# Pictou West

Pictou West is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.
Its member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) since 2024 has been Marco MacLeod of the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia (PC).
The riding was created prior to the 1949 election out of the two-seat Pictou riding.

## Geography

The riding includes the western half of Pictou County, plus the town of Pictou. The riding contains the communities of Abercrombie, Alma, Bay View, Bigney, Black River, Braeshore, Brookland, Campbell Hill, Cape John, Caribou, Caribou Island, Caribou River, Central Caribou, Central West River, College Grant, Concord, Dalhousie, Diamond, Durham, East Branch, Elmfield, Four Mile Brook, Glengarry Station, Granton, Greenhill, Haliburton, Heathbell, Hedgeville, Hodson, Lansdowne Station, Loch Broom, Loganville, Louisville, Lovat, Lyons Brook, Marshdale, Marshville, Meadowville, Melville, Millbrook, Millsville, Mountain Road, Mount Thom, Mount William, New Gairloch, New Lairg, Pictou Island, Plainfield, Pleasant Valley, Poplar Hill, River John, Rockfield, Rocklin, Salt Springs, Scotsburn, Seafoam, Scotch Hill, Six Mile Brook, Sundridge, Sylvester, Toney River, Union Centre, Waterside, Watervale, Welsford, West Branch, West River Station, White Hill
The geography of Pictou West is 1,190 km$^2$ (460 sq mi) of land area.

## Members of the Legislative Assembly

This riding has elected the following members of the Legislative Assembly:
| Legislature | Years | Member | Party |
| 65th | 2024-present | Marco MacLeod | Progressive Conservative |
| 64th | 2024-2024 | Marco MacLeod | Progressive Conservative |
| 64th | 2021-2024 | Karla MacFarlane | Progressive Conservative |
| 63rd | 2017–2021 | Karla MacFarlane | Progressive Conservative |
| 62nd | 2013–2017 | Karla MacFarlane | Progressive Conservative |
| 61st | 2009–2013 | Charlie Parker | New Democratic |
| 60th | 2006-2009 | Charlie Parker | New Democratic |
| 59th | 2003-2006 | Charlie Parker | New Democratic |
| 58th | 1999-2003 | Muriel Baillie | Progressive Conservative |
| 57th | 1998-1999 | Charlie Parker | New Democratic |
| 56th | 1993-1998 | Donald P. McInnes | Progressive Conservative |
| 55th | 1988-1993 | Donald P. McInnes | Progressive Conservative |
| 54th | 1984-1988 | Donald P. McInnes | Progressive Conservative |
| 53rd | 1981-1984 | Donald P. McInnes | Progressive Conservative |
| 52nd | 1978-1981 | Donald P. McInnes | Progressive Conservative |
| 51st | 1974-1978 | Dan Reid | Liberal |
| 50th | 1970-1974 | Harvey Veniot | Progressive Conservative |
| 49th | 1967-1970 | Harvey Veniot | Progressive Conservative |
| 48th | 1963-1967 | Harvey Veniot | Progressive Conservative |
| 47th | 1960-1963 | Harvey Veniot | Progressive Conservative |
| 46th | 1956-1960 | Harvey Veniot | Progressive Conservative |
| 45th | 1953-1956 | Stewart W. Proudfoot | Liberal |
| 44th | 1949-1953 | Stewart W. Proudfoot | Liberal |

## Election results
### 2024

vte2024 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Marco MacLeod | 4,325 | 74.1% | +1.60 |
| | Liberal | Mary Wooldridge-Elliott | 778 | 13.3% | +3.75 |
| | New Democratic | Carol Ferguson | 620 | 10.6% | -5.94 |
| | Green | Clare Brett | 115 | 2.0% | +0.57 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,838 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2024 by-election

