2007 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election

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. 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.

2007 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election
April 27, 2007
Turnout1,397
 
Candidate Stephen McNeil Diana Whalen
Riding Annapolis Halifax-Clayton Park
Second ballot 718
(52.5%)		 650
(47.5%)
First ballot 571
(40.9%)		 402
(28.8%)
 
Candidate Mike Smith Kenzie MacKinnon
Riding N/A[lower-alpha 1] N/A[lower-alpha 2]
Second ballot Withdrew Eliminated
First ballot 255
(18.3%)		 169
(12.1%)
Leader before election

Michel Samson (interim)

 Elected Leader

Stephen McNeil

2007 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election
DateApril 27, 2007
ConventionDartmouth Sportsplex, Dartmouth
Resigning leaderFrancis MacKenzie
Won byStephen McNeil
Ballots1,397

The party had held government for much of the province's history, having been in power from Canadian Confederation in 1867 to 1878, 1882 to 1925, 1933 to 1956, 1970 to 1978, and 1993 to 1999. However, the party had been relegated to third party status after it lost the 1999 election.

Timeline

2006

2007
  • January 10: Mike Smith, the mayor of Colchester County, becomes the first registered candidate, launching his campaign in Truro.[1]
  • January 12: Interim leader Michel Samson announces that he will not run for party leadership.[2]
  • January 18: Halifax-Clayton Park MLA Diana Whalen becomes the second and highest profile candidate in the race, launching her campaign in Halifax.
  • January 19: Kenzie MacKinnon announces that he will enter the leadership race.
  • January 30: Annapolis MLA Stephen McNeil becomes the second MLA to enter the race; he is the first to have endorsements from current MLAs.
  • April 28: Stephen McNeil elected leader.[3]

Rules

The new leader was chosen by a full delegated convention, the first in the party since 1986. The leader was elected using a one member, one vote system, which has been used since 1992. The party issued a 78 page document, outlining the rules, on January 15, 2007.[4]

Candidates
Mike Smith
Diana Whalen
Kenzie McKinnon
Stephen McNeil

Various members of the party announced that they would not seek the leadership. Among them were interim leader Michel Samson, Dartmouth physician John Gillis,[8] and Liberal MPs Geoff Regan,[8] Scott Brison, and Michael Savage.

Endorsements

The following is a list of high-profile endorsers for each of the candidates; the list includes MLAs, MPs, and Senators, as well as former MLAs, Premiers, and Lieutenant-Governors.

MacKinnon (3)

McNeil (9)

Smith (13)
  • Aldric d'Entremont, Warden, Municipality of Argyle
  • Lloyd Hines, Warden, Municipality of the District of Guysborough
  • Glenn Horne, President, St. F.X. Young Liberals
  • Dennis James, former President NS Young Liberals, Chief of Staff to Premier John Savage, Former Federal Candidate
  • Ed Kinley, former MLA for Halifax Citadel
  • Ed Lorraine, former MLA and provincial Minister of Agriculture
  • Kennie MacAskill, former MLA and provincial Minister of Natural Resources
  • Richie Mann, President of Dartmouth Cole Harbour, former MLA, former Minister of Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
  • Duart McAuley, Warden, Municipality of the County of Inverness
  • Traci-Lyn McMenamon, VP Hants East Liberal Association
  • Eleanor Norrie, former MLA Truro-Bible Hill, former Minister of Natural Resources, Housing and Consumer Affairs, and Status of Women
  • Lorraine Sheppard, Cape Breton South, past member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party Management Committee
  • Gordon Thompson, President, Yarmouth Liberal Association
  • Floyd Tucker, former MLA for Colchester North

Whalen (9)

Caucus members who did not endorse a candidate

Results
McNeil makes his acceptance speech Saturday, at the Dartmouth Sportplex, after winning on the second ballot.
Results by ballot
Candidate 1st ballot 2nd ballot
Votes cast % Votes cast %
Stephen McNeil 571 40.9% 718 52.5%
Diane Whalen 402 28.8% 650 47.5%
Mike Smith 255 18.3% Withdrew (Endorsed Whalen)
Kenzie MacKinnon 169 12.1% Eliminated (Endorsed Whalen)
Total 1,397 100.0% 1,368 100.0%
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See also

Notes
  1. Mayor of Colchester County.
  2. Former candidate in Halifax Chebucto.

References
  1. "Mike Smith launches Liberal leadership bid". CBC News. January 10, 2007. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  2. "Samson stays out of Grit leadership race". CBC News. January 12, 2007. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  3. "McNeil new N.S. Liberal leader". CBC News. April 28, 2007. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-05-01. Retrieved 2007-01-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Lawyer MacKinnon joins race for N.S. Liberal leader". CBC News. January 19, 2007. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  6. "MLA McNeil launches Grit leadership bid". CBC News. January 30, 2007. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  7. "Whalen launches Grit leadership bid". CBC News. January 18, 2007. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  8. Nova Scotia News - TheChronicleHerald.ca
  9. Nova Scotia Liberal Party
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