# 2006 Nova Scotia general election

The 2006 Nova Scotia general election was held on June 13, 2006 to elect members of the 60th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada.
Premier Rodney MacDonald, who led a Progressive Conservative minority government in the legislature, called for the election on May 13, 2006, hoping for a majority government to better advance his agenda and a clear mandate for himself as he had not yet fought an election as leader.
Ultimately, MacDonald was returned to power leading another, slightly smaller, minority government against a strengthened New Democratic Party sitting as the Official Opposition and a weakened Liberal Party. Liberal leader Francis MacKenzie was defeated in his riding of Bedford.

## Timeline

* September 29, 2005 - Premier John Hamm, leader of the Progressive Conservative minority government, announces his intent to resign as soon as the party chooses a new leader.
* February 11, 2006 - Rodney MacDonald is elected to replace Hamm as leader.
* February 24, 2006 - MacDonald becomes Premier and his cabinet is sworn in.
* May 9, 2006 - MacDonald's government introduces an "election-style" budget in the legislature.
* May 13, 2006 - Premier Rodney MacDonald calls a general election for June 13, 2006.

## Campaign

MacKenzie was an outspoken critic of the governing Tories and accused them of living in a "fantasy world" due to their promise to cut taxes and increase spending in the 2006-07 budget.
No single issue dominated the election campaign, with all parties offering up various promises for university students to seniors.

## Results

The Progressive Conservatives gained several points in the popular vote, but made a net loss of two seats, with losses to the NDP partially countered by the PCs doubling their representation on MacDonald's native Cape Breton Island at the expense of the Liberals. The gap between the Liberals and NDP also significantly increased, in both the popular vote and seat count; while the Liberals and NDP had previously been nearly even, the NDP gained a significant advantage on the Liberals and moved into position as the primary opposition to the governing PCs.

### Results by party

| 23 | 20 | 9 |
| Progressive Conservative | New Democratic | Liberal |
Seats :
| Party | Party | Votes | % | +/– | 2003 | Dissolution | Seats | Seat Change |
| | Progressive Conservative | 160,119 | 39.57 | 3.33 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 2 |
| | New Democratic Party | 140,128 | 34.63 | 3.52 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 5 |
| | Liberal | 94,872 | 23.44 | 7.99 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 3 |
| | Green | 9,411 | 2.33 | New | New | New | 0 | New |
| | Independents | 153 | 0.04 | 0.38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Vacant | Vacant | | | | – | 1 | – | – |
| Total | Total | 404,683 | 100.00 | – | 52 | 52 | 52 | – |
Popular vote
PC
39.57%
New Democratic
34.63%
Liberal
23.44%
Others
2.36% :
Seats summary
PC
44.23%
New Democratic
38.46%
Liberal
17.31% :

### Results by region

| Party name | Party name | Party name | HRM | C.B. | Valley | S. Shore | Fundy | Central | Total |
| Parties winning seats in the legislature: ||||||||||
| | Progressive Conservative | Seats: | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 23 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Popular vote: | 31.22% | 42.62% | 36.14% | 49.08% | 54.06% | 42.90% | 39.59% |
| | New Democratic Party | Seats: | 13 | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
| | New Democratic Party | Popular vote: | 46.57% | 25.58% | 23.44% | 32.29% | 26.49% | 34.44% | 34.50% |
| | Liberal | Seats: | 2 | 3 | 4 | - | - | - | 9 |
| | Liberal | Popular vote: | 19.29% | 29.80% | 38.35% | 16.46% | 16.70% | 21.03% | 23.56% |
| Parties not winning seats in the legislature: ||||||||||
| | Green | Popular vote: | 2.92% | 1.83% | 2.07% | 2.16% | 2.72% | 1.58% | 2.31% |
| | Independents | Popular vote: | - | 0.17% | - | - | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Total seats: | Total seats: | Total seats: | 18 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 52 |

## Retiring incumbents
### Progressive Conservative

* Ron Russell, Hants West
* Cecil O'Donnell, Shelburne
* Bill Langille, Colchester North
* Peter G. Christie, Bedford
* John Hamm, Pictou Centre
* Jim DeWolfe, Pictou East

