# 2003 Nova Scotia general election

The 2003 Nova Scotia general election was held on August 5, 2003, to elect members of the 59th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The ruling Progressive Conservative Party, led by Premier John Hamm, was reduced to a minority government.

## Campaign

The election was called by Progressive Conservatives, who decided to hold a rare summer election in the hope of strengthening their hold on the legislature. Running against them were the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Darrell Dexter, and the Liberal Party, led by Danny Graham.
Hamm's party ran on a policy of fiscal management, tax cuts, and on their record of fulfilling most of their promises. While the NDP agreed in principle to tax cuts, their main cause was the creation of a public auto insurance company. The Liberals were the only party to criticize the tax cuts.
For the most part, the campaign was quiet and uneventful. Hamm received criticism for a great number of spending programs, including a $150 tax rebate cheque sent to Nova Scotians right before the election. The party was also criticized for holding an election in the summer when most people have other concerns. Darrell Dexter's friendly, non-confrontational style, was popular with many voters, and was a marked change from his party's usually strident socialism. Danny Graham, a young leader, was popular, but failed to make much of a mark.
The election was considered a mild failure for the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives, and something of a success for the NDP.
This election is also notable for being one of the last Canadian provincial elections in which British subjects could vote (a tiny number can still vote provincially in Saskatchewan if they were qualified in 1971).

## General results
### Results by party

Seats :
| Party | Party | Votes | % | +/– | 1999 | Dissolution | Seats | Seat Change |
| | Progressive Conservative | 148,182 | 36.32 | 2.88 | 30 | 31 | 25 | 5 |
| | New Democratic | 126,479 | 31.00 | 1.03 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 4 |
| | Liberal | 128,417 | 31.47 | 1.66 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 1 |
| | Independents | 1,694 | 0.42 | 0.13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| | Nova Scotia Party | 1,637 | 0.40 | 0.33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| | Marijuana | 1,608 | 0.39 | * | * | 0 | 0 | |
| Vacant | Vacant | | | | – | 2 | – | – |
| Total | Total | 408,017 | 100.00 | – | 52 | 52 | – | – |
* The Marijuana Party did not contest the 1999 general election.
Popular vote
PC
36.32%
Liberal
31.47%
New Democratic
31.00%
Others
1.11% :
Seats summary
PC
48.08%
New Democratic
28.85%
Liberal
23.08% :

### 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: | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 25 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Popular vote: | 30.97% | 26.68% | 38.41% | 45.57% | 50.67% | 42.94% | 36.32% |
| | New Democratic Party | Seats: | 11 | 2 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| | New Democratic Party | Popular vote: | 40.67% | 26.21% | 23.15% | 25.10% | 27.51% | 25.59% | 31.00% |
| | Liberal | Seats: | 3 | 5 | 4 | - | - | - | 12 |
| | Liberal | Popular vote: | 27.14% | 45.71% | 37.13% | 29.06% | 20.85% | 29.21% | 31.47% |
| Parties not winning seats in the legislature: ||||||||||
| | Independents | Popular vote: | 0.13% | 1.40% | - | - | 0.74% | 0.41% | 0.42% |
| | Nova Scotia Party | Popular vote: | 0.70% | - | 0.75% | 0.27% | 0.23% | - | 0.40% |
| | Marijuana | Popular vote: | 0.40% | - | 0.56% | - | - | 1.85% | 0.39% |
| Total seats: | Total seats: | Total seats: | 18 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 52 |

## Retiring incumbents
### Liberal

* Don Downe, Lunenburg West
* Jim Smith, Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage
* Paul MacEwan, Cape Breton Nova