Nova Scotia provincial by-election, May 21, 2024 Resignation of Karla MacFarlane :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Marco MacLeod | 4,159 | 72.48 | +8.86 |
| | New Democratic | Melinda MacKenzie | 949 | 16.54 | +4.18 |
| | Liberal | Mary Wooldridge-Elliott | 548 | 9.55 | -11.86 |
| | Green | Clare Brett | 82 | 1.43 | -0.33 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 5,738 | 99.29 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 41 | 0.71 | +0.34 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,779 | 48.09 | -13.36 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 12,018 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +2.34 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2021

vte2021 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Karla MacFarlane | 4,487 | 63.62 | +1.04 | $26,401.55 |
| | Liberal | Mary Wooldridge-Elliott | 1,510 | 21.41 | +4.95 | $29,635.78 |
| | New Democratic | Rick Parker | 872 | 12.36 | -6.30 | $25,332.33 |
| | Green | Clare Brett | 124 | 1.76 | -0.54 | $200.00 |
| | Independent | John A. Clark | 60 | 0.85 | | $200.00 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 7,053 | 99.63 | – | $69,087.61 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 26 | 0.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,079 | 61.44 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 11,521 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -1.96 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2017

2017 provincial election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Progressive Conservative | 4,380 | 62.58 |
| New Democratic | 1,306 | 18.66 |
| Liberal | 1,152 | 16.46 |
| Green | 161 | 2.30 |
vte2017 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Karla MacFarlane | 4,333 | 62.44 | +22.35 |
| | New Democratic | Shawn McNamara | 1,302 | 18.76 | -15.53 |
| | Liberal | Ben MacLean | 1,143 | 16.47 | -9.14 |
| | Green | Cecile Vigneault | 161 | 2.32 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,939 | 99.58 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 29 | 0.42 | -0.40 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,968 | 62.08 | -7.28 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 11,225 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +18.94 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2013

2013 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Karla MacFarlane | 3,026 | 40.10 | +20.10 |
| | New Democratic | Charlie Parker | 2,588 | 34.29 | -23.34 |
| | Liberal | Glennie Langille | 1,933 | 25.61 | +5.55 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,547 | 99.19 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 62 | 0.81 | +0.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,609 | 69.36 | +2.49 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 10,971 |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from New Democratic | Progressive Conservative gain from New Democratic | Swing | Swing | +21.72 |

### 2009

2009 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Charlie Parker | 4,226 | 57.63 | +2.74 |
| | Liberal | Paul Landry | 1,471 | 20.06 | +10.88 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Leonard William Fraser | 1,466 | 19.99 | -14.00 |
| | Green | Chelsea Richardson | 170 | 2.32 | 0.38 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,333 | 99.74 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 19 | 0.26 | -0.23 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,352 | 66.86 | -1.93 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 10,996 |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | -4.07 |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "42 Electoral District of Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 2006

2006 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Charlie Parker | 4,173 | 54.89 | +10.85 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Baillie | 2,584 | 33.99 | +1.31 |
| | Liberal | Sandy MacKay | 698 | 9.18 | -11.99 |
| | Green | Douglas Corbett | 147 | 1.93 | -0.17 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,602 | 99.52 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 37 | 0.48 | -0.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,639 | 68.79 | -12.22 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 11,105 |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | +4.77 |
| Source(s) Source: Elections Nova Scotia (July 14, 2006). "42 - Pictou West" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. |||||||

### 2003

2003 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Charlie Parker | 3,410 | 44.05 | +8.36 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Veniot | 2,530 | 32.68 | -4.78 |
| | Liberal | Edward MacMaster | 1,639 | 21.17 | -4.30 |
| | Independent | Doug Corbett | 163 | 2.11 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,742 | 99.42 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 45 | 0.58 | -0.05 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,787 | 81.01 | +2.87 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 9,612 |
| | New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | Swing | +6.57 |
| Source(s) Source: Elections Nova Scotia (2003). "42 - Pictou West" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. |||||||

### 1999

1999 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Muriel Baillie | 3,102 | 37.46 | -2.39 |
| | New Democratic | Charlie Parker | 2,955 | 35.69 | -4.57 |
| | Liberal | Paul Landry | 2,109 | 25.47 | +5.59 |
| | Nova Scotia Party | D. Ed Berringer | 114 | 1.38 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,280 | 99.38 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 52 | 0.62 | +0.13 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,332 | 78.15 | +1.82 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 10,662 |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from New Democratic | Progressive Conservative gain from New Democratic | Swing | Swing | +1.09 |
| Source(s) Source: Elections Nova Scotia (1999). "Pictou West" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. |||||||

