# Cumberland—Colchester

Cumberland—Colchester (formerly Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley and North Nova) is a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 2004.
Cumberland—Colchester North and Cumberland—Colchester were ridings that covered roughly the same geographic area and were represented in the House of Commons from 1968 to 1979 and 1979 to 2004, respectively.

## Demographics

From the 2006 census
Ethnic groups:
* White: 96.1%
* First Nations: 1.9%
* Black: 1.2%
Languages:
* English: 96.5%
* French: 1.0%
* Other: 2.5%
Religions:
* Protestant: 65.7%
* Catholic: 17.5%
* Other Christian: 1.3%
* No religious affiliation: 15.1%
Education:
* No certificate, diploma or degree: 31.0%
* High school certificate: 24.6%
* Apprenticeship or trade certificate or diploma: 12.3%
* Community college, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma: 17.7%
* University certificate or diploma: 14.3%
Median Age:
* 43.4
Median total income:
* $20,756
Average total income:
* $26,779
Median household income:
* $41,550
Average household income:
* $50,122
Median family income:
* $50,353
Average family income:
* $58,555
Unemployment:
* 9.0%

## Geography

The district includes the counties of Cumberland, and Colchester. Communities include the towns of Amherst, Oxford, Parrsboro, Springhill, Stewiacke and Truro, as well as the villages of Bible Hill, Pugwash and Tatamagouche.

## History

This riding was created as "Cumberland—Colchester North" in 1966 from Cumberland and Colchester—Hants ridings. It consisted of the county of Cumberland and the northern part of the county of Colchester, including the town of Truro. It was abolished in 1976 when it was merged with the remainder of Colchester County into "Cumberland—Colchester" riding.
Cumberland–Colchester was abolished in 2003. The territory was combined with the largely rural Musquodoboit Valley portion of the Halifax Regional Municipality in a new riding called "North Nova". After the election in 2004, the name was changed to "Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley".
2009 By-election
In early 2009, Incumbent Bill Casey announced he would not be re-offering in the next Federal Election. He subsequently announced his resignation from Parliament to become the Senior Inter-Governmental Affairs Representative for Nova Scotia in Ottawa.
In April 2009 Scott Armstrong was confirmed as the next Conservative Party candidate in the riding. At the time, he was the president of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party.
In September 2009, Jim Burrows was selected as the next Liberal Party candidate in the riding having defeated 2008 candidate, Tracy Parsons. He received 175 of 206 votes cast. He is a dairy farmer from Green Oaks and Chair of the Board of Directors for Scotsburn Co-operative Services.
Mark Austin was selected to run for the New Democratic Party.
Christian Heritage Party ran Jim Hnatiuk, a retired military officer and the owner of Nova Scotia's largest hunting and fishing store, in Lantz. Hnatiuk was chosen party leader in November 2008.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May had said she was interested in running in the by-election, but subsequently announced she would run in the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands. The party instead ran Jason Blanch.
As per the 2012 federal electoral redistribution, this riding was largely dissolved into the new riding 'Cumberland—Colchester', with small portions going to Central Nova and Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook.

### Member of Parliament

These ridings have elected the following members of Parliament:
| Parliament | Years | Member | Party |
| Cumberland—Colchester North Riding created from Cumberland and Colchester—Hants |||||
| 28th | 1968–1972 | Robert Coates | Progressive Conservative |
| 29th | 1972–1974 | Robert Coates | Progressive Conservative |
| 30th | 1974–1979 | Robert Coates | Progressive Conservative |
| Cumberland—Colchester |||||
| 31st | 1979–1980 | Robert Coates | Progressive Conservative |
| 32nd | 1980–1984 | Robert Coates | Progressive Conservative |
| 33rd | 1984–1988 | Robert Coates | Progressive Conservative |
| 34th | 1988–1993 | Bill Casey | Progressive Conservative |
| 35th | 1993–1997 | Dianne Brushett | Liberal |
| 36th | 1997–2000 | Bill Casey | Progressive Conservative |
| 37th | 2000–2003 | Bill Casey | Progressive Conservative |
| 37th | 2003–2004 | Bill Casey | Conservative |
| North Nova |||||
| 38th | 2004–2006 | Bill Casey | Conservative |
| Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley |||||
| 39th | 2006–2007 | Bill Casey | Conservative |
| 39th | 2007–2008 | Bill Casey | Independent |
| 40th | 2008–2009 | Bill Casey | Independent |
| 40th | 2009–2011 | Scott Armstrong | Conservative |
| 41st | 2011–2015 | Scott Armstrong | Conservative |
| Cumberland—Colchester |||||
| 42nd | 2015–2019 | Bill Casey | Liberal |
| 43rd | 2019–2021 | Lenore Zann | Liberal |
| 44th | 2021–present | Stephen Ellis | Conservative |

