# 2009 Nova Scotia general election

The 2009 Nova Scotia general election was held on June 9, 2009 to elect members of the 61st House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The government was defeated on a money bill on May 4, and the Nova Scotia House of Assembly was dissolved by Lieutenant Governor Mayann Francis on May 5. thereby triggering an election. The NDP won a majority government, forming government the first time in the province's history, and for the first time in an Atlantic Canadian province. The governing Progressive Conservatives were reduced to third place.

## Campaign

The election campaign began on May 5, 2009, after the New Democrats and Liberals voted against the Offshore Offset Revenues Expenditure Act, legislation that would have permitted the government to divert its revenues from oil and gas development in the Atlantic Ocean from debt payment, as required under current provincial law, to fund extra spending in the 2009 budget. As the Progressive Conservatives won only a minority government in the 2006 election, at least one of the two opposition parties would have been required to vote in favour of (or abstain from voting on) the legislation for it to pass.

## Timeline

* June 13, 2006 - Rodney MacDonald's Progressive Conservatives are elected to a minority government.
* June 20, 2006 - Liberal leader Francis MacKenzie resigns.
* February 20, 2007 - Cumberland North MLA Ernie Fage is suspended from the Progressive Conservative caucus after Halifax Police charge him with failing to remain at the scene of an accident, following an incident in November 2006.
* March 1, 2007 - NDP MLA Kevin Deveaux resigns his seat of Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.
* April 28, 2007 - Stephen McNeil is elected leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.
* October 2, 2007 - Becky Kent of the NDP is elected in the Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage byelection.
* December 18, 2007 - Fage is convicted of leaving the scene of an accident, and is expelled from the Progressive Conservative caucus.
* March 2, 2009 - Lunenburg MLA and Finance Minister Michael Baker dies.
* May 4, 2009 - Government is defeated on a budget bill (Bill 240 - Offshore Offset Revenues Expenditure Act (amendments to Provincial finance Act)).
* May 5, 2009 - Legislature is officially dissolved and election is called for June 9, 2009.
| 31 | 11 | 10 |
| New Democratic | Liberal | Progressive Conservative |

### Results by party

Results :
| Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Votes | % | 2006 | Dissolution | Elected | Change |
| | New Democratic | 186,556 | 45.24 | 20 | 20 | 31 | +11 |
| | Liberal | 112,160 | 27.20 | 9 | 9 | 11 | +2 |
| | Progressive Conservative | 101,203 | 24.54 | 23 | 21 | 10 | -13 |
| | Green | 9,636 | 2.34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independents | 2,796 | 0.68 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ±0 |
| Vacant | Vacant | | | – | 1 | – | – |
| Total | Total | 412,351 | 100.00 | 52 | 52 | 52 | ±0 |
Candidates lined up.
Popular vote
New Democratic
45.24%
Liberal
27.20%
PC
24.54%
Others
3.02% :
Seats summary
New Democratic
59.62%
Liberal
21.15%
PC
19.23% :

### Results by region

| Party name | Party name | Party name | HRM | C.B. | Valley | S. Shore | Fundy | Central | Total |
| Parties winning seats in the legislature ||||||||||
| | New Democratic Party | Seats: | 14 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 31 |
| | New Democratic Party | Popular vote: | 54.07% | 40.16% | 27.05% | 43.03% | 41.76% | 50.10% | 45.26% |
| | Liberal | Seats: | 4 | 3 | 4 | - | - | - | 11 |
| | Liberal | Popular vote: | 28.65% | 29.57% | 46.46% | 18.11% | 14.60% | 16.84% | 27.22% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Seats: | - | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Popular vote: | 14.36% | 28.34% | 23.89% | 36.08% | 37.44% | 31.32% | 24.52% |
| Parties not winning seats in the legislature ||||||||||
| | Green | Popular vote: | 2.88% | 1.78% | 2.60% | 1.90% | 1.89% | 1.74% | 2.33% |
| | Independents | Popular vote: | 0.03% | 0.14% | N/A | 0.88% | 4.32% | N/A | 0.67% |
| Total seats: | Total seats: | Total seats: | 18 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 52 |

## Retiring incumbents
### Progressive Conservative

* Brooke Taylor, Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley
* Jamie Muir, Truro-Bible Hill

