# 1998 Nova Scotia general election

The 1998 Nova Scotia general election was held on March 24, 1998 to elect members of the 57th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Liberal party and the New Democratic Party tied in the seat count, with 19 each, while the Progressive Conservatives won 14 seats. The Liberals went on to form a minority government with the support of the Progressive Conservatives.

## Background

Liberal Premier John Savage was elected in a landslide in 1993. The Liberals inherited a $471-million deficit, and launched an austerity program which cut the province's health and education systems. On April 1, 1997, the provincial government imposed a 15% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) which merged the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). This shift angered some Nova Scotians who now had to pay taxes on things that had previously been exempted, such as home heating fuel. Savage also implemented an unpopular highway toll. Liberal party infighting eventually resulted in Savage's resignation in July 1997. Russell MacLellan became Premier of Nova Scotia on July 18, 1997.

## Campaign

The governing Liberals were desperate to distance themselves from the Savage government which was viewed as deeply unpopular. New leader, Russell MacLellan, was made the focus of the campaign with all Liberal candidates signs displaying the phrase, "the MacLellan Liberals."
During a televised debate on March 5, 1998, MacLellan stumbled badly when Progressive Conservative Leader John Hamm asked if he would resign if he failed to bring in a balanced budget. Instead of responding, MacLellan stared straight ahead and did not speak for seven seconds. MacLellan blamed the pause on rigid debate rules. This moment marked a turning point in a race that saw the Liberals barely retain power.

## Opinion polls

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level :
| Polling firm | Last day of survey | LANS | NSNDP | PCNS | Other | ME | Sample |
| Election 1998 | March 24, 1998 | 35.10 | 34.43 | 29.60 | 0.29 | | |
| Omnifacts | January 1994 | 60 | 24 | 16 | — | — | — |
| Election 1993 | May 25, 1993 | 48.96 | 17.72 | 31.09 | 1.53 | | |

## Results
### Results by party

| 19 | 19 | 14 |
| Liberal | New Democratic | Progressive Conservative |
Official results :
| Party | Party | Party leader | # of candidates | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Party | Party | Party leader | # of candidates | 1993 | Dissolution | Elected | Change | # | % | Change (pp) |
| | Liberal | Russell MacLellan | 52 | 40 | 35 | 19 | -21 | 158,380 | 35.10% | -13.86% |
| | New Democratic | Robert Chisholm | 52 | 3 | 4 | 19 | +16 | 155,361 | 34.43% | +16.71% |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Hamm | 52 | 9 | 9 | 14 | +5 | 133,540 | 29.60% | -1.49% |
| | Independent | Independent | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,325 | 0.29% | -0.90% |
| | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | 2 | | | | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 448,606 | 99.43% | +0.13% |
| Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | 2,578 | 0.57% | -0.13% |
| Total | Total | Total | 163 | 52 | 52 | 52 | – | 451,184 | 100.00% | – |
| Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | 649,536 | 69.47% | -5.92% |
Popular vote
Liberal
35.10%
New Democratic
34.43%
PC
29.60%
Independent
0.29% :
Seats summary
Liberal
36.54%
New Democratic
36.54%
PC
26.92% :

### Results by region

| Party name | Party name | Party name | HRM | C.B. | Valley | S. Shore | Fundy | Central | Total |
| Parties winning seats in the legislature: ||||||||||
| | Liberal | Seats: | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 19 |
| | Liberal | Popular vote: | 34.46% | 44.91% | 32.54% | 35.30% | 29.31% | 31.42% | 35.34% |
| | New Democratic Party | Seats: | 13 | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| | New Democratic Party | Popular vote: | 43.94% | 38.02% | 25.44% | 28.09% | 25.57% | 27.41% | 34.61% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Seats: | - | - | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 14 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Popular vote: | 21.47% | 16.16% | 41.66% | 36.46% | 44.98% | 41.17% | 29.75% |
| Parties not winning seats in the legislature: ||||||||||
| | Independents | Popular vote: | 0.13% | 0.91% | 0.36% | 0.15% | 0.14% | - | 0.30% |
| Total seats: | Total seats: | Total seats: | 17 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 52 |

## Retiring incumbents
### Liberal

* Jay Abbass, Halifax Chebucto
* Guy Brown, Cumberland South
* Bob Carruthers, Hants East
* Bill Gillis, Antigonish
* Charles MacArthur, Inverness
* John MacEachern, Cape Breton East
* Russell MacNeil, Cape Breton Centre
* Earle Rafuse, Annapolis
* Dennis Richards, Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage
* John Savage, Dartmouth South

### Progressive Conservative

* Donald P. McInnes, Pictou West

## Nominated candidates

Legend bold denotes party leader † denotes an incumbent who is not running for re-election or was defeated in nomination contest