### New Democratic

* Jerry Pye, Dartmouth North

### Independent

* Russell MacKinnon, Cape Breton 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 | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Green | Green | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Annapolis | | Blair Hannam 2,041 24.57% | | Calum MacKenzie 1,391 16.75% | | Stephen McNeil 4,668 56.20% | | Ken McGowan 206 2.48% | | | Stephen McNeil |
| Clare | | Arnold LeBlanc 1,622 28.08% | | Paul Comeau 1,269 21.97% | | Wayne Gaudet 2,803 48.53% | | Diane Doucet-Bean 82 1.42% | | | Wayne Gaudet |
| Digby—Annapolis | | Jimmy MacAlpine 2,170 36.42% | | Andrew Oliver 663 11.13% | | Harold Theriault 3,034 50.91% | | Namron Bean 92 1.54% | | | Harold Theriault |
| Hants West | | Chuck Porter 2,969 34.60% | | Sean Bennett 2,486 28.97% | | Paula Lunn 2,924 34.08% | | Sam Schurman 201 2.34% | | | Ron Russell† |
| Kings North | | Mark Parent 4,153 50.07% | | Jim Morton 2,190 26.40% | | Madonna Spinazola 1,757 21.18% | | Christopher Alders 195 2.35% | | | Mark Parent |
| Kings South | | David Morse 3,788 42.37% | | David Mangle 3,130 35.01% | | Ray Savage 1,797 20.10% | | Steven McGowan 226 2.53% | | | David Morse |
| Kings West | | John Prall 2,801 33.18% | | Greg Hubbert 1,590 18.83% | | Leo Glavine 3,940 46.67% | | Nistal Prem de Boer 112 1.33% | | | Leo Glavine |

### South Shore

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Green | Green | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Argyle | | Chris d'Entremont 3,158 67.65% | | Charles Muise 531 11.38% | | Christian Surette 913 19.56% | | Patricia Saunders 66 1.41% | | | Chris d'Entremont |
| Chester-St. Margaret's | | Judy Streatch 3,950 42.67% | | Jane Matheson 2,833 30.60% | | Rick Fraughton 2,192 23.68% | | Joanne MacKinnon 282 3.05% | | | Judy Streatch |
| Lunenburg | | Michael Baker 3,969 49.40% | | Chris Heide 2,669 33.22% | | Rick Welsford 1,200 14.94% | | Stuart Simpson 196 2.44% | | | Michael Baker |
| Lunenburg West | | Carolyn Bolivar-Getson 3,637 43.21% | | Bill Smith 3,299 39.19% | | Martin Bell 1,324 15.73% | | Brendan MacNeill 157 1.87% | | | Carolyn Bolivar-Getson |
| Queens | | Kerry Morash 2,998 48.59% | | Vicki Conrad 3,053 49.48% | | | | Margaret Whitney 119 1.93% | | | Kerry Morash |
| Shelburne | | Eddie Nickerson 2,353 35.00% | | Sterling Belliveau 2,438 36.27% | | Kirk Cox 1,790 26.63% | | Derek Jones 141 2.10% | | | Cecil O'Donnell† |
| Yarmouth | | Richard Hurlburt 5,170 64.30% | | John Deveau 1,667 20.73% | | Dolores Atwood 1,051 13.07% | | Matt Granger 152 1.89% | | | Richard Hurlburt |

### Fundy-Northeast

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Green | Green | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley | | Brooke Taylor 4,790 63.85% | | Gary Burrill 1,891 25.21% | | Carolyn Matthews 657 8.76% | | Leona MacLeod 164 2.19% | | | Brooke Taylor |
| Colchester North | | Karen Casey 3,809 50.96% | | Rob Assels 1,511 20.21% | | Bob Taylor 1,979 26.47% | | Judy Davis 176 2.35% | | | Bill Langille † |
| Cumberland North | | Ernie Fage 4,640 62.64% | | Kim Cail 1,085 14.65% | | Bruce Alan Fage 1,480 19.98% | | Darryl Whetter 202 2.73% | | | Ernie Fage |
| Cumberland South | | Murray Scott 5,082 76.76% | | Andrew Kernohan 753 11.37% | | Mary Dee MacPherson 681 10.29% | | James Dessart 92 1.39% | | David Raymond Amos 13 0.20% | Murray Scott |
| Hants East | | Wayne Fiander 2,715 30.62% | | John MacDonell 4,712 53.13% | | Malcolm A. MacKay 1,237 13.95% | | Michael Hartlan 204 2.30% | | | John MacDonell |
| Truro-Bible Hill | | Jamie Muir 3,711 47.27% | | Jim Harpell 2,248 28.64% | | Ron Chisholm 1,674 21.32% | | Barton Cutten 217 2.76% | | | Jamie Muir |

