# 1981 Nova Scotia general election

The 1981 Nova Scotia general election was held on October 6, 1981, to elect members of the 53rd House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party.

## Results
### Results by party

| 37 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| Progressive Conservative | Liberal | New Democratic | Independent |
Official results :
| Party | Party | Party leader | # of candidates | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Party | Party | Party leader | # of candidates | 1978 | Dissolution | Elected | Change | # | % | Change (pp) |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Buchanan | 52 | 31 | 34 | 37 | +6 | 200,228 | 47.28% | +1.80% |
| | Liberal | A.M. "Sandy" Cameron | 52 | 17 | 15 | 13 | -4 | 139,604 | 32.96% | -6.20% |
| | New Democratic | Alexa McDonough | 52 | 4 | 2 | 1 | -3 | 76,289 | 18.01% | +3.71% |
| | Independent | Independent | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5,002 | 1.18% | +0.73% |
| | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | 0 | | | | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 421,123 | 99.43% | +0.04% |
| 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 | 2,403 | 0.57% | -0.04% |
| Total | Total | Total | 162 | 52 | 52 | 52 | – | 423,526 | 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 | 570,987 | 74.17% | -4.06% |
Popular vote
PC
47.28%
Liberal
32.96%
New Democratic
18.01%
Independent
1.18% :
Seats summary
PC
71.15%
Liberal
25.00%
New Democratic
1.92%
Independent
1.92% :

### Results by region

| Party name | Party name | Party name | HRM | Cape Breton | Annapolis Valley | South Shore | Fundy-Northeast | Central Nova | Total |
| Parties winning seats in the legislature ||||||||||
| | Progressive Conservative | Seats: | 13 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 37 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Popular vote: | 47.87% | 40.16% | 51.61% | 49.85% | 49.22% | 52.25% | 47.28% |
| | Liberal | Seats: | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| | Liberal | Popular vote: | 27.15% | 39.46% | 30.29% | 37.50% | 35.25% | 35.29% | 32.96% |
| | New Democratic Party | Seats: | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | New Democratic Party | Popular vote: | 24.89% | 15.31% | 18.10% | 12.65% | 15.44% | 11.79% | 18.01% |
| | Independents | Seats: | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | Independents | Popular vote: | 0.08% | 5.08% | – | – | 0.10% | 0.67% | 1.18% |
| Total seats: | Total seats: | Total seats: | 14 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 52 |

## Retiring incumbents
### Liberal

* Benoit Comeau, Clare

## 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 | | Gerry Sheehy 3,700 56.40% | | Hugh Laurence 2,006 30.58% | | Joan M. Boutilier 854 13.02% | | | Gerry Sheehy |
| Annapolis West | | Greg Kerr 2,784 53.57% | | Herb Anderson 1,894 36.44% | | John R. Taylor 519 9.99% | | | Greg Kerr |
| Clare | | Guy LeBlanc 2,173 38.00% | | Chester Melanson 2,228 38.96% | | Paul Denis Comeau 1,317 23.03% | | | Benoit Comeau† |
| Digby | | John Comeau 2,643 41.70% | | Joseph H. Casey 2,918 46.04% | | Bill Redden 777 12.26% | | | Joseph H. Casey |
| Hants West | | Ron Russell 4,554 51.51% | | Daniel J. McGrath 2,661 30.10% | | Alan Squires 1,626 18.39% | | | Ron Russell |
| Kings North | | Edward Twohig 3,369 43.61% | | Lennie White 2,041 26.42% | | Bob Levy 2,316 29.98% | | | Edward Twohig |
| Kings South | | Harry How 4,356 65.47% | | Betty Deal 933 14.02% | | Evelyn Garbary 1,364 20.50% | | | Harry How |
| Kings West | | George Moody 5,286 59.43% | | Dan Weir 2,259 25.40% | | Carolyn Queen 1,349 15.17% | | | 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 | | Peter J. Boudreau 2,092 39.32% | | Hugh Tinkham 2,872 53.97% | | Roy Sonny Murphy 357 6.71% | | | Hugh Tinkham Yarmouth |
| Lunenburg Centre | | Bruce Cochran 5,374 54.40% | | Alan V. Parish 3,355 33.96% | | Neil Theriault 1,150 11.64% | | | Bruce Cochran |
| Lunenburg East | | Ron Barkhouse 2,802 55.49% | | Dave Cook 1,180 23.37% | | Janet Mooney 1,068 21.15% | | | Ron Barkhouse |
| Lunenburg West | | Mel Pickings 3,875 53.66% | | Pauline Himmelman 2,319 32.11% | | Carl E. Simpson 1,027 14.22% | | | Mel Pickings |
| Queens | | John Leefe 4,114 65.19% | | Mervin W. Hartlen 1,511 23.94% | | David K. Sampson 686 10.87% | | | John Leefe |
| Shelburne | | Warren Doane 3,440 42.21% | | Harold Huskilson 3,765 46.20% | | Laurie Hitchens 945 11.60% | | | Harold Huskilson |
| Yarmouth | | Benoit Robichaud 3,389 40.39% | | Fraser Mooney 3,868 46.10% | | Hartley Wickens 1,134 13.51% | | | Fraser Mooney |