## Election results
### Cumberland—Colchester
#### 2021

vte2021 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Stephen Ellis | 18,601 | 46.02 | +10.34 | $74,420.53 |
| | Liberal | Lenore Zann | 13,822 | 34.20 | -2.49 | $83,751.17 |
| | New Democratic | Daniel Osborne | 4,984 | 12.33 | +0.34 | $3,375.10 |
| | People's | Bill Archer | 1,687 | 4.17 | +2.83 | $1,941.16 |
| | Green | Jillian Foster | 1,045 | 2.58 | -10.66 | $813.26 |
| | Independent | Jody O'Blenis | 278 | 0.69 | +0.37 | none listed |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 40,417 | 99.31 | +0.28 | $109,531.81 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 279 | 0.69 | -0.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,696 | 60.13 | -8.40 |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | 67,675 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +6.45 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||

#### 2019

vte2019 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Lenore Zann | 16,672 | 36.68 | −27.05 | $91,456.57 |
| | Conservative | Scott Armstrong | 16,219 | 35.69 | +9.23 | none listed |
| | Green | Jason Blanch | 6,015 | 13.23 | +9.67 | $9,366.06 |
| | New Democratic | Larry Duchesne | 5,451 | 11.99 | +6.28 | $3,860.15 |
| | People's | William Archer | 608 | 1.34 | New | none listed |
| | Independent | Matthew V. Rushton | 232 | 0.51 | New | none listed |
| | Veterans Coalition | Jody O'Blenis | 144 | 0.32 | New | none listed |
| | National Citizens Alliance | Stephen J. Garvey | 109 | 0.24 | New | none listed |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 45,450 | 99.03 | | $104,050.86 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 447 | 0.97 | +0.59 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,897 | 68.54 | −2.51 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 66,967 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | −18.14 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||

#### 2015

2015 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Bill Casey | 29,527 | 63.73 | +45.35 | $94,835.51 |
| | Conservative | Scott Armstrong | 12,257 | 26.45 | –26.48 | $155,677.03 |
| | New Democratic | Wendy Robinson | 2,647 | 5.71 | –16.76 | $21,393.25 |
| | Green | Jason Matthew Blanch | 1,650 | 3.56 | –1.81 | $8,721.38 |
| | Independent | Kenneth Jackson | 181 | 0.39 | – | – |
| | Independent | Richard Trueman Plett | 70 | 0.15 | – | – |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 46,332 | 99.62 | | $207,024.53 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 178 | 0.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,510 | 71.64 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 64,923 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | Swing | +35.91 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2011 federal election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Conservative | 19,875 | 52.93 |
| New Democratic | 8,439 | 22.48 |
| Liberal | 6,902 | 18.38 |
| Green | 2,015 | 5.37 |
| Others | 314 | 0.84 |

### Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley
#### 2011

2011 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Scott Armstrong | 21,041 | 52.46 | +6.62 | $84,480.51 |
| | New Democratic | Wendy Robinson | 9,322 | 23.24 | -2.49 | $10,734.51 |
| | Liberal | Jim Burrows | 7,264 | 18.11 | -3.21 | $34,804.26 |
| | Green | Jason Blanch | 2,109 | 5.26 | +1.95 | $5,762.34 |
| | Christian Heritage | Jim Hnatiuk | 375 | 0.93 | -2.26 | $5,478.83 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 40,111 | 100.00 | | $87,350.74 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 256 | 0.63 | +0.23 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,367 | 58.34 | +22.53 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 69,188 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +4.56 |
| Changes based on 2009 by-election results. |||||||
| Sources: |||||||

