2022 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election
The 2022 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election will take place on July 9, 2022 to elect a leader to replace Iain Rankin, who announced his intent to resign on January 5, 2022 after leading the party since 2021 and following the party's defeat in the 2021 Nova Scotia general election. Background. Iain Rankin announced that he would be resigning as leader on January 6, 2022, following the party's defeat in the 2021 general election and after consulting with his family. Rankin will remain on as Leader of the Opposition and  leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party until a successor is chosen. Candidates. Declared. Zach Churchill. Zach Churchill is the MLA for Yarmouth, having served since 2010. In the McNeil and Rankin governments, he served as Minister of Health and Wellness, Natural Resources, Municipal Affairs, Communications Nova Scotia, and Education and Early Childhood Development. Prior to announcing his candidacy, Churchill served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition as well as the critic for Health and Wellness and Health Care Professionals Recruitment. Angela Simmonds. Angela Simmonds is the MLA for Preston, having served since 2021. Prior to announcing her candidacy, Simmonds  has been serving as Deputy Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and Opposition critic for Justice, Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives, Human Rights Commission and Accessibility Act.