### Progressive Conservative

* Neil LeBlanc, Argyle
* Muriel Baillie, Pictou West

### New Democratic

* Robert Chisholm, Halifax Atlantic
* John Holm, Sackville-Cobequid

## 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 | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia | Marijuana | Marijuana | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Annapolis | | Frank Chipman 2,795 31.42% | | Adrian Nette 1,395 15.68% | | Stephen McNeil 4,522 50.83% | | Harry Wilson 185 2.08% | | | | | Frank Chipman |
| Clare | | Marc Boudreau 1,456 25.26% | | Don Melanson 760 13.19% | | Wayne Gaudet 3,547 61.55% | | | | | | | Wayne Gaudet |
| Digby-Annapolis | | Gordon Balser 2,339 39.98% | | Deborah Trask 755 12.90% | | Harold Theriault 2,666 45.56% | | Gordon D. Reid 91 1.56% | | | | | Gordon Balser |
| Hants West | | Ron Russell 3,871 46.15% | | Sean Bennett 2,200 26.23% | | Randy Matheson 2,118 25.25% | | Connie Brauer 51 0.61% | | Chummy Anthony 148 1.76% | | | Ron Russell |
| Kings North | | Mark Parent 4,063 50.20% | | Jim Morton 2,340 28.91% | | Michael Landry 1,533 18.94% | | | | Ben Friesen 157 1.94% | | | Mark Parent |
| Kings South | | David Morse 3,347 37.65% | | David Mangle 2,794 31.43% | | Maura Ryan 2,682 30.17% | | Victor Harris 67 0.75% | | | | | David Morse |
| Kings West | | Jon Carey 2,929 35.51% | | Greg Hubbert 2,275 27.58% | | Leo Glavine 3,045 36.91% | | | | | | | Jon Carey |

### South Shore

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia | Marijuana | Marijuana | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Argyle | | Chris d'Entremont 2,345 47.99% | | Charles Muise 595 12.18% | | Aldric Benoit d'Entremont 1,946 39.83% | | | | | | | Neil LeBlanc † |
| Chester-St. Margaret's | | John Chataway 3,451 37.30% | | Hinrich Bitter-Suermann 3,412 36.87% | | Mitt Larsen 2,249 24.31% | | Sue Gault 141 1.52% | | | | | John Chataway |
| Lunenburg | | Michael Baker 3,734 46.36% | | Chris Heide 2,625 32.59% | | Jim Davis 1,695 21.05% | | | | | | | Michael Baker |
| Lunenburg West | | Carolyn Bolivar-Getson 3,111 39.68% | | David Ferguson 2,180 27.80% | | John MacDonald 2,550 32.52% | | | | | | | Don Downe † |
| Queens | | Kerry Morash 2,721 44.19% | | Vicki Conrad 2,300 37.35% | | Win Seaton 1,137 18.46% | | | | | | | Kerry Morash |
| Shelburne | | Cecil O'Donnell 3,702 48.59% | | Kendall Stoddard 810 10.63% | | Clifford Huskilson 3,107 40.78% | | | | | | | Cecil O'Donnell |
| Yarmouth | | Richard Hurlburt 4,656 56.48% | | Gillian Rowley 1,142 13.85% | | Phil DeMille 2,446 29.67% | | | | | | | Richard Hurlburt |

### Fundy-Northeast

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia | Marijuana | Marijuana | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley | | Brooke Taylor 4,695 64.34% | | Kathryn Belzer 1,694 23.22% | | Joan Barnhill 908 12.44% | | | | | | | Brooke Taylor |
| Colchester North | | Bill Langille 3,324 45.12% | | Garfield Forrest 1,860 25.25% | | John Davidson 2,183 29.63% | | | | | | | Bill Langille |
| Cumberland North | | Ernie Fage 4,609 61.95% | | Kim Cail 1,105 14.85% | | Marsh G. Fox 1,389 18.67% | | | | | | Jason Blanch 337 4.53% | Ernie Fage |
| Cumberland South | | Murray Scott 4,898 71.69% | | Scott McKee 745 10.90% | | Harriet McCready 1,189 17.40% | | | | | | | Murray Scott |
| Hants East | | Mary Lou LeRoy 1,640 19.54% | | John MacDonell 4,783 56.97% | | Larry Matthews 1,866 22.23% | | Ken Smith 106 1.26% | | | | | John MacDonell |
| Truro-Bible Hill | | Jamie Muir 3,862 47.11% | | Jim Harpell 2,314 28.23% | | Jeff Yuill 2,021 24.66% | | | | | | | Jamie Muir |