### Valley

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | Liberal | Liberal | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Annapolis | | Laurie Montgomery 3,448 36.96% | | Basil Stewart 3,198 34.28% | | John Kinsella 2,468 26.46% | | Bob Mann 215 2.30% | Earle Rafuse † |
| Clare | | Wayne Gaudet 2,950 47.28% | | Guy LeBlanc 2,578 41.32% | | Vanessa Paddock 711 11.40% | | | Wayne Gaudet |
| Digby—Annapolis | | John Drish 2,232 33.71% | | Gordon Balser 2,465 37.22% | | Steve Downes 1,925 29.07% | | | Joseph H. Casey† |
| Hants West | | Debbi Bowes 2,596 27.35% | | Ron Russell 4,507 47.48% | | Dana Harvey 2,390 25.18% | | | Ron Russell |
| Kings North | | Jennifer Foster 2,457 27.09% | | George Archibald 3,760 41.45% | | Neil H. McNeil 2,854 31.46% | | | George Archibald |
| Kings South | | Robbie Harrison 3,650 36.46% | | David Morse 3,069 30.65% | | Mary DeWolfe 3,293 32.89% | | | Robbie Harrison |
| Kings West | | Baden Thurber 1,684 20.60% | | George Moody 5,075 62.09% | | Jacquie DeMestral 1,414 17.30% | | | George Moody |

### South Shore

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | Liberal | Liberal | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Argyle | | Allister Surette 1,891 33.47% | | Neil LeBlanc 3,028 53.59% | | Diane E. Cromwell 651 11.52% | | Oscar Harris 80 1.42% | Allister Surette |
| Chester—St. Margaret's | | Jim Barkhouse 3,153 34.10% | | Hinrich Bitter-Suermann 3,256 35.22% | | Doris Maley 2,837 30.68% | | | Jim Barkhouse |
| Lunenburg | | Lila O'Connor 3,099 34.62% | | Michael Baker 3,231 36.10% | | Marilyn B. Crook 2,621 29.28% | | | Lila O'Connor |
| Lunenburg West | | Don Downe 4,364 47.95% | | Lou Centa 2,027 22.27% | | Eric Hustvedt 2,711 29.78% | | | Don Downe |
| Queens | | Tery Doucette 2,072 31.42% | | John Leefe 3,582 54.32% | | Basil L. Giffin 940 14.26% | | | John Leefe |
| Shelburne | | Clifford Huskilson 3,144 38.57% | | Cecil O'Donnell 2,835 34.78% | | Derek Jones 2,173 26.66% | | | Clifford Huskilson |
| Yarmouth | | Richie Hubbard 2,212 25.22% | | Alex McIntosh 2,629 29.97% | | John Deveau 3,931 44.81% | | | Richie Hubbard |

### Fundy-Northeast

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | Liberal | Liberal | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley | | Dick Steeves 1,587 18.31% | | Brooke Taylor 5,122 59.08% | | Jim Harpell 1,960 22.61% | | | Brooke Taylor |
| Colchester North | | Ed Lorraine 3,301 39.13% | | Andy Williamson 2,511 29.77% | | Janet Maybee 2,623 31.10% | | | Ed Lorraine |
| Cumberland North | | Russell Scott 2,438 27.89% | | Ernie Fage 5,451 62.35% | | Peter Stewart 854 9.77% | | | Ernie Fage |
| Cumberland South | | Mike Uberoi 2,153 26.81% | | Murray Scott 4,714 58.69% | | Sandy Graham 1,089 13.56% | | James MacLeod 76 0.95% | Guy Brown † |
| Hants East | | Jim W. Smith 3,377 35.32% | | Lawrin Armstrong 2,010 21.02% | | John MacDonell 4,175 43.66% | | | Bob Carruthers † |
| Truro—Bible Hill | | Eleanor Norrie 2,560 27.94% | | Jamie Muir 3,852 42.03% | | Ibel Scammell 2,752 30.03% | | | Eleanor Norrie |

### Central Halifax

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | Liberal | Liberal | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Halifax Bedford Basin | | Gerry Fogarty 4,246 40.10% | | Michael Maddalena 2,530 23.89% | | Errol Gaum 3,813 36.01% | | | Gerry Fogarty |
| Halifax Chebucto | | Kenzie MacKinnon 3,165 35.51% | | Sean Phillips 1,590 17.84% | | Howard Epstein 4,158 46.65% | | | Jay Abbass † |
| Halifax Citadel | | Ed Kinley 4,377 39.53% | | Tara Erskine 2,175 19.64% | | Peter Delefes 4,414 39.87% | | Art Canning 106 0.96% | Ed Kinley |
| Halifax Fairview | | Bob Britton 2,597 30.03% | | Brian Nash 1,402 16.21% | | Eileen O'Connell 4,649 53.76% | | | Eileen O'Connell |
| Halifax Needham | | Gerry O'Malley 2,506 30.31% | | Artho Kartsaklis 924 11.18% | | Maureen MacDonald 4,837 58.51% | | | Gerry O'Malley |