## Nominated candidates

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

### Annapolis 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 | | Kent Robinson 971 11.10% | | Henry Spurr 1,131 12.93% | | Stephen McNeil 6,446 73.70% | | Jamie Spinney 198 2.26% | | | Stephen McNeil |
| Clare | | Jimmy Doucet 459 8.75% | | Paul Comeau 1,326 25.29% | | Wayne Gaudet 3,392 64.68% | | Diane Doucet-Bean 67 1.28% | | | Wayne Gaudet |
| Digby-Annapolis | | Cindy Nesbitt 852 15.39% | | Sherri Oliver 1,092 19.73% | | Harold Theriault 3,514 63.48% | | Namron Bean 78 1.41% | | | Harold Theriault |
| Hants West | | Chuck Porter 3,364 37.24% | | Barbara Gallagher 2,401 26.58% | | Paula Lunn 3,065 33.93% | | Sheila Richardson 204 2.26% | | | Chuck Porter |
| Kings North | | Mark Parent 3,079 36.08% | | Jim Morton 3,535 41.43% | | Shirley Fisher 1,541 18.06% | | Anna-Maria Galante-Ward 378 4.43% | | | Mark Parent |
| Kings South | | David Morse 2,759 28.14% | | Ramona Jennex 4,038 41.18% | | Paula Howatt 2,639 26.91% | | Brendan MacNeill 369 3.76% | | | David Morse |
| Kings West | | Chris Palmer 1,667 20.20% | | Carol Tobin 1,422 17.23% | | Leo Glavine 5,015 60.77% | | Nistal Prem de Boer 149 1.81% | | | 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% | | Melvin Huskins 66 1.41% | | Lionel LeBlanc 913 19.56% | | Barbara Lake 531 11.38% | | | Chris d'Entremont |
| Chester-St. Margaret's | | Judy Streatch 2,762 27.47% | | Denise Peterson-Rafuse 4,835 48.09% | | Jo-Ann Grant 2,122 21.11% | | Ryan Cameron 335 3.33% | | | Judy Streatch |
| Lunenburg | | Peter Zwicker 2,399 28.30% | | Pam Birdsall 4,069 48.01% | | Rick Welsford 1,374 16.21% | | Jason A. Remai 145 1.71% | | Milton Countway 489 5.77% | Vacant |
| Lunenburg West | | Carolyn Bolivar-Getson 3,045 33.50% | | Gary Ramey 3,600 39.60% | | Mark Furey 2,297 25.27% | | Emily Richardson 148 1.63% | | | Carolyn Bolivar-Getson |
| Queens | | Kerry Morash 1,936 28.87% | | Vicki Conrad 4,012 59.82% | | Wayne Henley 674 10.05% | | Stuart Simpson 85 1.27% | | | Vicki Conrad |
| Shelburne | | Eddie Nickerson 1,637 23.59% | | Sterling Belliveau 3,844 55.41% | | Darian Huskilson 1,356 19.54% | | Robin Smith 101 1.46% | | | Sterling Belliveau |
| Yarmouth | | Richard Hurlburt 4,537 61.34% | | David Olie 1,696 22.93% | | David Mooney 1,041 14.07% | | Ronald Mills 123 1.66% | | | 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 | | Steve Streatch 2,265 29.07% | | Gary Burrill 3,697 47.45% | | Willie Versteeg 1,649 21.16% | | Margaret Whitney 181 2.32% | | | Brooke Taylor† |
| Colchester North | | Karen Casey 3,811 50.25% | | Arthur Hartlen 2,362 31.14% | | Lorenda Ebbett 1,250 16.48% | | Judy Davis 161 2.12% | | | Karen Casey |
| Cumberland North | | Keith Hunter 1,359 17.23% | | Brian Skabar 3,170 40.19% | | Brent Noiles 1,073 13.60% | | Aviva Silburt 127 1.61% | | Ernest Fage 2,159 27.37% | Ernest Fage |
| Cumberland South | | Murray Scott 4,334 67.66% | | Don Tabor 1,659 25.90% | | Joseph Archibald 325 5.07% | | Danny Melvin 88 1.37% | | | Murray Scott |
| Hants East | | Todd Williams 1,567 16.82% | | John MacDonell 6,052 64.96% | | Maurice Rees 1,467 15.75% | | Emerich Winkler 231 2.48% | | | John MacDonell |
| Truro-Bible Hill | | Hughie MacIsaac 2,544 30.23% | | Lenore Zann 4,070 48.37% | | Bob Hagell 1,643 19.52% | | Kaleigh Brinkhurst 158 1.88% | | | 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 | | David Atchison 544 6.91% | | Howard Epstein 4,446 56.47% | | Jane Spurr 2,535 32.20% | | Chris Hanlon 348 4.42% | | | Howard Epstein |
| Halifax Citadel | | Ted Larsen 1,000 12.99% | | Leonard Preyra 3,785 49.17% | | Gerry Walsh 2,584 33.57% | | Ryan Watson 329 4.27% | | | Leonard Preyra |
| Halifax Clayton Park | | Debbie Hum 1,084 10.56% | | Linda Power 3,924 38.24% | | Diana Whalen 5,030 49.02% | | Amanda Hester 172 1.68% | | Jonathan Dean 51 0.50% | Diana Whalen |
| Halifax Fairview | | Paul Henderson 893 12.16% | | Graham Steele 4,680 63.71% | | Brad Armitage 1,544 21.02% | | Jane Hester 229 3.12% | | | Graham Steele |
| Halifax Needham | | Jason Cameron 536 6.76% | | Maureen MacDonald 5,336 67.30% | | Graham Estabrooks 1,690 21.31% | | Kris MacLellan 367 4.63% | | | 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-Birch Cove | | Len Goucher 2,268 20.75% | | Brian Mosher 3,552 32.50% | | Kelly Regan 4,861 44.48% | | Neil Green 248 2.27% | | | Len Goucher |
| Halifax Atlantic | | Brian Phillips 965 11.22% | | Michèle Raymond 5,253 61.09% | | Jim Hoskins 2,003 23.29% | | Anthony Rosborough 378 4.40% | | | Michele Raymond |
| Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville | | Barry Barnet 2,218 23.05% | | Mat Whynott 4,815 50.03% | | Patrick Doyle 2,381 24.74% | | Shawn Redmond 210 2.18% | | | Barry Barnet |
| Sackville-Cobequid | | Jessica Alexander 976 12.46% | | Dave Wilson 5,120 65.34% | | Scott Hemming 1,548 19.75% | | Ian Charles 192 2.45% | | | Dave Wilson |
| Timberlea-Prospect | | Gina Byrne 795 9.10% | | Bill Estabrooks 6,174 70.70% | | Lisa Mullin 1,535 17.58% | | Thomas Trappenberg 229 2.62% | | | Bill Estabrooks |
| Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank | | Gary Hines 1,696 18.45% | | Percy Paris 5,007 54.47% | | Bill Horne 2,290 24.91% | | Damon Loomer 199 2.16% | | | Percy Paris |