### 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 | | Bill Campbell 3,171 42.40% | | Ed Lorraine 3,182 42.55% | | Allan Marchbank 1,126 15.06% | | | Bill Campbell |
| Colchester South | | R. Colin Stewart 3,281 56.48% | | Laurence Mersereau Nason 1,683 28.97% | | Chester Rice 799 13.75% | | Bob Kirk 46 0.79% | R. Colin Stewart |
| Cumberland Centre | | Arthur L. Brennan 1,469 33.86% | | Guy Brown 2,579 59.45% | | Florence Welton 290 6.69% | | | Guy Brown |
| Cumberland East | | Roger Stuart Bacon 4,663 53.08% | | Shelagh Frances Rayworth 2,413 27.47% | | Hal Davidson 1,709 19.45% | | | Roger Stuart Bacon |
| Cumberland West | | D. L. George Henley 2,745 54.12% | | Bartley Babineau 1,717 33.85% | | Doug Meekins 610 12.03% | | | D. L. George Henley |
| Hants East | | G. Patrick Hunt 2,983 38.39% | | Jack Hawkins 3,041 39.13% | | Harry McNeil 1,747 22.48% | | | G. Patrick Hunt |
| Truro—Bible Hill | | Ron Giffin 5,024 61.55% | | Sylvia Roy 2,097 25.69% | | Tom Barron 1,041 12.75% | | | 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 6,087 49.41% | | John Genik 3,240 26.30% | | Peter Delefes 2,993 24.29% | | | Joel Matheson |
| Halifax Chebucto | | Dugger McNeil 3,394 35.04% | | Walter Fitzgerald 2,407 24.84% | | Alexa McDonough 3,886 40.12% | | | Walter Fitzgerald |
| Halifax Citadel | | Art Donahoe 4,141 44.55% | | Brenda Shannon 2,690 28.94% | | Tom Sinclair-Faulkner 2,465 26.52% | | | Art Donahoe |
| Halifax Cornwallis | | Terry Donahoe 4,927 46.79% | | Dean Salsman 2,867 27.22% | | Michael Coyle 2,737 25.99% | | | Terry Donahoe |
| Halifax Needham | | Edmund L. Morris 3,300 38.05% | | Dan Clarke 2,801 32.30% | | Phil Davis 2,572 29.66% | | | 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 4,929 57.62% | | Dwight Isenor 2,246 26.26% | | Bruce Carroll 1,379 16.12% | | | Ken Streatch |
| Halifax Atlantic | | John Buchanan 6,023 60.29% | | Roma J. Aiken 1,744 17.46% | | Rene Quigley 2,108 21.10% | | Art Canning 115 1.15% | John Buchanan |
| Halifax-St. Margaret's | | Jerry Lawrence 4,860 50.26% | | Helena Poirier 2,617 27.06% | | Lillian Viau 2,193 22.68% | | | Jerry Lawrence |
| Sackville | | Malcolm A. MacKay 4,687 42.55% | | Murdock MacKay 3,478 31.58% | | John Holm 2,849 25.87% | | | Malcolm A. MacKay |

