# Clare (electoral district)

Clare is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada which existed between 1949-2013 and since 2021. Prior to 1949, Clare was part of Digby district. It elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. The electoral district includes most of the Municipality of the District of Clare, an Acadian area occupying the southwestern half of Digby County. For four consecutive elections from 1988 to 1999, the district had the highest voter turnout in the province.
The electoral district was abolished following the 2012 electoral boundary review and was largely replaced by the new electoral district of Clare-Digby. It was re-created out of Clare-Digby following the 2019 Electoral Boundary Review after a court challenge that also re-instated the province's two other protected Acadians ridings of Argyle and Richmond, and the Black riding of Preston.

## Geography

The land area of Clare is 830 km$^2$ (320 sq mi).

## Members of the Legislative Assembly

The electoral district was represented by the following members of the Legislative Assembly:
Clare :
| Legislature | Years | Member | Party |
| Riding created from Digby |||||
| 44th | 1949–1953 | Desire Comeau | Progressive Conservative |
| 45th | 1953–1956 | Pierre Belliveau | Liberal |
| 46th | 1956–1960 | Pierre Belliveau | Liberal |
| 47th | 1960–1963 | Pierre Belliveau | Liberal |
| 48th | 1963–1967 | Hector J. Pothier | Progressive Conservative |
| 49th | 1967–1970 | Benoit Comeau | Liberal |
| 50th | 1970–1974 | Benoit Comeau | Liberal |
| 51st | 1974–1978 | Benoit Comeau | Liberal |
| 52nd | 1978–1981 | Benoit Comeau | Liberal |
| 53rd | 1981–1984 | Chester Melanson | Liberal |
| 54th | 1984–1988 | Guy LeBlanc | Progressive Conservative |
| 55th | 1988–1993 | Guy LeBlanc | Progressive Conservative |
| 56th | 1993–1998 | Wayne Gaudet | Liberal |
| 57th | 1998–1999 | Wayne Gaudet | Liberal |
| 58th | 1999–2003 | Wayne Gaudet | Liberal |
| 59th | 2003–2006 | Wayne Gaudet | Liberal |
| 60th | 2006–2009 | Wayne Gaudet | Liberal |
| 61st | 2009–2013 | Wayne Gaudet | Liberal |
| Riding dissolved into Clare-Digby |||||
| Riding recreated from Clare-Digby |||||
| 64th | 2021–2024 | Ronnie LeBlanc | Liberal |
| 65th | 2024–present | Ryan Robicheau | Progressive Conservative |

## Election results
### 2024

vte2024 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ryan Robicheau | 2,805 | 59.71 | +16.29 |
| | Liberal | Ronnie LeBlanc | 1,790 | 38.10 | -11.79 |
| | New Democratic | Dre Taylor | 103 | 2.19 | -1.10 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,698 | 99.22 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 51 | 1.07 | +0.22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,735 | 65.71 | -1.48 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 7,206 |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +14.00 |

### 2021

vte2021 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Ronnie LeBlanc | 2,322 | 49.89 | -1.34 | $37,791.91 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Carl Deveau | 2,021 | 43.43 | +13.12 | $13,595.33 |
| | Green | Claire McDonald | 158 | 3.39 | | $200.00 |
| | New Democratic | Cameron Pye | 153 | 3.29 | -15.17 | $10,832.43 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 4,654 | 99.15 | – | $44,268.32 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 40 | 0.85 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,694 | 67.19 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 6,986 |
| | Liberal notional hold | Liberal notional hold | Swing | Swing | -7.23 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2017 (transposed)

2017 provincial election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Liberal | 2,059 | 51.23 |
| Progressive Conservative | 1,218 | 30.31 |
| New Democratic | 742 | 18.46 |

### 2009

2009 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wayne Gaudet | 3,392 | 64.68% | 16.16% |
| | New Democratic | Paul Comeau | 1,326 | 25.29% | 3.32% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jimmy Doucet | 459 | 8.75% | -19.33% |
| | Green | Diane Doucet-Bean | 67 | 1.28% | -0.14% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,244 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 53 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,297 | 76.71 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 6,905 |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 2006

