena Metlege Diab is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election. A member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, she represented the electoral district of Halifax Armdale until 2021.
Iain Thomas Rankin is a Canadian politician who served as the 29th premier of Nova Scotia from February 23, 2021, to August 31, 2021. He serves in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, representing the electoral district of Timberlea-Prospect. Rankin was first elected in the 2013 Nova Scotia general election and was re-elected in the 2017 general election. On February 6, 2021, Rankin was announced the Leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.
Randy Delorey is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election. He was one of three candidates to succeed Stephen McNeil as the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party and Premier of Nova Scotia. A member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, he represented the electoral district of Antigonish until 2021.
The 2021 Nova Scotia general election was held on August 17, 2021, to elect members to the 64th General Assembly of Nova Scotia.