### 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 | | Mike Josey 939 11.05% | | Darrell Dexter 5,849 68.82% | | Tony Ince 1,509 17.76% | | Donna Toews 202 2.38% | | | Darrell Dexter |
| Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage | | Lloyd Jackson 1,074 15.90% | | Becky Kent 4,402 65.17% | | Orest Ulan 1,054 15.60% | | Denise Ménard 225 3.33% | | | Becky Kent |
| Dartmouth East | | Bert Thompson 873 9.60% | | Joan Massey 3,908 42.95% | | Andrew Younger 4,133 45.43% | | Anna Mukpo 184 2.02% | | | Joan Massey |
| Dartmouth North | | David Losey 568 7.95% | | Trevor Zinck 4,053 56.75% | | Jim Smith 2,316 32.43% | | Alex Donaldson 205 2.87% | | | Trevor Zinck |
| Dartmouth South-Portland Valley | | George Jordan 1,389 13.58% | | Marilyn More 5,583 54.59% | | Colin Hebb 2,946 28.80% | | David Croft 310 3.03% | | | Marilyn More |
| Eastern Shore | | Bill Dooks 2,557 34.69% | | Sid Prest 3,628 49.22% | | Loretta Day Halleran 992 13.46% | | Michael Marshall 194 2.63% | | | Bill Dooks |
| Preston | | Dwayne Provo 1,076 24.83% | | Janet Sutcliffe 1,314 30.33% | | Keith Colwell 1,888 43.57% | | Sarah Densmore 55 1.27% | | | 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 3,613 38.08% | | Maurice Smith 3,338 35.18% | | Miles Tompkins 2,378 25.06% | | Rebecca Mosher 160 1.69% | | | Angus MacIsaac |
| Guysborough-Sheet Harbour | | Ron Chisholm 1,750 24.96% | | Jim Boudreau 3,621 51.64% | | Lloyd Hines 1,558 22.22% | | Amy Florian 83 1.18% | | | Ron Chisholm |
| Pictou Centre | | Pat Dunn 3,519 44.64% | | Ross Landry 3,650 46.30% | | Neil MacIsaac 567 7.19% | | Jim Lindsey 147 1.86% | | | Pat Dunn |
| Pictou East | | J. Ed MacDonald 1,984 25.94% | | Clarrie MacKinnon 4,893 63.98% | | Francois Rochon 642 8.39% | | Robbie Loftus White 129 1.69% | | | Clarrie MacKinnon |
| Pictou West | | Leonard Fraser 1,466 19.99% | | Charlie Parker 4,226 57.63% | | Paul Landry 1,471 20.06% | | Chelsea Richardson 170 2.32% | | | 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 | | Chris Ryan 479 7.53% | | Frank Corbett 5,096 80.14% | | Joe MacPherson 685 10.77% | | Chris Alders 99 1.56% | | | Frank Corbett |
| Cape Breton North | | Cecil Clarke 3,477 44.47% | | Russell MacDonald 3,312 42.36% | | Ken Jardine 921 11.78% | | Chris Milburn 108 1.38% | | | Cecil Clarke |
| Cape Breton Nova | | Cory Hann 276 4.14% | | Gordie Gosse 4,735 71.07% | | Donnie Morrison 1,549 23.25% | | Michael P. Milburn 102 1.53% | | | Gordie Gosse |
| Cape Breton South | | Steve Tobin 1,387 15.12% | | Wayne McKay 3,332 36.33% | | Manning MacDonald 4,278 46.65% | | Cathy Theriault 174 1.90% | | | Manning MacDonald |
| Cape Breton West | | Alfie MacLeod 3,962 43.47% | | Delton MacDonald 2,797 30.69% | | Josephine Kennedy 2,212 24.27% | | Michael Parsons 143 1.57% | | | Alfie MacLeod |
| Glace Bay | | Tom MacPherson 810 11.41% | | Myrtle Campbell 2,829 39.84% | | Dave Wilson 3,380 47.60% | | Todd Pettigrew 82 1.15% | | | Dave Wilson |
| Inverness | | Rodney MacDonald 8,714 98.54% | | Michael MacIsaac 1,971 20.49% | | Shaun Bennett 1,905 19.81% | | Nathalie Arsenault 339 3.53% | | | Rodney MacDonald |
| Richmond | | John Greene 1,045 17.92% | | Clair Rankin 1,477 25.33% | | Michel Samson 3,228 55.36% | | John Percy 81 1.39% | | | Michel Samson |
| Victoria-The Lakes | | Keith Bain 2,417 38.68% | | Fraser Patterson 1,680 26.88% | | Gerald Sampson 1,912 30.60% | | James V. O'Brien 143 2.29% | | Stemer MacLeod 97 1.55% | Keith Bain |

