Nova Scotia general election, 1998

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Nova Scotia general election, 1998
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg
←  1993 March 24, 1998 1999  →
52 seats of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
27 seats needed for a majority

  First party Second party Third party
  Russell MacLellan.jpg Robert-Chisholm-2012-NDP-Leadership-Convention.png Jhamm03election.JPG
Leader Russell MacLellan Robert Chisholm John Hamm
Party Liberal New Democratic Progressive Conservative
Leader since July 12, 1997 March 30, 1996 October 28, 1995
Leader's seat Cape Breton North Halifax Atlantic Pictou Centre
Last election 40 3 9
Seats won 19 19 14
Seat changeDecrease2.svg21Increase2.svg16Increase2.svg5
Popular vote 158,620 155,361 133,540
Percentage 35.34% 34.62% 29.75%
SwingDecrease2.svg14.36%Increase2.svg16.92%Decrease2.svg3.35%

1998 Nova Scotia Election.png

Riding map of Nova Scotia showing winning parties
Premier before election

Russell MacLellan
Liberal

Premier-designate

Russell MacLellan
Liberal

The 34th Nova Scotia general election was held on March 24, 1998 to elect members of the 57th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Liberal party and the New Democratic Party tied in the seat count, with 19 each, while the Progressive Conservatives won 14 seats. The Liberals went on to form a minority government with the support of the Progressive Conservatives.

57th General Assembly of Nova Scotia represented Nova Scotia between March 24, 1998, and June 18, 1999, its membership being set in the 1998 Nova Scotia general election. The Liberals led by Russell MacLellan formed a minority government with the support of the Progressive Conservatives.

Nova Scotia Province of Canada

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime Provinces, and one of the four provinces that form Atlantic Canada. Its provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the second-smallest of Canada's ten provinces, with an area of 55,284 square kilometres (21,300 sq mi), including Cape Breton and another 3,800 coastal islands. As of 2016, the population was 923,598. Nova Scotia is Canada's second-most-densely populated province, after Prince Edward Island, with 17.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (45/sq mi).

Canada Country in North America

Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering 9.98 million square kilometres, making it the world's second-largest country by total area. Canada's southern border with the United States, stretching some 8,891 kilometres (5,525 mi), is the world's longest bi-national land border. Its capital is Ottawa, and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. As a whole, Canada is sparsely populated, the majority of its land area being dominated by forest and tundra. Consequently, its population is highly urbanized, with over 80 percent of its inhabitants concentrated in large and medium-sized cities, with 70% of citizens residing within 100 kilometres (62 mi) of the southern border. Canada's climate varies widely across its vast area, ranging from arctic weather in the north, to hot summers in the southern regions, with four distinct seasons.

Contents

Background

Liberal Premier John Savage was elected in a landslide in 1993. The Liberals inherited a $471-million deficit, and launched an austerity program which cut the province's health and education systems. [1] On April 1, 1997, the provincial government imposed a 15% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) which merged the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). This shift angered some Nova Scotians who now had to pay taxes on things that had previously been exempted, such as home heating fuel. Savage also implemented an unpopular highway toll. Liberal party infighting eventually resulted in Savage's resignation in July 1997. [2] Russell MacLellan became Premier of Nova Scotia on July 18, 1997.

Campaign

The governing Liberals were desperate to distance themselves from the Savage government which was viewed as deeply unpopular. New leader, Russell MacLellan, was made the focus of the campaign with all Liberal candidates signs displaying the phrase, "the MacLellan Liberals." [3]

During a televised debate on March 5, 1998, MacLellan stumbled badly when Progressive Conservative Leader John Hamm asked if he would resign if he failed to bring in a balanced budget. Instead of responding, MacLellan stared straight ahead and did not speak for seven seconds. [4] MacLellan blamed the pause on rigid debate rules. This moment marked a turning point in a race that saw the Liberals barely retain power. [5]

Results

Results by party

PartyParty leader# of
candidates		SeatsPopular vote
1993 Dissolution Elected% Change#%Change
  Liberal Russell MacLellan 52403719-52.5%158,62035.34%-14.36%
  New Democratic Robert Chisholm 523419+533.3%155,36134.62%+16.92%
  Progressive Conservative John Hamm 5291114+55.6%133,54029.75%-3.35%
    Independent Candidates7----1,3250.30%
Total163525252 448,846100% 

Results by region

Party name HRM C.B. Valley S. Shore Fundy Central Total
Parties winning seats in the legislature:
  Liberal Seats:47321219
  Popular vote: 34.46%44.91%32.54%35.30%29.31%31.42%35.34%
  New Democratic Party Seats:133-11119
  Popular vote: 43.94%38.02%25.44%28.09%25.57%27.41%34.62%
  Progressive Conservative Seats:--444214
  Popular vote: 21.47%16.16%41.66%36.46%44.98%41.17%29.75%
Parties not winning seats in the legislature:
    Independents Popular vote: 0.13%0.91%0.36%0.15%0.14%-0.30%
Total seats: 1710776552

Related Research Articles

John Patrick Savage, OC, ONS was a Welsh-born Canadian physician and politician. Savage was the 23rd Premier of Nova Scotia between 1993 and 1997. He was born in Wales, and educated in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. He immigrated to Canada in 1967 and was a noted family physician in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He became the mayor of Dartmouth in 1985, and won re-election twice. He then became the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party in 1992 and stepped down as mayor. In 1993, he defeated the incumbent provincial government and became premier. Savage was a controversial premier, bringing in many reforms in taxation, regional government, and government hiring practices. He resigned as premier in 1997 due to his low approval ratings in public polls. He died of cancer at the age of 70 in 2003. He was the father of Mike Savage, current mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality.