### Central Halifax

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia | Marijuana | Marijuana | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Halifax Chebucto | | Sandy Phillips 1,983 23.72% | | Howard Epstein 3,682 44.04% | | Kenzie MacKinnon 2,592 31.00% | | Scott Higgins 103 1.23% | | | | | Howard Epstein |
| Halifax Citadel | | Jane Purves 2,466 30.27% | | Peter Delefes 2,542 31.20% | | Danny Graham 3,042 37.34% | | James A. C. Marchoine 38 0.47% | | Michael R. Patriquen 59 0.72% | | | Jane Purves |
| Halifax Clayton Park | | Mary Ann McGrath 3,034 34.37% | | Roberta Morrison 2,312 26.19% | | Diana Whalen 3,329 37.71% | | | | | | Greg Lavern 152 1.72% | Mary Ann McGrath |
| Halifax Fairview | | Bruce MacCharles 1,684 22.45% | | Graham Steele 3,439 45.85% | | Susan Hayes 2,284 30.45% | | David F. Boyd 94 1.25% | | | | | Graham Steele |
| Halifax Needham | | Linda Carvery 1,377 18.66% | | Maureen MacDonald 3,709 50.26% | | Mike Rogers 2,178 29.51% | | Blair Baxter 116 1.57% | | | | | Maureen MacDonald |

### Suburban Halifax

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia | Marijuana | Marijuana | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Bedford | | Peter G. Christie 4,114 43.87% | | Bob Watson 2,055 21.92% | | Richard Zurawski 3,208 34.21% | | | | | | | Peter G. Christie |
| Halifax Atlantic | | Linda Mosher 2,996 33.68% | | Michele Raymond 3,327 37.40% | | Ian MacKinnon 2,382 26.78% | | Gerald Rodgers 191 2.15% | | | | | Robert Chisholm † |
| Hammonds Plains Upper Sackville | | Barry Barnet 3,322 41.14% | | Brenda Haley 2,229 27.60% | | Pam Streeter 2,419 29.96% | | | | Melanie Patriquen 105 1.30% | | | Barry Barnet |
| Sackville-Cobequid | | John Giannakos 2,426 28.37% | | Dave Wilson 3,881 45.39% | | Bob Harvey 2,147 25.11% | | | | Michael D. Patriquen 97 1.13% | | | John Holm † |
| Timberlea-Prospect | | Barry Fraser 1,535 18.25% | | Bill Estabrooks 5,049 60.01% | | Bruce Holland 1,829 21.74% | | | | | | | Bill Estabrooks |
| Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank | | Gary Hines 3,141 37.67% | | Percy Paris 2,778 33.31% | | David E. Merrigan 2,240 26.86% | | Heather Sawers 94 1.13% | | Alex Neron 86 1.03% | | | Gary Hines |

### Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia | Marijuana | Marijuana | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cole Harbour | | Brian Thomas 2,387 26.55% | | Darrell Dexter 4,977 55.37% | | Peter Foy 1,523 16.94% | | Jessica Gould 102 1.13% | | | | | Darrell Dexter |
| Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage | | Henry McInroy 1,641 24.02% | | Kevin Deveaux 3,997 58.50% | | Brian Churchill 1,121 16.41% | | Kallee A. McPherson 74 1.08% | | | | | Kevin Deveaux |
| Dartmouth East | | Terry Degen 3,107 34.80% | | Joan Massey 3,272 36.65% | | Debra Barlow 2,321 26.00% | | Scott Anderson 98 1.10% | | Hugo St-Onge 101 1.13% | | Sebastien Theriault 28 0.31% | Jim Smith † |
| Dartmouth North | | Jane MacKay 1,900 26.54% | | Jerry Pye 3,799 53.06% | | Rosemary Godin 1,300 18.16% | | Pat Gould 86 1.20% | | Marc-Andre Roy 75 1.05% | | | Jerry Pye |
| Dartmouth South-Portland Valley | | Tim Olive 2,813 31.70% | | Marilyn More 3,844 43.31% | | Collin A. MacEachern 2,218 24.99% | | | | | | | Tim Olive |
| Eastern Shore | | Bill Dooks 3,073 45.02% | | Sid Prest 2,427 35.56% | | Randy Carter 1,326 19.43% | | | | | | | Bill Dooks |
| Preston | | David Hendsbee 1,361 32.77% | | Douglas Sparks 1,331 32.05% | | Keith Colwell 1,411 33.98% | | | | Marc-Boris St-Maurice 50 1.20% | | | David Hendsbee |