### 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 4,605 51.20% | | Rae Austin 2,229 24.78% | | Steve MacDonald 2,160 24.02% | | | David Nantes |
| Dartmouth East | | Richard L. Weldon 4,253 42.51% | | Jim Smith 3,351 33.50% | | Gerry Legere 2,400 23.99% | | | Richard L. Weldon |
| Dartmouth North | | Laird Stirling 3,925 46.17% | | Don Valardo 2,419 28.46% | | Mark Flannigan 2,157 25.37% | | | Laird Stirling |
| Dartmouth South | | Roland J. Thornhill 4,215 46.81% | | Will Chisholm 2,463 27.35% | | John Lewis Bregante 2,327 25.84% | | | Roland J. Thornhill |
| Halifax Eastern Shore | | Tom McInnis 5,639 59.32% | | Angus MacNeil 2,302 24.22% | | Bruce Beasley 1,565 16.46% | | | 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 | | Angus MacIsaac 4,271 43.90% | | Bill Gillis 4,522 46.47% | | John Arthur Murphy 937 9.63% | | | Bill Gillis |
| Guysborough | | Jim Johnson 3,119 42.76% | | A.M. "Sandy" Cameron 3,723 51.03% | | Art Livingston 453 6.21% | | | A.M. "Sandy" Cameron |
| Pictou Centre | | Jack MacIsaac 6,673 59.62% | | Tom DeWolfe 2,634 23.53% | | Kim Murray 1,885 16.84% | | | Jack MacIsaac |
| Pictou East | | Donald Cameron 4,347 60.88% | | Harold Lowe 1,833 25.67% | | Hasse Lindblad 960 13.45% | | | Donald Cameron |
| Pictou West | | Donald P. McInnes 3,473 53.24% | | Doris Rink 2,066 31.67% | | Jim Scanlan 702 10.76% | | Franklin R. Fiske 282 4.32% | 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 | | Mike Laffin 3,276 39.49% | | Art MacDonald 2,208 26.62% | | Buddy MacEachern 2,812 33.90% | | | Buddy MacEachern |
| Cape Breton East | | Donnie MacLeod 4,699 45.55% | | Shelly McNeil 3,053 29.59% | | Joe Kanary 1,849 17.92% | | Blair Matheson 716 6.94% | Donnie MacLeod |
| Cape Breton North | | Brian Young 4,187 43.51% | | Nash Brogan 3,128 32.51% | | Len J. Arsenault 2,307 23.98% | | | Len J. Arsenault |
| Cape Breton Nova | | Russell Brake 1,487 19.42% | | Earle Tubrett 2,307 30.13% | | Tony Gale 173 2.26% | | Paul MacEwan 3,691 48.20% | Paul MacEwan |
| Cape Breton South | | Murray Hannem 3,824 32.16% | | Vince MacLean 6,633 55.78% | | Linda Gallant 1,435 12.07% | | | Vince MacLean |
| Cape Breton—The Lakes | | John Newell 3,316 41.51% | | Ossie Fraser 3,436 43.01% | | Douglas D. MacDonald 1,237 15.48% | | | Ossie Fraser |
| Cape Breton West | | "Big" Donnie MacLeod 4,125 42.59% | | David Muise 3,735 38.56% | | Elizabeth Cusack Walsh 1,826 18.85% | | | David Muise |
| Inverness North | | Daniel Rankin 3,160 42.17% | | John Archie MacKenzie 3,770 50.31% | | Eleanor Joyce Gillis 564 7.53% | | | John Archie MacKenzie Inverness |
| Inverness South | | Billy Joe MacLean 2,469 46.82% | | William MacEachern 2,407 45.65% | | Bill Martin 397 7.53% | | | William MacEachern Inverness |
| Richmond | | Greg MacIsaac 3,173 46.03% | | John E. LeBrun 2,821 40.93% | | Shirley McNamara 899 13.04% | | | John E. LeBrun |
| Victoria | | Fisher Hudson 2,357 50.02% | | Merrill D. Buchanan 1,952 41.43% | | Frank Reid 251 5.33% | | Duncan J. Beaton 152 3.23% | Fisher Hudson |