John Hamm Canadian politician

John Frederick Hamm, is a Canadian physician and politician and was the 25th Premier of Nova Scotia from 1999 to 2006.

Nova Scotia Liberal Party political party in Nova Scotia, Canada

The Nova Scotia Liberal Party is a socially liberal, fiscally conservative political party in Nova Scotia, Canada. The party currently forms government in Nova Scotia, under the leadership of Premier Stephen McNeil. It has held power in the province since the 2013 election, and the current government led by Stephen McNeil was the first in Nova Scotia to win 2 consecutive majorities since the government of John Buchanan, after the victory in the 2017 Nova Scotia election.

Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia Canadian political party, moderate right-of-centre, based in Nova Scotia

The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, commonly called the PC Party, is a moderate, centrist political party in Nova Scotia, Canada. They have been historically associated with the "Red Tory" wing of Canadian conservatism. The party is currently led by Pictou East MLA Tim Houston.

Russell MacLellan Canadian politician

Russell Gregoire MacLellan is a Canadian politician who served as the 24th Premier of Nova Scotia from 1997 to 1999.

Robert Chisholm (Canadian politician) Canadian politician

Robert Lawrence Chisholm is a former trade unionist and politician from Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented the Halifax Atlantic riding in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1991 to 2003. He succeeded Alexa McDonough as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1996. He served as the leader of the Official Opposition in the Nova Scotia Legislature from 1998 to 1999. He subsequently founded a consulting firm, was co-chair of the 2010–11 United Way of Halifax Region campaign, and sat on the Board of Governors of Dalhousie University. On May 2, 2011, Chisholm was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Dartmouth—Cole Harbour riding in Nova Scotia. As a member of the Official Opposition, he served as the Critic for Fisheries and Oceans and Deputy Critic for Employment Insurance until his defeat in the 2015 election.

Michel P. Samson is a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Cape Breton-Richmond, formerly Richmond in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1998 to 2017. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.

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The Nova Scotia Liberal Party held a leadership election 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. It was won by Annapolis MLA Stephen McNeil.

Nova Scotia is a parliamentary democracy. Its legislature consists of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and fifty-one members representing their electoral districts in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. As Canada's head of state, Queen Elizabeth II is the head of Nova Scotia's chief executive government. Her duties in Nova Scotia are carried out by the Lieutenant-Governor, Arthur LeBlanc. The government is headed by the Premier, Stephen McNeil, who took office October 22, 2013. Halifax is home to the House of Assembly and Lieutenant-Governor. The House of Assembly has met in Halifax at Province House since 1819.

Manning MacDonald CD, ECNS is a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Cape Breton South in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from May 25, 1993 to May 29, 2013. He is a member of the Liberals.

Helen MacDonald is a Canadian politician. She represented the electoral district of Cape Breton The Lakes in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1997 to 1999. She was a member of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.

Francene Jen Cosman is a former nurse, businessperson and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. She represented Bedford-Fall River in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 1999 as a Liberal member.

Robert "Robbie" Harrison is a Canadian politician and educator. He represented Kings South in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 1999 as a Liberal member.

Donald Richard Downe is a farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Lunenburg West in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 2003 as a Liberal member.

Gerald Joseph O'Malley was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Halifax Needham in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1988 to 1998, as a member of the Liberals.

Gerald "Gerry" Fogarty is a former sportscaster and politician. He was the last Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia to be appointed by the Premier rather than elected by his peers.

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The 2013 Nova Scotia general election, formally the 39th Nova Scotia general election, was held on October 8, 2013, to elect members to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

Bruce Holland is a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Timberlea-Prospect in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 1998. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. In 2017, Holland ran as a candidate for the PC Party of Nova Scotia in Halifax Atlantic. Holland is currently the executive director of the Spryfield Business Commission and the publisher and founder of the Parkview News, a locally distributed paper.

James Alexander Smith is a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Dartmouth East in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1984 to 2003. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.

Alan E. Mitchell is a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Dartmouth-Cole Harbour in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 1998. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.

References

  1. ↑ MacLellan New NS Premier Maclean's - July 21, 1997
  2. ↑ A Savage sweep in Nova Scotia CBC Archives
  3. ↑ Lawn signs for politicians in Canada tough to perfect, says Graham Steele CBC News
  4. ↑ 'It went very well' Halifax Chronicle Herald - March 6, 1998
  5. ↑ N.S. election: Leaders hoping to avoid costly gaffes during upcoming debate CTV News


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