### Suburban Halifax

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | Liberal | Liberal | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Bedford—Fall River | | Francene Cosman 4,205 37.58% | | Peter Christie 3,892 34.79% | | Marvin Silver 3,091 27.63% | | | Francene Cosman |
| Halifax Atlantic | | Darren Watts 2,818 29.31% | | Jeff Campbell 1,340 13.94% | | Robert Chisholm 5,364 55.79% | | Golda M. Redden 93 0.97% | Robert Chisholm |
| Sackville—Beaver Bank | | Bill MacDonald 3,128 33.16% | | Stephen Taylor 2,485 26.34% | | Rosemary Godin 3,821 40.50% | | | Bill MacDonald |
| Sackville—Cobequid | | Jack Brill 2,131 22.61% | | Rob Batherson 1,383 14.68% | | John Holm 5,909 62.71% | | | John Holm |
| Timberlea—Prospect | | Bruce Holland 3,308 33.34% | | Tom Robertson 1,852 18.67% | | Bill Estabrooks 4,762 47.99% | | | Bruce Holland |

### Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | Liberal | Liberal | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cole Harbour—Eastern Passage | | Randy Anstey 3,303 34.25% | | Linda DeGrace 1,931 20.02% | | Kevin Deveaux 4,411 45.73% | | | Dennis Richards † |
| Dartmouth—Cole Harbour | | Alan Mitchell 2,986 33.98% | | Michael L. MacDonald 2,084 23.72% | | Darrell Dexter 3,717 42.30% | | | Alan Mitchell |
| Dartmouth East | | Jim Smith 3,326 40.92% | | Ralph Hawley 1,849 22.75% | | Viola Huntington 2,954 36.34% | | | Jim Smith |
| Dartmouth North | | Gloria McClusky 2,575 33.87% | | Mike Brownlow 2,003 26.35% | | Jerry Pye 3,024 39.78% | | | Vacant |
| Dartmouth South | | Bruce Hetherington 3,164 35.40% | | Allan Billard 2,099 23.48% | | Don Chard 3,676 41.12% | | | John Savage † |
| Eastern Shore | | Keith Colwell 3,299 38.49% | | Greg Brown 2,472 28.84% | | Darren Richard 2,801 32.68% | | | Keith Colwell |
| Preston | | Wayne Adams 1,548 37.45% | | Ross D. Isenor 809 19.57% | | Yvonne Atwell 1,777 42.99% | | | Wayne Adams |

### Central Nova

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | Liberal | Liberal | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Antigonish | | Hyland Fraser 4,649 41.55% | | Andrew MacNeil 3,554 31.76% | | Maurice Smith 2,986 26.69% | | | Bill Gillis † |
| Guysborough—Port Hawkesbury | | Ray White 3,438 42.81% | | Ron Chisholm 2,717 33.83% | | Wendy Panagopoulos 1,876 23.36% | | | Ray White |
| Pictou Centre | | Roseanne Skoke 2,114 23.68% | | John Hamm 5,037 56.42% | | Judy Hughes 1,776 19.89% | | | John Hamm |
| Pictou East | | Wayne Fraser 2,208 26.52% | | James DeWolfe 3,816 45.83% | | David MacKenzie 2,302 27.65% | | | Wayne Fraser |
| Pictou West | | Rob McDowell 1,633 19.89% | | Luke Young 3,273 39.86% | | Charlie Parker 3,306 40.26% | | | Donald P. McInnes† |

### Cape Breton

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | Liberal | Liberal | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cape Breton Centre | | Steve Drake 2,435 28.61% | | Julien Frison 576 6.77% | | Frank Corbett 5,499 64.62% | | | Russell MacNeil † |
| Cape Breton East | | Clarence Routledge 2,859 30.06% | | Henry Boutillier 1,651 17.36% | | Reeves Matheson 5,002 52.59% | | | John MacEachern † |
| Cape Breton North | | Russell MacLellan 4,666 50.13% | | Murray Johnston 1,853 19.91% | | Archie MacKinnon 2,789 29.96% | | | Russell MacLellan |
| Cape Breton Nova | | Paul MacEwan 3,944 53.98% | | Walter Hagen 312 4.27% | | Lou Surette 3,050 41.75% | | | Paul MacEwan |
| Cape Breton South | | Manning MacDonald 5,118 60.30% | | Anna Steele 861 10.14% | | Ed Murphy 2,508 29.55% | | | Manning MacDonald |
| Cape Breton—The Lakes | | Allan Henderson 3,707 42.29% | | Rollie Clarke 485 5.53% | | Helen MacDonald 4,573 52.17% | | | Helen MacDonald |
| Cape Breton West | | Russell MacKinnon 4,528 44.05% | | Alfie MacLeod 2,818 27.42% | | Brian Slaney 2,933 28.53% | | | Alfie MacLeod |
| Inverness | | Charlie MacDonald 4,396 47.83% | | Randy MacDonald 1,951 21.23% | | Maria Coady 2,274 24.74% | | Ed MacDonald 569 6.19% | Charles MacArthur † |
| Richmond | | Michel Samson 3,230 48.40% | | Frank Sutherland 1,392 20.86% | | Wilma Conrod 2,051 30.74% | | | Vacant |
| Victoria | | Kennie MacAskill 2,405 48.08% | | Dan Chiasson 1,524 30.47% | | Ruth Schneider 887 17.73% | | Stemer MacLeod 186 3.72% | Kennie MacAskill |