### 1998

1998 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Charlie Parker | 3,306 | 40.26 | +27.82 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Luke Young | 3,273 | 39.86 | -5.86 |
| | Liberal | Rob McDowell | 1,633 | 19.89 | -18.07 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,212 | 99.50 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 41 | 0.50 | +0.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,253 | 76.32 | -3.94 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 10,813 |
| | New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | Swing | +16.84 |
| Source(s) Source: Elections Nova Scotia (1998). "(42) Pictou West" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. |||||||

### 1993

1993 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Donald P. McInnes | 4,032 | 45.72% | -9.02% |
| | Liberal | Rob McDowell | 3,347 | 37.95% | 5.34% |
| | New Democratic | Sonny Campbell | 1,097 | 12.44% | -0.21% |
| | Independent | Edward MacMaster | 343 | 3.89% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 8,819 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia. Chief Electoral Officer (1993). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-Third General Election (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1988

1988 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Donald P. McInnes | 3,824 | 54.74% | -5.04% |
| | Liberal | John J. Henderson | 2,278 | 32.61% | 2.56% |
| | New Democratic | Geoff Moore | 884 | 12.65% | 5.10% |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,986 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia. Chief Electoral Officer (1988). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-Second General Election (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1984

1984 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Donald P. McInnes | 3,844 | 59.78% | 4.13% |
| | Liberal | Bob Naylor | 1,932 | 30.05% | -3.06% |
| | New Democratic | Lynn Curwin-Porteous | 486 | 7.56% | -3.69% |
| | Independent | Franklin R. Fiske | 168 | 2.61% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,430 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia. Chief Electoral Officer (1984). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-First General Election (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1981

1981 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Donald P. McInnes | 3,473 | 55.65% | 12.76% |
| | Liberal | Doris Rink | 2,066 | 33.10% | -7.51% |
| | New Democratic | Jim Scanlan | 702 | 11.25% | -4.30% |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,241 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia. Chief Electoral Officer (1981). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirteith General Election (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1978

1978 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Donald P. McInnes | 2,888 | 42.89% | -0.73% |
| | Liberal | Dan Reid | 2,735 | 40.61% | -3.38% |
| | New Democratic | John McDonald | 1,047 | 15.55% | 3.16% |
| | Independent | Lloyd H. MacLellan | 64 | 0.95% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,734 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia. Chief Electoral Officer (1978). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Twenty-Ninth General Election (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1974

1974 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Dan Reid | 2,624 | 43.99% | 6.46% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Harvey Veniot | 2,602 | 43.62% | -7.38% |
| | New Democratic | Charles Parker | 739 | 12.39% | 0.91% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,965 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia. Chief Electoral Officer (1974). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Twenty-Eighth General Election (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1970

1970 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Harvey Veniot | 2,729 | 51.00% | -14.20% |
| | Liberal | D. Laurence Mawhinney | 2,008 | 37.53% | 2.73% |
| | New Democratic | Robert Cormier | 614 | 11.47% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,351 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1970). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1967

1967 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Harvey Veniot | 3,137 | 65.20% | 5.67% |
| | Liberal | Edward Snow | 1,674 | 34.80% | -5.67% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,811 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1967). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1963

1963 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Harvey Veniot | 2,999 | 59.54% | 7.26% |
| | Liberal | Charles Ernest MacCarthy | 2,038 | 40.46% | -4.37% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,037 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1963). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1960

1960 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Harvey Veniot | 2,744 | 52.28% | 1.43% |
| | Liberal | W. A. Broidy | 2,353 | 44.83% | -4.33% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | W. E. Salsman | 152 | 2.90% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,249 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1960). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1956

1956 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Harvey Veniot | 2,644 | 50.85% | 0.93% |
| | Liberal | Stewart W. Proudfoot | 2,556 | 49.15% | -0.93% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,200 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1956). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1953

1953 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Stewart W. Proudfoot | 2,628 | 50.09% | -4.95% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Harvey Veniot | 2,619 | 49.91% | 4.95% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,247 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1953). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1949

1949 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Stewart W. Proudfoot | 2,817 | 55.04% | – |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Donald R. Gilchrist | 2,301 | 44.96% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,118 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1949). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||