## Opinion polls

| Date | Source | PC | NDP | Liberal | Green |
| 4 Jun 2009 | Angus Reid Strategies | 23 | 47 | 26 | 3 |
| 1 Jun 2009 | Corporate Research Associates | 26 | 44 | 28 | 2 |
| 7–16 May 2009 | Corporate Research Associates | 28 | 37 | 31 | 3 |
| Feb 2009 | Corporate Research Associates | 30 | 36 | 31 | 3 |
| Nov 2008 | Corporate Research Associates | 33 | 37 | 27 | 3 |
| Aug 2008 | Corporate Research Associates | 33 | 36 | 28 | 3 |
| May 2008 | Corporate Research Associates | 27 | 38 | 30 | 4 |
| Feb 2008 | Corporate Research Associates | 32 | 37 | 28 | 3 |
| Nov 2007 | Corporate Research Associates | 32 | 39 | 25 | 3 |
| Aug 2007 | Corporate Research Associates | 32 | 35 | 28 | 5 |
| May 2007 | Corporate Research Associates | 29 | 37 | 26 | 7 |
| Feb 2007 | Corporate Research Associates | 35 | 36 | 25 | 3 |
| Nov 2006 | Corporate Research Associates | 32 | 37 | 26 | 4 |
| Aug 2006 | Corporate Research Associates | 33 | 35 | 24 | 8 |
| 13 Jun 2006 | Election | 39.6 | 34.6 | 23.4 | 2.3 |