### Central Halifax

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Green | Green | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Halifax Chebucto | | Sean Phillips 1,720 22.09% | | Howard Epstein 4,216 54.15% | | Peter Verner 1,481 19.02% | | Christopher Harborne 369 4.74% | | | Howard Epstein |
| Halifax Citadel | | Bill Black 2,724 37.45% | | Leonard Preyra 3,054 42.03% | | Devin Maxwell 1,181 16.25% | | Nick Wright 307 4.23% | | | Vacant |
| Halifax Clayton Park | | Mary Ann McGrath 2,450 26.86% | | Linda Power 3,040 33.33% | | Diana Whalen 3,404 37.32% | | Sheila Richardson 307 3.37% | | | Diana Whalen |
| Halifax Fairview | | Bruce MacCharles 1,649 23.13% | | Graham Steele 4,172 58.51% | | Cecil MacDougall 1,055 14.80% | | Kris MacLellan 254 3.56% | | | Graham Steele |
| Halifax Needham | | Andrew Black 1,330 18.17% | | Maureen MacDonald 4,438 60.62% | | Errol Gaum 1,220 16.66% | | Amanda Myers 333 4.55% | | | Maureen MacDonald |

### Suburban Halifax

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Green | Green | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Bedford | | Len Goucher 4,090 42.22% | | John Buckland 2,019 20.84% | | Francis MacKenzie 3,286 33.92% | | Mary McLaughlan 292 3.01% | | | Peter G. Christie † |
| Halifax Atlantic | | Bruce Cooke 2,690 32.08% | | Michèle Raymond 4,151 49.51% | | Jim Hoskins 1,281 15.28% | | Rebecca Mosher 262 3.13% | | | Michele Raymond |
| Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville | | Barry Barnet 3,704 42.02% | | Mat Whynott 3,178 36.05% | | Pam Streeter 1,766 20.03% | | Scott Cleghorn 167 1.89% | | | Barry Barnet |
| Sackville-Cobequid | | Steve Craig 2,499 30.42% | | Dave Wilson 4,477 54.50% | | David Major 1,051 12.80% | | Elizabeth Nicolson 187 2.28% | | | Dave Wilson |
| Timberlea-Prospect | | Jaunita Cirtwell 2,034 24.16% | | Bill Estabrooks 5,317 63.15% | | Lisa Mullin 851 10.11% | | Thomas Trappenberg 217 2.58% | | | Bill Estabrooks |
| Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank | | Gary Hines 3,275 40.17% | | Percy Paris 3,782 46.39% | | Thomas Deal 909 11.15% | | William Lang 186 2.28% | | | Gary Hines |

### Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Green | Green | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cole Harbour | | Sheila McKeand 1,788 20.63% | | Darrell Dexter 5,327 61.46% | | Stephen Beehan 1,347 15.54% | | Michael McFadden 206 2.38% | | | Darrell Dexter |
| Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage | | Don McIver 1,201 18.93% | | Kevin Deveaux 4,086 64.40% | | Brian Churchill 903 14.23% | | Beverly Woodfield 155 2.44% | | | Kevin Deveaux |
| Dartmouth East | | Jim Cormier 2,942 33.27% | | Joan Massey 3,822 43.22% | | Tracey Devereaux 1,842 20.83% | | Elizabeth Perry 238 2.69% | | | Joan Massey |
| Dartmouth North | | Troy Myers 1,895 27.46% | | Trevor Zinck 3,414 49.47% | | Ian Murray 1,365 19.78% | | Alex Donaldson 227 3.29% | | | Jerry Pye† |
| Dartmouth South-Portland Valley | | Tim Olive 3,041 32.52% | | Marilyn More 4,493 48.05% | | Brian Hiltz 1,509 16.14% | | Daniel Melvin 308 3.29% | | | Marilyn More |
| Eastern Shore | | Bill Dooks 3,232 45.93% | | Sid Prest 2,871 40.80% | | Judith Cabrita 746 10.60% | | Elizabeth van Dreunen 188 2.67% | | | Bill Dooks |
| Preston | | Dwayne Provo 1,620 36.83% | | Douglas Sparks 843 19.17% | | Keith Colwell 1,853 42.13% | | David Farrell 82 1.86% | | | Keith Colwell |