### Central Nova

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia | Marijuana | Marijuana | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Antigonish | | Angus MacIsaac 4,256 41.64% | | Terry O'Toole 1,755 17.17% | | David Allister Cameron 3,650 35.71% | | | | Gene Purdy 560 5.48% | | | Angus MacIsaac |
| Guysborough-Sheet Harbour | | Ron Chisholm 2,587 37.99% | | Jim Boudreau 2,023 29.71% | | Gordon MacDonald 2,199 32.30% | | | | | | | Ron Chisholm |
| Pictou Centre | | John Hamm 4,262 54.70% | | Alexander MacIsaac 1,571 20.16% | | Tim Daley 1,789 22.96% | | | | Darryl Gallivan 170 2.18% | | | John Hamm |
| Pictou East | | Jim DeWolfe 3,295 44.15% | | Bob Matheson 1,929 25.85% | | John Fraser 2,239 30.00% | | | | | | | Jim DeWolfe |
| Pictou West | | Paul Veniot 2,530 32.68% | | Charlie Parker 3,410 44.05% | | Ed MacMaster 1,639 21.17% | | | | | | Doug Corbett 163 2.11% | Muriel Baillie † |

### Cape Breton

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia | Marijuana | Marijuana | Independent | Independent | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cape Breton Centre | | Rita Tighe-MacLeod 373 4.81% | | Frank Corbett 3,929 50.64% | | Basil McGillivray 3,456 44.55% | | | | | | | Frank Corbett |
| Cape Breton North | | Cecil Clarke 3,754 43.46% | | Cecil Snow 1,714 19.84% | | Mike White 3,169 36.69% | | | | | | | Cecil Clarke |
| Cape Breton Nova | | Todd Marsman 684 9.85% | | Gordie Gosse 3,168 45.61% | | Mel Crowe 3,094 44.54% | | | | | | | Paul MacEwan † |
| Cape Breton South | | John Morrison 1,677 17.27% | | Mike MacSween 2,759 28.41% | | Manning MacDonald 5,275 54.32% | | | | | | | Manning MacDonald |
| Cape Breton West | | Ivan Doncaster 2,221 25.51% | | Douglas MacKinlay 1,868 21.46% | | Russell MacKinnon 4,616 53.03% | | | | | | | Russell MacKinnon |
| Glace Bay | | Mark Bettens 1,351 16.65% | | Vince Hall 2,342 28.87% | | Dave Wilson 4,420 54.48% | | | | | | | Dave Wilson |
| Inverness | | Rodney MacDonald 5,398 51.19% | | Tim Murphy 1,277 12.11% | | Debbie Gillis 3,871 36.71% | | | | | | | Rodney MacDonald |
| Richmond | | Richie Cotton 1,850 31.18% | | Clair Rankin 1,036 17.46% | | Michel Samson 3,047 51.36% | | | | | | | Michel Samson |
| Victoria-The Lakes | | Keith Bain 2,036 32.48% | | Nancy MacKeigan 934 14.90% | | Gerald Sampson 2,284 36.44% | | | | | | Brian Boudreau 750 11.97% Stemer MacLeod 264 4.21% | Brian Boudreau |