2003 Nova Scotia general election

The 2003 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.

2003 Nova Scotia general election

August 5, 2003

52 seats of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
27 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
LIB
Leader John Hamm Darrell Dexter Danny Graham
Party Progressive Conservative New Democratic Liberal
Leader since October 28, 1995 June 2, 2002 April 13, 2002
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%

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

John Hamm
Progressive Conservative

Premier after election

John Hamm
Progressive Conservative

Campaign

The election was called by Progressive 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 Progressive 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).[1]

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 0 -100% 1,694 0.42% +0.13%
Nova Scotia Party Gerry Rodgers 16 0 0 0 0% 1,637 0.40% -0.33%
Marijuana Michael Patriquen 11 * 0 0 0% 1,608 0.39% *
  Vacant 2  
Total 189 52 52 52   408,017 100%  
Popular vote
PC
36.32%
Liberal
31.47%
New Democratic
31.00%
Others
1.11%
Seats summary
PC
48.08%
New Democratic
28.85%
Liberal
23.08%
Others
1.11%

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

Retiring incumbents

Liberal
Progressive Conservative
New Democratic

Nominated candidates

Valley

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
 PC NDP Liberal Nova Scotia Marijuana Independent
Annapolis Frank Chipman Adrian Nette Stephen McNeil Harry Wilson Frank Chipman
Clare Marc Boudreau Don Melanson Wayne Gaudet Wayne Gaudet
Digby-Annapolis Gordon Balser Deborah Trask Harold Theriault Gordon Reid Gordon Balser
Hants West Ron Russell Sean Bennett Randy Matheson Connie Brauer Chummy Anthony Ron Russell
Kings North Mark Parent Jim Morton Michael Landry Ben Friesen Mark Parent
Kings South David Morse David Mangle Maura Ryan Victor Harris David Morse
Kings West Jon Carey Greg Hubbert Leo Glavine Jon Carey

South Shore

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
 PC NDP Liberal Nova Scotia Marijuana Independent
Argyle Chris d'Entremont Charles Muise Aldric d'Entremont Neil LeBlanc
Chester-St. Margaret's John Chataway Hinrich Bitter-Suermann Mitt Larsen Sue Gault John Chataway
Lunenburg Michael Baker Chris Heide Jim Davis Michael Baker
Lunenburg West Carolyn Bolivar-Getson David Ferguson John MacDonald Don Downe
Queens Kerry Morash Vicki Conrad Win Seaton Kerry Morash
Shelburne Cecil O'Donnell Kendall Stoddard Clifford Huskilson Cecil O'Donnell
Yarmouth Richard Hurlburt Gillian Rowley Phil DeMille Richard Hurlburt

Fundy

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
 PC NDP Liberal Nova Scotia Marijuana Independent
Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley Brooke Taylor Kathryn Belzer Joan Barnhill Brooke Taylor
Colchester North Bill Langille Garfield Forrest John Davidson Bill Langille
Cumberland North Ernie Fage Kim Cail Marsh Fox Jason Blanch Ernie Fage
Cumberland South Murray Scott Scott McKee Harriet McCready Murray Scott
Hants East Mary Lou LeRoy John MacDonell Larry Matthews Ken Smith John MacDonell
Truro-Bible Hill Jamie Muir Jim Harpell Jeff Yuill Jamie Muir

Central Halifax

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
 PC NDP Liberal Nova Scotia Marijuana Independent
Halifax Chebucto Sandy Phillips Howard Epstein Kenzie MacKinnon Scott Higgins Howard Epstein
Halifax Citadel Jane Purves Peter Delefes Danny Graham James Marchoine Michael Patriquen Jane Purves
Halifax Clayton Park Mary Ann McGrath Roberta Morrison Diana Whalen Greg Lavern Mary Ann McGrath
Halifax Fairview Bruce MacCharles Graham Steele Susan Hayes David Boyd Graham Steele
Halifax Needham Linda Carvery Maureen MacDonald Mike Rogers Blair Baxter Maureen MacDonald

Suburban Halifax

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
 PC NDP Liberal Nova Scotia Marijuana Independent
Bedford Peter Christie Bob Watson Richard Zurawski Peter Christie
Halifax Atlantic Linda Mosher Michele Raymond Ian MacKinnon Gerry Rodgers Robert Chisholm
Hammonds Plains Upper Sackville Barry Barnet Brenda Haley Pam Streeter Melanie Patriquen Barry Barnet
Sackville-Cobequid John Giannakos Dave Wilson Bob Harvey Michael D. Patriquen John Holm
Timberlea-Prospect Barry Fraser Bill Estabrooks Bruce Holland Bill Estabrooks
Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank Gary Hines Percy Paris David Merrigan Heather Sawers Alex Neron Gary Hines

Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
 PC NDP Liberal Nova Scotia Marijuana Independent
Cole Harbour Brian Thomas Darrell Dexter Peter Foy Jessica Gould Darrell Dexter
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage Henry McInroy Kevin Deveaux Brian Churchill Kallee McPherson Kevin Deveaux
Dartmouth East Terry Degen Joan Massey Debra Barlow Scott Anderson Hugo St-Onge Sebastien Theriault Jim Smith
Dartmouth North Jane MacKay Jerry Pye Rosemary Godin Pat Gould Marc-Andre Roy Jerry Pye
Dartmouth South-Portland Valley Tim Olive Marilyn More Colini MacEachern Tim Olive
Eastern Shore Bill Dooks Sid Prest Randy Carter Bill Dooks
Preston David Hendsbee Douglas Sparks Keith Colwell Marc-Boris St-Maurice David Hendsbee

Central Nova

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
 PC NDP Liberal Nova Scotia Marijuana Independent
Antigonish Angus MacIsaac Terry O'Toole David A. Cameron Gene Purdy Angus MacIsaac
Guysborough-Sheet Harbour Ron Chisholm Jim Boudreau Gordon MacDonald Ron Chisholm
Pictou Centre John Hamm Alexander MacIsaac Tim Daley Darryl Gallivan John Hamm
Pictou East Jim DeWolfe Bob Matheson John Fraser Jim DeWolfe
Pictou West Paul Veniot Charlie Parker Ed MacMaster Doug Corbett Muriel Baillie

Cape Breton

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
 PC NDP Liberal Nova Scotia Marijuana Independent
Cape Breton Centre Rita Tighe-MacLeod Frank Corbett Basil McGillivray Frank Corbett
Cape Breton North Cecil Clarke Cecil Snow Mike White Cecil Clarke
Cape Breton Nova Todd Marsman Gordie Gosse Mel Crowe Paul MacEwan
Cape Breton South John Morrison Mike MacSween Manning MacDonald Manning MacDonald
Cape Breton West Ivan Doncaster Douglas MacKinlay Russell MacKinnon Russell MacKinnon
Glace Bay Mark Bettens Vince Hall David Wilson David Wilson
Inverness Rodney MacDonald Tim Murphy Debbie Gillis Rodney MacDonald
Richmond Richie Cotton Clair Rankin Michel Samson Michel Samson
Victoria-The Lakes Keith Bain Nancy MacKeigan Gerald Sampson Brian Boudreau Stemer MacLeod Brian Boudreau
gollark: This is strange, I broke IncDec somehow?
gollark: That would still need a lot of GPU runtime.
gollark: Also, anyone got ideas for achievements and/or interesting metrics to track for achievements?
gollark: Or, as I said, a big dataset yet.
gollark: Oh, right. I could maybe use GPT-2 but I don't have anything with a powerful GPU.

See also

References

  • Government of Nova Scotia. "Summary Results from 1867 to 2011" (PDF). Elections Statistics. Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
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