# 1988 Nova Scotia general election

The 1988 Nova Scotia general election was held on September 6, 1988 to elect members of the 55th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party.
John Dunsworth, who would later gain fame for playing alcoholic trailer park supervisor Jim Lahey on the TV series Trailer Park Boys, stood as the NDP candidate in Halifax Bedford Basin. He finished in third place with a little over 19% of the vote. His underdog campaign was later the subject of a short documentary.

## Opinion polls

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level :
| Polling firm | Last day of survey | PCNS | LANS | NSNDP | Other | ME | Sample |
| Election 1988 | September 6, 1988 | 43.21 | 39.37 | 15.67 | 1.19 | | |
| Angus Reid | August 30, 1988 | 45 | 34 | 20 | — | 4.0 | 601 |
| Omnifacts | August 1988 | 41 | 40 | 19 | — | 3.5 | 804 |
| Omnifacts | July 1988 | 37 | 38 | 25 | — | 2.5 | 650 |
| Omnifacts | October 1987 | 35 | 41 | 24 | — | — | 500 |
| Omnifacts | October 1986 | 32.7 | 46.9 | 20.4 | — | — | — |
| Omnifacts | July 25, 1986 | 30 | 44 | 25 | — | — | 419 |
| Election 1984 | November 6, 1984 | 50.41 | 31.15 | 15.87 | 2.15 | | |

## Results
### Results by party

| 28 | 21 | 2 | 1 |
| Progressive Conservative | Liberal | New Democratic | Ind |
Official results :
| Party | Party | Party leader | # of candidates | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Party | Party | Party leader | # of candidates | 1984 | Dissolution | Elected | Change | # | % | Change (pp) |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Buchanan | 52 | 42 | 40 | 28 | -14 | 204,150 | 43.21% | -7.20% |
| | Liberal | Vince MacLean | 52 | 6 | 6 | 21 | +15 | 186,007 | 39.37% | +8.22% |
| | New Democratic | Alexa McDonough | 52 | 3 | 3 | 2 | -1 | 74,038 | 15.67% | -0.20% |
| | Independent | Independent | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 5,638 | 1.19% | +1.04% |
| | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | 1 | | | | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 469,833 | 99.45% | -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 | 2,604 | 0.55% | +0.13% |
| Total | Total | Total | 163 | 52 | 52 | 52 | – | 472,437 | 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 | 623,586 | 75.76% | +8.24% |
Popular vote
PC
43.21%
Liberal
39.37%
New Democratic
15.67%
Independent
1.19% :
Seats summary
PC
53.85%
Liberal
40.38%
New Democratic
3.85%
Independent
1.92% :

## Retiring incumbents
### Progressive Conservative

* Maxine Cochran, Lunenburg Centre
* Mike Laffin, Cape Breton Centre
* Merryl Lawton, Digby
* Donnie MacLeod, Cape Breton East
* Alex McIntosh, Yarmouth
* Edmund L. Morris, Halifax Needham
* Mel Pickings, Lunenburg West
* Gerry Sheehy, Annapolis East

### New Democratic Party

* Bob Levy, Kings South

## 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 | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Annapolis East | | Graham Smith 3,188 44.33% | | Earl Rayfuse 3,519 48.93% | | Margaret Wolfe 485 6.74% | | | Gerry Sheehy† |
| Annapolis West | | Greg Kerr 3,090 55.78% | | Daurene Lewis 2,068 37.33% | | Nancy Onysko 306 5.52% | | Leo E. MacDonald 76 1.37% | Greg Kerr |
| Clare | | Guy LeBlanc 3,587 54.02% | | Nadine Boudreau 2,773 41.76% | | Jan Slakov-Crombie 280 4.22% | | | Guy LeBlanc |
| Digby | | Maxine Connell 2,687 40.43% | | Joseph H. Casey 3,514 52.87% | | Susan Jamieson 445 6.70% | | | Merryl Lawton† |
| Hants West | | Ron Russell 5,091 52.84% | | Donzell A. Ross 2,829 29.36% | | Penny Reid 1,715 17.80% | | | Ron Russell |
| Kings North | | George Archibald 3,868 45.42% | | Glenn Ells 3,116 36.59% | | Don Fraser 1,532 17.99% | | | George Archibald |
| Kings South | | Derrick Kimball 3,531 42.44% | | Perry Wallace 1,710 20.55% | | Steve Mattson 3,079 37.01% | | | Bob Levy† |
| Kings West | | George Moody 5,899 59.61% | | Frank Bezanson 3,114 31.47% | | Ralph Lynch 883 8.92% | | | George Moody |