#### 2009 by-election

Canadian federal by-election, November 9, 2009 On the resignation of Bill Casey, 11 September 2009 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Scott Armstrong | 11,167 | 45.84 | +37.01 | $85,124.62 |
| | New Democratic | Mark Austin | 6,267 | 25.73 | +13.41 | $70,020.79 |
| | Liberal | Jim Burrows | 5,193 | 21.32 | +12.87 | $59,031.48 |
| | Green | Jason Blanch | 807 | 3.31 | – | $3,338.63 |
| | Christian Heritage | Jim Hnatiuk | 778 | 3.19 | – | $61,482.45 |
| | Independent | Kate Graves | 149 | 0.61 | – | $1,108.02 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 24,361 | 100.0 | | $86,242 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 97 | 0.40 | -0.11 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,458 | 35.81 | -21.96 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 68,304 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | Swing | +11.80 |

#### 2008

Incumbent MP Bill Casey, re-elected in 2006 as a member of the Conservative Party, was expelled from the Conservative caucus in 2007 after voting against the 2007 budget, which he objected to on the grounds of alleged violations of the Atlantic Accord. He attempted to run for the Conservative nomination for the next federal election but was refused. Casey therefore ran for re-election as an independent. The Green Party endorsed Casey and did not nominate a candidate opposing his reelection.
2008 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Independent | Bill Casey | 27,303 | 69.01 | +16.97 | $68,549.58 |
| | New Democratic | Karen Olsson | 4,874 | 12.32 | -8.42 | $6,944.11 |
| | Conservative | Joel Bernard | 3,493 | 8.83 | -43.21 | $35,846.73 |
| | Liberal | Tracy Parsons | 3,344 | 8.45 | -15.44 | $28,266.26 |
| | Independent | Rick Simpson | 550 | 1.39 | +0.17 | none listed |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 39,564 | 100.0 | | $84,518 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 201 | 0.51 | +0.04 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,765 | 57.77 | -4.08 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 68,831 |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | Swing | +12.68 |

#### 2006

2006 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Bill Casey | 22,439 | 52.04 | +1.55 | $50,744.39 |
| | Liberal | Gary Richard | 10,299 | 23.89 | -2.60 | $30,783.20 |
| | New Democratic | Margaret Sagar | 8,944 | 20.74 | +1.83 | $15,901.38 |
| | Green | Bruce Farrell | 910 | 2.11 | -1.00 | $118.51 |
| | Independent | Rick Simpson | 524 | 1.22 | – | $253.00 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 43,116 | 100.0 | | $79,110 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 203 | 0.47 | -0.01 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,319 | 61.85 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 70,036 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +2.08 |

### North Nova
#### 2004

2004 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Bill Casey | 20,188 | 50.49 | -9.99 | $63,528.46 |
| | Liberal | Dianne Brushett | 10,591 | 26.49 | +0.13 | $40,391.55 |
| | New Democratic | Margaret Sagar | 7,560 | 18.91 | +5.87 | $14,509.58 |
| | Green | Sheila Richardson | 1,245 | 3.11 | – | $1,050.38 |
| | Progressive Canadian | Jack Moors | 399 | 1.00 | – | $553.10 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 39,983 | 100.0 | | $76,024 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 192 | 0.48 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,175 | 60.46 | -0.32 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 66,451 |
| | Conservative notional gain from Progressive Conservative | Conservative notional gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | Swing | -5.06 |
| Changes from 2000 are based on redistributed results. Conservative Party change is based on the combination of Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party totals. |||||||
2000 federal election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Progressive Conservative | 18,984 | 47.38 |
| Liberal | 10,563 | 26.36 |
| Alliance | 5,247 | 13.10 |
| New Democratic | 5,226 | 13.04 |
| Others | 48 | 0.12 |

