# Colchester North (provincial electoral district)

Colchester North is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It was created in 1978 when the former district of Colchester was redistributed.
The Member of the Legislative Assembly is Tom Taggart of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, who replaced Karen Casey who had held the seat from 2006 to 2021 as both a Conservative and then a Liberal.
The riding includes the northern half of Colchester County. Communities include Debert, Great Village, and Tatamagouche.

## Geography

The land area of Colchester North is 2,249 km$^2$ (868 sq mi).

## Members of the Legislative Assembly

This riding has elected the following members of the Legislative Assembly:
Colchester North :
| Legislature | Years | Member | Party |
| Riding created from Colchester |||||
| 52nd | 1978–1981 | Bill Campbell | Progressive Conservative |
| 53rd | 1981–1984 | Ed Lorraine | Liberal |
| 54th | 1984–1988 | Jack Coupar | Progressive Conservative |
| 55th | 1988–1993 | Ed Lorraine | Liberal |
| 56th | 1993–1998 | Ed Lorraine | Liberal |
| 57th | 1998–1999 | Ed Lorraine | Liberal |
| 58th | 1999–2003 | Bill Langille | Progressive Conservative |
| 59th | 2003–2005 | Bill Langille | Progressive Conservative |
| 60th | 2006–2009 | Karen Casey | Progressive Conservative |
| 61st | 2009–2011 | Karen Casey | Progressive Conservative |
| 61st | 2011–2013 | Karen Casey | Liberal |
| 62nd | 2013–2017 | Karen Casey | Liberal |
| 63rd | 2017–2021 | Karen Casey | Liberal |
| 64th | 2021–2024 | Tom Taggart | Progressive Conservative |
| 65th | 2024–present | Tom Taggart | Progressive Conservative |

## Election results
### 2021

vte2021 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Tom Taggart | 4,477 | 53.18 | +12.14 | $44,631.58 |
| | Liberal | Merlyn Smith | 2,681 | 31.84 | -14.65 | $91,526.85 |
| | New Democratic | Sean Foley | 955 | 11.34 | -1.13 | $36,616.11 |
| | Green | Ivan Drouin | 252 | 2.99 | | $1,794.39 |
| | Atlantica | Stephan Sante | 54 | 0.64 | | $200.00 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 8,419 | 99.67 | +0.19 | $86,863.25 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 28 | 0.33 | -0.19 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,447 | 56.67 | +2.10 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 14,906 |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +13.40 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2017

2017 provincial election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Liberal | 3,654 | 46.49 |
| Progressive Conservative | 3,225 | 41.04 |
| New Democratic | 980 | 12.47 |
vte2017 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Karen Casey | 3,654 | 46.49 | -14.50 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Rebecca Taylor | 3,225 | 41.04 | +14.68 |
| | New Democratic | James Finnie | 980 | 12.47 | -0.17 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,859 | 99.48 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 41 | 0.52 | -0.05 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,900 | 54.57 | -4.51 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 14,476 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -14.59 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2013

2013 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Karen Casey | 5,003 | 61.00 |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Kendrick MacDonald | 2,162 | 26.36 |
| | New Democratic Party | Jim Wyatt | 1,037 | 12.64 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,202 | 99.43 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 47 | 0.57 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,249 | 59.09 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 13,961 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2009

2009 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Karen Casey | 3,811 | 50.25% | -0.71% |
| | New Democratic | Arthur Hartlen | 2,362 | 31.14% | 10.93% |
| | Liberal | Lorenda Ebbett | 1,250 | 16.48% | -9.99% |
| | Green | Judy Davis | 161 | 2.12% | -0.23% |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,584 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Colchester North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 2006

2006 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Karen Casey | 3,809 | 50.96% | 5.84% |
| | Liberal | Bob Taylor | 1,979 | 26.47% | -3.16% |
| | New Democratic | Rob Assels | 1,511 | 20.21% | -5.03% |
| | Green | Judy Davis | 176 | 2.35% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,475 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Colchester North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 2003

2003 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bill Langille | 3,324 | 45.12% | 0.81% |
| | Liberal | John Davidson | 2,183 | 29.63% | 2.60% |
| | New Democratic | Garfield Forrest | 1,860 | 25.25% | -3.41% |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,367 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Colchester North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1999

1999 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bill Langille | 3,728 | 44.31% | 14.54% |
| | New Democratic | Ralph Martin | 2,411 | 28.66% | -2.44% |
| | Liberal | John Davidson | 2,274 | 27.03% | -12.10% |
| Total | Total | Total | 8,413 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Colchester North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1998

1998 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ed Lorraine | 3,301 | 39.13% | -15.14% |
| | New Democratic | Janet Maybee | 2,623 | 31.10% | 20.40% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Andy Williamson | 2,511 | 29.77% | -5.26% |
| Total | Total | Total | 8,435 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Colchester North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1993

1993 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ed Lorraine | 5,123 | 54.27% | 7.64% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Tom Taggart | 3,306 | 35.02% | -9.82% |
| | New Democratic | Patsy Forrest | 1,010 | 10.70% | 2.18% |
| Total | Total | Total | 9,439 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Colchester North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1988

1988 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ed Lorraine | 4,260 | 46.63% | 1.95% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jack Coupar | 4,097 | 44.85% | -1.80% |
| | New Democratic | Penny Marchbank | 778 | 8.52% | -0.16% |
| Total | Total | Total | 9,135 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Colchester North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1984

1984 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jack Coupar | 3,796 | 46.65% | 4.25% |
| | Liberal | Ed Lorraine | 3,636 | 44.68% | 2.13% |
| | New Democratic | Alan M. Marchbank | 706 | 8.68% | -6.38% |
| Total | Total | Total | 8,138 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Colchester North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1981

1981 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ed Lorraine | 3,182 | 42.55% | -0.75% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bill Campbell | 3,171 | 42.40% | -6.97% |
| | New Democratic | Alan M. Marchbank | 1,126 | 15.06% | 7.72% |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,479 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Colchester North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1978

1978 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bill Campbell | 3,447 | 49.37% | – |
| | Liberal | Floyd Tucker | 3,023 | 43.30% | – |
| | New Democratic | Peter Robben | 512 | 7.33% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,982 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Colchester North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||