2006 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wayne Gaudet | 2,803 | 48.53% | -13.02% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Abraham LeBlanc | 1,622 | 28.08% | 2.82% |
| | New Democratic | Paul Comeau | 1,269 | 21.97% | 8.78% |
| | Green | Diane Doucet-Bean | 82 | 1.42% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,776 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 50 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,826 | 82.45 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 7,066 |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 2003

2003 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wayne Gaudet | 3,547 | 61.55% | 17.78% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Marc Boudreau | 1,456 | 25.26% | -12.84% |
| | New Democratic | Don Melanson | 760 | 13.19% | -4.25% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,763 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,833 | 89.68 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 6,504 |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1999

1999 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wayne Gaudet | 2,705 | 43.76% | -3.52% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Comeau | 2,355 | 38.10% | -3.22% |
| | New Democratic | Don Melanson | 1,078 | 17.44% | 6.04% |
| | Nova Scotia Party | Anne Marie Boyer | 43 | 0.70% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,181 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 66 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,247 | 87.43 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 7,145 |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1998

1998 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wayne Gaudet | 2,950 | 47.28% | -4.71% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Guy LeBlanc | 2,578 | 41.32% | -1.55% |
| | New Democratic | Vanessa Paddock | 711 | 11.40% | 6.26% |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,239 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 109 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,348 | 88.00 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 7,214 |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1993

1993 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Wayne Gaudet | 3,461 | 51.99% | 10.23% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Guy LeBlanc | 2,854 | 42.87% | -11.15% |
| | New Democratic | Christian Collin | 342 | 5.14% | 0.92% |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,657 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 83 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,740 | 91.44 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 7,371 |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1988

1988 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Guy LeBlanc | 3,587 | 54.02% | 3.69% |
| | Liberal | Nadine Boudreau | 2,773 | 41.76% | -3.53% |
| | New Democratic | Jan Slakov-Crombie | 280 | 4.22% | -0.16% |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,640 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1984

1984 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Guy LeBlanc | 3,094 | 50.33% | 12.33% |
| | Liberal | Chester Melanson | 2,784 | 45.29% | 6.33% |
| | New Democratic | Alain Chabot | 269 | 4.38% | -18.66% |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,147 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1981

1981 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Chester Melanson | 2,228 | 38.96% | -17.51% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Guy LeBlanc | 2,173 | 38.00% | 1.87% |
| | New Democratic | Paul Dennis Comeau | 1,317 | 23.03% | 15.64% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,718 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1978

1978 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benoit Comeau | 2,963 | 56.47% | -4.60% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Gerald J. B. Comeau | 1,896 | 36.13% | 11.00% |
| | New Democratic | Sylvio Gagnon | 388 | 7.39% | -6.39% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,247 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1974

1974 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benoit Comeau | 2,959 | 61.07% | 1.40% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Vincent L. Doucet | 1,218 | 25.14% | -15.19% |
| | New Democratic | Jean L. Belliveau | 668 | 13.79% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,845 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1970

1970 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benoit Comeau | 2,712 | 59.67% | 3.24% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul J. Comeau | 1,833 | 40.33% | -3.24% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,545 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1967

1967 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benoit Comeau | 2,384 | 56.43% | 9.04% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Hector J. Pothier | 1,841 | 43.57% | -9.04% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,225 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1963

1963 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Hector J. Pothier | 2,154 | 52.61% | 4.74% |
| | Liberal | Joseph C. LeBlanc | 1,940 | 47.39% | -4.74% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,094 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1960

1960 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Pierre E. Belliveau | 2,215 | 52.13% | -0.47% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Kenneth Weaver | 2,034 | 47.87% | 0.47% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,249 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1956

1956 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Pierre E. Belliveau | 2,046 | 52.60% | -5.87% |
| | Progressive Conservative | J. Fred Gaudet | 1,844 | 47.40% | 5.87% |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,890 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1953

1953 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Pierre E. Belliveau | 2,307 | 58.46% | 8.92% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Desire J. Comeau | 1,639 | 41.54% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,946 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1949

1949 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Desire J. Comeau | 2,116 | 50.45% | – |
| | Liberal | Benoit Comeau | 2,078 | 49.55% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,194 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Clare" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||