### Central Nova

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Green | Green | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Antigonish | | Angus MacIsaac 4,629 48.28% | | Andrew MacDonald 1,827 19.06% | | Danny MacIsaac 2,953 30.80% | | Judy Dowden 179 1.87% | | | Angus MacIsaac |
| Guysborough-Sheet Harbour | | Ron Chisholm 2,765 40.83% | | Jim Boudreau 2,540 37.51% | | David Horton 1,379 20.36% | | Marike Finlay-de Monchy 88 1.30% | | | Ron Chisholm |
| Pictou Centre | | Pat Dunn 3,901 52.54% | | Danny MacGillivray 2,354 31.70% | | Troy MacCulloch 1,057 14.24% | | Samuel M. Clark 93 1.25% | | Dennis Tate 20 0.27% | John Hamm† |
| Pictou East | | Sue Uhren 2,654 35.31% | | Clarrie MacKinnon 2,761 36.73% | | Danny Walsh 2,000 26.61% | | John A. Clark 102 1.36% | | | Jim DeWolfe† |
| Pictou West | | Ronald Baillie 2,584 33.99% | | Charlie Parker 4,173 54.89% | | Sandy MacKay 698 9.18% | | Douglas Corbett 147 1.93% | | | Charlie Parker |

### Cape Breton

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Green | Green | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cape Breton Centre | | Darren Bruckschwaiger 2,274 28.44% | | Frank Corbett 3,490 43.65% | | Laura Lee MacDonald 2,152 26.92% | | Frances Oomen 79 0.99% | | | Frank Corbett |
| Cape Breton North | | Cecil Clarke 4,310 50.71% | | Russell MacDonald 2,195 25.83% | | Fred Tilley 1,869 21.99% | | Mark Doucet 125 1.47% | | | Cecil Clarke |
| Cape Breton Nova | | Todd Marsman 855 12.07% | | Gordie Gosse 4,315 60.92% | | Mel Crowe 1,794 25.33% | | Chris Milburn 119 1.68% | | | Gordie Gosse |
| Cape Breton South | | Scott Boyd 3,261 32.36% | | Jamie Crane 2,160 21.43% | | Manning MacDonald 4,383 43.50% | | Stephen Doucet 273 2.71% | | | Manning MacDonald |
| Cape Breton West | | Alfie MacLeod 4,729 53.76% | | Terry Crawley 1,344 15.28% | | Dave LeBlanc 2,488 28.28% | | Michael Milburn 236 2.68% | | | Russell MacKinnon† |
| Glace Bay | | Mark Bettens 2,074 26.85% | | Myrtle Campbell 2,234 28.93% | | David Wilson 3,327 43.08% | | Todd Pettigrew 88 1.14% | | | Dave Wilson |
| Inverness | | Rodney MacDonald 7,404 70.47% | | Tim Murphy 1,342 12.77% | | Mary MacLennan 1,627 15.49% | | John Gibson 133 1.27% | | | Rodney MacDonald |
| Richmond | | John Greene 2,268 40.45% | | Mary Pat Cude 529 9.43% | | Michel Samson 2,722 48.55% | | Noreen Hartlen 88 1.57% | | | Michel Samson |
| Victoria-The Lakes | | Keith Bain 3,001 47.48% | | Joan O'Liari 755 11.94% | | Gerald Sampson 2,272 35.94% | | Michelle Smith 173 2.74% | | Stemer MacLeod 120 1.90% | Gerald Sampson |

## Opinion polls

A March 2006 poll by Corporate Research Associates asked voters who they would prefer as premier, 36 per cent of respondents picked Premier Rodney MacDonald, compared to 23 per cent for Darrell Dexter and 16 per cent for Francis MacKenzie. The same poll showed the Progressive Conservatives in the lead with 36 percent of voters compared to 29 percent for the New Democrats and 27 percent for the Liberals.
| Date | Source | PC | NDP | Liberal |
| 5 Jun 2006 | Corporate Research Associates | 38 | 36 | 20 |
| 23 May 2006 | Corporate Research Associates | 34 | 27 | 30 |
| Feb 2006 | Corporate Research Associates | 36 | 29 | 27 |
| Nov 2005 | Corporate Research Associates | 35 | 32 | 28 |
| Aug 2005 | Corporate Research Associates | 31 | 32 | 26 |
| May 2005 | Corporate Research Associates | 36 | 30 | 27 |
| Mar 2005 | Corporate Research Associates | 38 | 24 | 30 |
| Dec 2004 | Corporate Research Associates | 35 | 28 | 30 |
| Sep 2004 | Corporate Research Associates | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| May 2004 | Corporate Research Associates | 28 | 33 | 30 |
| Feb 2004 | Corporate Research Associates | 31 | 30 | 28 |
| Nov 2003 | Corporate Research Associates | 28 | 32 | 29 |
| 5 Aug 2003 | Election | 36.3 | 31.0 | 31.5 |