### South Shore

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Argyle | | Neil LeBlanc 3,798 64.14% | | Rick Murphy 1,862 31.45% | | Raymond Ethier 261 4.41% | | | Neil LeBlanc |
| Lunenburg Centre | | Al Mosher 5,071 46.52% | | Don Zwicker 4,024 36.92% | | Muriel Maybee 1,805 16.56% | | | Maxine Cochran† |
| Lunenburg East | | Richard P. Eldridge 2,352 38.91% | | Jim Barkhouse 3,024 50.02% | | Wanda Broome 623 10.31% | | Malcolm Callaway 46 0.76% | Jim Barkhouse |
| Lunenburg West | | Marie Dechman 3,511 42.34% | | Jack Logan 3,243 39.11% | | John Scott 1,539 18.56% | | | Mel Pickings† |
| Queens | | John Leefe 4,099 56.04% | | Dave Randall 2,228 30.46% | | Margo Kleiker 988 13.51% | | | John Leefe |
| Shelburne | | Tim Van Zoost 4,241 41.85% | | Harold Huskilson 5,224 51.54% | | Ralph Niessen 670 6.61% | | | Harold Huskilson |
| Yarmouth | | Leroy Legere 4,479 44.86% | | Fraser Mooney 4,138 41.44% | | Brian Noble 1,368 13.70% | | | Alex McIntosh† |

### Fundy-Northeast

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Colchester North | | Jack Coupar 4,097 44.85% | | Ed Lorraine 4,260 46.63% | | Penny Marchbank 778 8.52% | | | Jack Coupar |
| Colchester South | | R. Colin Stewart 3,855 56.11% | | Larry Thomas 2,462 35.83% | | Julia A. Skipper 554 8.06% | | | R. Colin Stewart |
| Cumberland Centre | | Scott Lockart 1,108 25.26% | | Guy Brown 3,117 71.05% | | Gary Thomas 162 3.69% | | | Guy Brown |
| Cumberland East | | Roger Stuart Bacon 4,758 52.31% | | Carolyn Drysdale 3,276 36.02% | | Jim Mitchell 1,062 11.68% | | | Roger Stuart Bacon |
| Cumberland West | | Gardner Hurley 2,306 44.31% | | Ross Bragg 2,389 45.91% | | Barbara Jack 509 9.78% | | | Gardner Hurley |
| Hants East | | Cora Etter 3,977 41.60% | | Jack Hawkins 4,502 47.09% | | Richard Preeper 1,082 11.32% | | | Cora Etter |
| Truro—Bible Hill | | Ron Giffin 4,479 50.43% | | Kirby Eileen Grant 3,490 39.30% | | Carol Martin 912 10.27% | | | Ron Giffin |

### Central Halifax

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Halifax Bedford Basin | | Joel Matheson 6,462 45.56% | | Penny LaRocque 4,977 35.09% | | John Dunsworth 2,746 19.36% | | | Joel Matheson |
| Halifax Chebucto | | J. Clair Callaghan 3,214 35.72% | | Penny Doherty 2,546 28.30% | | Alexa McDonough 3,238 35.99% | | | Alexa McDonough |
| Halifax Citadel | | Art Donahoe 3,283 35.11% | | Jay Abbass 2,882 30.82% | | Eileen O'Connell 3,057 32.70% | | Frank J. Fawson 128 1.37% | Art Donahoe |
| Halifax Cornwallis | | Terry Donahoe 4,195 39.91% | | Liz Crocker 4,013 38.18% | | Allan O'Brien 2,304 21.92% | | | Terry Donahoe |
| Halifax Needham | | Randy Dewell 2,116 25.56% | | Gerry O'Malley 3,469 41.91% | | Maureen MacDonald 2,693 32.53% | | | Edmund L. Morris† |

### Suburban Halifax

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Bedford-Musquodoboit Valley | | Ken Streatch 5,740 51.49% | | Geoff Regan 3,803 34.12% | | Susan Coldwell 1,604 14.39% | | | Ken Streatch |
| Halifax Atlantic | | John Buchanan 6,284 56.33% | | Doug Adams 2,763 24.77% | | Rene Quigley 1,976 17.71% | | Arthur R. Canning 77 0.69% Emanuel Jannasch 55 0.49% | John Buchanan |
| Halifax-St. Margaret's | | Jerry Lawrence 4,574 37.31% | | Kevin Burke 4,061 33.13% | | Bill Estabrooks 3,623 29.56% | | | Jerry Lawrence |
| Sackville | | Dave Grace 4,774 31.78% | | Bruce Stephen 4,816 32.06% | | John Holm 5,430 36.15% | | | John Holm |

### Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cole Harbour | | David Nantes 6,280 47.58% | | Alan Mitchell 4,892 37.06% | | Flora Christie 2,027 15.36% | | | David Nantes |
| Dartmouth East | | Jack Greenough 4,940 40.88% | | Jim Smith 5,193 42.98% | | Maureen Vine 1,950 16.14% | | | Jim Smith |
| Dartmouth North | | Laird Stirling 3,389 41.64% | | Sandy Jolly 3,510 43.13% | | Brenda Thompson 1,239 15.22% | | | Laird Stirling |
| Dartmouth South | | Roland J. Thornhill 4,449 47.33% | | Allan Peters 2,987 31.78% | | Joanne Lamey 1,963 20.89% | | | Roland J. Thornhill |
| Halifax Eastern Shore | | Tom McInnis 5,762 54.01% | | Eric Hill 3,810 35.71% | | David Noseworthy 1,097 10.28% | | | Tom McInnis |

### Central Nova

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Antigonish | | Bill Garvie 4,463 39.57% | | Bill Gillis 6,004 53.24% | | Bill Woodfine 811 7.19% | | | Bill Gillis |
| Guysborough | | Chuck MacNeil 4,508 58.23% | | Joe Sullivan 3,454 44.93% | | Sarah Wilson 503 6.54% | | | Chuck MacNeil |
| Pictou Centre | | Jack MacIsaac 6,566 57.80% | | Bob Leahy 3,116 27.43% | | Gerard Currie 1,677 14.76% | | | Jack MacIsaac |
| Pictou East | | Donald Cameron 3,996 49.84% | | Wayne Fraser 3,243 40.45% | | Cecil MacNeil 778 9.70% | | | Donald Cameron |
| Pictou West | | Donald P. McInnes 3,824 54.74% | | John J. Henderson 2,278 32.61% | | Geoff Moore 884 12.65% | | | Donald P. McInnes |

### Cape Breton

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | NDP | NDP | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cape Breton Centre | | Harold MacDonald 2,210 27.50% | | Wayne Connors 3,681 45.80% | | John Wilson 2,146 26.70% | | | Mike Laffin† |
| Cape Breton East | | Bruce Clark 4,014 35.39% | | John MacEachern 5,739 50.60% | | Terry McVarish 1,590 14.02% | | | Donnie MacLeod† |
| Cape Breton North | | Brian Young 6,018 60.68% | | Robert E. McGrath 2,042 20.59% | | Gerald Yetman 1,858 18.73% | | | Brian Young |
| Cape Breton Nova | | Joe Burke 1,060 14.05% | | Dan MacRury 2,603 34.51% | | Terry Crawley 686 9.09% | | Paul MacEwan 3,194 42.34% | Paul MacEwan |
| Cape Breton South | | Murdock Smith 3,461 27.78% | | Vince MacLean 7,820 62.76% | | Ed MacLeod 1,179 9.46% | | | Vince MacLean |
| Cape Breton—The Lakes | | John Newell 3,282 35.52% | | Bernie Boudreau 4,192 45.37% | | Helen MacDonald 1,766 19.11% | | | John Newell |
| Cape Breton West | | "Big" Donnie MacLeod 4,050 35.87% | | Russell MacKinnon 6,133 54.31% | | Con Mills 1,109 9.82% | | | "Big" Donnie MacLeod |
| Inverness North | | Norman J. MacLean 2,865 36.16% | | Charles MacArthur 3,666 46.27% | | Ben Boucher 1,392 17.57% | | | Norman J. MacLean |
| Inverness South | | Archie MacLachlan 866 15.87% | | Danny Graham 2,185 40.03% | | Martin Beaton 345 6.32% | | Billy Joe MacLean 2,062 37.78% | Billy Joe MacLean |
| Richmond | | Robert F. Martel 3,135 41.70% | | Richie Mann 3,528 46.93% | | Clair Rankin 855 11.37% | | | Vacant |
| Victoria | | Fisher Hudson 2,076 39.40% | | Kennie MacAskill 2,719 51.60% | | Fraser Patterson 474 9.00% | | | Fisher Hudson |