### Cumberland—Colchester
#### 2000

2000 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bill Casey | 18,716 | 48.49 | +4.86 |
| | Liberal | Dianne Brushett | 10,271 | 26.61 | +0.82 |
| | Alliance | Bryden Ryan | 4,981 | 12.91 | -1.08 |
| | New Democratic | James Harpell | 4,629 | 11.99 | -2.21 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 38,597 | 100.00 |
| Changes for the Canadian Alliance from 1997 are based on its predecessor, the Reform Party. |||||||

#### 1997

1997 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bill Casey | 18,610 | 43.63 | +7.15 |
| | Liberal | Dianne Brushett | 11,002 | 25.79 | -16.80 |
| | New Democratic | Peter Stewart | 6,058 | 14.20 | +8.64 |
| | Reform | Bob Peterson | 5,970 | 13.99 | +0.80 |
| | Independent | Ray Merriam | 826 | 1.94 | |
| | Natural Law | Phyllis Hall | 193 | 0.45 | -0.28 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 42,659 | 100.00 |

#### 1993

1993 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Dianne Brushett | 18,195 | 42.59 | +1.03 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bill Casey | 15,582 | 36.48 | -9.71 |
| | Reform | Audrey Staples | 5,636 | 13.19 | |
| | New Democratic | Barbara Jack | 2,374 | 5.56 | -3.76 |
| | Christian Heritage | Steve McLean | 618 | 1.45 | -1.02 |
| | Natural Law | Phyllis Hall | 312 | 0.73 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 42,717 | 100.00 |

#### 1988

1988 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bill Casey | 20,384 | 46.19 | -11.10 |
| | Liberal | Dennis James | 18,340 | 41.56 | +11.96 |
| | New Democratic | Barbara Jack | 4,112 | 9.32 | -3.78 |
| | Christian Heritage | Norman W. Pearce | 1,088 | 2.47 | |
| | Independent | Bob Kirk | 210 | 0.48 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 44,134 | 100.00 |

#### 1984

1984 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert Coates | 24,180 | 57.30 | +11.00 |
| | Liberal | Ron Creighton | 12,489 | 29.60 | -4.90 |
| | New Democratic | Jessie Mae McCarron | 5,527 | 13.10 | -4.76 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 42,196 | 100.00 |

#### 1980

1980 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert Coates | 18,436 | 46.30 | -9.46 |
| | Liberal | Walter Purdy | 13,737 | 34.50 | +4.81 |
| | New Democratic | Hayden Trenholm | 7,111 | 17.86 | +4.03 |
| | Independent | Bob Kirk | 337 | 0.85 | +0.12 |
| | Independent | Dean Whalen | 194 | 0.49 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 39,815 | 100.00 |

#### 1979

1979 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert Coates | 22,827 | 55.76 | +2.97 |
| | Liberal | Sam Brushett | 12,154 | 29.69 | -10.22 |
| | New Democratic | Hayden Trenholm | 5,662 | 13.83 | +6.91 |
| | Independent | Bob Kirk | 297 | 0.73 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 40,940 | 100.00 |

### Cumberland–Colchester North
#### 1974

1974 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert Coates | 18,078 | 52.79 | -5.29 |
| | Liberal | Sam Brushett | 13,666 | 39.91 | +9.57 |
| | New Democratic | Allan Marchbank | 2,369 | 6.92 | -3.93 |
| | Social Credit | Beatrice Holmes | 133 | 0.39 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 34,246 | 100.00 |

#### 1972

1972 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert Coates | 19,455 | 58.08 | -2.84 |
| | Liberal | Dick van Snick | 10,163 | 30.34 | -3.14 |
| | New Democratic | Allan Marchbank | 3,635 | 10.85 | +5.25 |
| | Independent | Robert Kirk | 245 | 0.73 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 33,498 | 100.00 |

#### 1968

1968 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert Coates | 18,446 | 60.92 |
| | Liberal | Harry Flemming | 10,139 | 33.48 |
| | New Democratic | Gordon Schurman | 1,696 | 5.60 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 30,281 | 100.00 |