# Brian Skabar

Brian Skabar (born February 25, 1952) is a Canadian politician, who represented the riding of Cumberland North for the New Democratic Party from 2009 to 2013.

## Before politics

Skabar spent the majority of his government career as a social worker and also in management positions with Health Canada and Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada, formerly known as Indian & Northern Affairs Canada.

## Political career

Skabar elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. Skabar won the riding of Cumberland North for the New Democratic Party. He obtained 40 per cent of the popular vote and was the first NDP candidate ever elected in the district.
On June 29, 2009, Skabar was appointed Ministerial Assistant to the Nova Scotia Office of Aboriginal Affairs, and on March 15, 2013 he was appointed Ministerial Assistant of Intergovernmental Relations and Nova Scotia/New Brunswick Co-operation.
In the 2013 election, Skabar finished third in Cumberland North, losing the seat to Liberal Terry Farrell.
In the 2016 Amherst municipal election Skabar ran for mayor, however he lost to David Kogan.

## Personal life

Skabar's daughter Lauren has run as MLA on behalf of the NDP in Cumberland North in 2021 and in Argyle in 2024.

## Electoral record

vte2024 Nova Scotia general election: Queens :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Kim Masland | 3,461 | 79.9% |
| | Liberal | Cathy De Rome | 487 | 11.2% |
| | New Democratic | Brian Skabar | 382 | 8.8% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,330 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||
| 2016 Amherst Mayoral Election |
| Mayoral candidate | Vote | % |
| David Kogon | 1,630 | 41.30 |
| George Baker | 682 | 17.28 |
| Wayne Bishop | 538 | 13.63 |
| Dale Fawthrop | 416 | 10.54 |
| Robert Bird | 380 | 9.63 |
| Brian Skabar | 301 | 7.63 |
2013 Nova Scotia general election: Cumberland North :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Terry Farrell | 2,944 | 39.74 | +26.14 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Judith Marie Giroux | 2,212 | 29.86 | +12.63 |
| | New Democratic | Brian Skabar | 1,974 | 26.64 | -13.55 |
| | Green | Jason Blanch | 279 | 3.77 | +2.16 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,409 | 99.22 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 58 | 0.78 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,467 | 58.62 | – |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 12,737 |
| Source(s) Source: Electios Nova Scotia (2013). "Electoral History for Cumberland North" (PDF). electionsnovascotia.ca. |||||||
2009 Nova Scotia general election: Cumberland North :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Brian Skabar | 3,170 | 40.19 | 25.54 |
| | Independent | Ernie Fage | 2,159 | 27.37 | – |
| | Progressive Conservative | Keith Hunter | 1,359 | 17.23 | -45.41 |
| | Liberal | Brent Noiles | 1,073 | 13.60 | -6.38 |
| | Green | Aviva Silburt | 127 | 1.61 | -1.12 |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,888 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Cumberland North" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||