# Tony Ince

Robert Anthony "Tony" Ince (born 1958) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election, representing the electoral district of Cole Harbour for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party where he defeated the incumbent, Premier Darrell Dexter. In October 2024, Ince announced that he would not seek reelection.

## Early life and education

Ince was born in Halifax and worked as counsellor with the Department of Community Services. He also worked as a project coordinator with the Black Educators Association.

## Political career

Ince ran in the 2009 provincial election losing to Dexter. He was elected in the 2013 provincial election.
On October 22, 2013, Ince was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia where he served as Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage as well as Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and the Minister responsible for the Heritage Property Act.
Ince was re-elected in the 2017 election. On June 15, 2017, premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet, moving Ince to Minister of the Public Service Commission, while keeping the Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs portfolio.
As of September 22, 2024, Ince serves as the Official Opposition critic for the Public Service Commission, Military Relations, and African Nova Scotian Affairs.
In October 2024, Ince announced that he would not run in the next Nova Scotia general election to spend more time with family.
On March 7, 2025, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

## Electoral record

vte2021 Nova Scotia general election: Cole Harbour :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Tony Ince | 2,118 | 39.75 | +5.01 | $25,071.93 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Darryl Johnson | 1,704 | 31.98 | -0.64 | $25,039.43 |
| | New Democratic | Jerome Lagmay | 1,431 | 26.86 | -1.46 | $20,436.91 |
| | Atlantica | Chris Kinnie | 75 | 1.41 | | $200.00 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 5,328 | 99.46 | | $62,536.79 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 29 | 0.54 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,357 | 52.90 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 10,126 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +2.83 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||
vte2017 Nova Scotia general election: Cole Harbour-Portland Valley :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Tony Ince | 3,583 | 36.85 | -4.18 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Chris Mont | 3,203 | 32.94 | +14.80 |
| | New Democratic | Andre Cain | 2,552 | 26.25 | -14.57 |
| | Green | Melanie Mulrooney | 385 | 3.96 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,723 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 41 | 0.42 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,764 | 54.30 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 17,982 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -18.98 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||
2013 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Tony Ince | 4,002 | 41.03 | N/A |
| New Democratic Party | Darrell Dexter | 3,981 | 40.82 | N/A |
| Progressive Conservative | Greg Frampton | 1,769 | 18.14 | N/A |
2009 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| New Democratic Party | Darrell Dexter | 5,847 | 68.83 | |
| Liberal | Tony Ince | 1,519 | 17.88 | |
| Progressive Conservative | Mike Josey | 930 | 10.95 | |
| Green | Donna Toews | 199 | 2.34 | – |