Nova Scotia Liberal Party: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:59, 30 December 2025

Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The Nova Scotia Liberal Party (officially the Liberal Association of Nova Scotia^[1]) is a centristScript error: No such module "Unsubst". provincial political party in Nova Scotia, Canada and the provincial section of the Liberal Party of Canada. The party currently holds two seats in the Legislature, under the interim leadership of Iain Rankin. The party was in power most recently from the 2013 election until the 2021 election.^[2]^[3]

The party is the only party in the province with uninterrupted presence in the legislature since confederation. It has formed the Government of Nova Scotia for 90 of the approximately 160 years since it became a province of Canada. It won 25 of the province's 42 elections, but was supplanted by the NDP as the official opposition for three consecutive elections in 1999, 2003 and 2006, and again in the most recent election in 2024.

Origins

The Nova Scotia Liberal Party produced 14 of the province's 29 premiers, including:

William Stevens Fielding - after a 12 year tenure as Premier (1884-96) went on to become the longest serving federal finance minister
George Henry Murray - whose premiership between 1896 and 1923 was the longest unbroken tenure for a head of government in Canadian history
Angus L. MacDonald - the only premier to have occupied the office over two non-consecutive terms, tenure broken by a stint as the naval services minister in MacKenzie King's wartime cabinet.

The party is descended from the pre-Confederation Reformers in Nova Scotia who coalesced around Joseph Howe demanding the institution of responsible government. The Liberals (Reformers) formed several governments in the colony between 1848 and 1867.

The party split during the debate on Confederation, with Howe and most other Liberals forming an Anti-Confederation Party, while supporters of confederation joined Tory Charles Tupper's Confederation Party. Howe, himself, initially opposed Confederation, but accepted it as a reality after initial attempts to scuttle it failed.

In 1868, Howe joined the pro-Confederation forces, serving for a time in the federal Cabinet of Sir John A. Macdonald.

The Anti-Confederation Party took most of Nova Scotia's seats in the House of Commons of Canada in 1867, as well as forming the government of the new province under William Annand. The new, post-1867 Liberal Party was organised by Annand and his anti-Confederate forces, while the Conservative Party was organised by Tupper and supporters of Sir John A. Macdonald's coalition in the province.

Prior to 1956, the Nova Scotia Liberal Party had ruled the province for 76 of its 89 years, most of that time with fewer than five opposition members. It had also ruled prior to confederation, and was responsible for bringing the first responsible government to North America. From 1882 to 1925, the Liberals held power for an unbroken 43 years, the second longest serving political dynasty in Canadian history, behind the Alberta PCs.^[4]

Recent history

From 1956, the Tories gained significant ground with Robert Stanfield's reformation of the "Progressive Conservatives", and have successfully challenged the Liberals for control of the government. The Liberals faltered in the province at the beginning of the 21st century, and for a time were the third-largest party in the House of Assembly, behind the Tories and the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. After the Nova Scotia Liberal Party's dismal performance in the 2006 election (and failing to win his own seat), leader Francis MacKenzie announced his resignation.^[5] He was succeeded by Stephen McNeil. In the 2009 election, the Liberals moved out of third-party status and formed the official opposition once again. In the 2013 election, the Liberals won a majority government, their first since the 1993 election under John Savage, and took office for the first time in 14 years.^[6] Under McNeil, a self-described fiscal conservative, the party pushed for balanced provincial budgets and took a firm stance against public sector unions.^[7]

In the 2009 election, Stephen McNeil led the Liberals to Official Opposition status, winning 11 seats.^[8]

In the 2013 election, the McNeil Liberals won a majority government, defeating the NDP government of Darrell Dexter.^[9]

In the 2017 election, the McNeil Liberals retained a reduced majority of 27 seats in the legislature.^[10]

On August 6, 2020, McNeil announced he would step down as party leader and that he would continue to act as premier and as the party's leader until a replacement was found.^[11] On February 23, 2021, Rankin became the 29th Premier of Nova Scotia, replacing McNeil, following a leadership election.^[12] Rankin called a snap election for August 17, 2021, which his Liberal Party lost.^[13] Rankin was personally re-elected in Timberlea-Prospect.^[14] In the wake of the defeat, Rankin stepped down as leader. Yarmouth MLA Zach Churchill was elected leader of the Liberal Party in the 2022 leadership election.^[15]

In the 2024 election, the Liberals suffered their worst defeat in history, winning only two seats total.^[16] Leader Zach Churchill lost his own seat,^[17] and resigned from his position as leader two weeks later, and Derek Mombourquette became the interim leader.^[18]^[19]

In December 2025, former leader Iain Rankin once again became party leader, taking over the interim role from Mombourquette.^[20]

Current elected politicians

Name	Riding	Year elected
Derek Mombourquette	Sydney-Membertou	2015
Iain Rankin	Timberlea-Prospect	2013

Party leaders

James B. Uniacke (1840–1854)
William Young (1854–1860)
Joseph Howe (1860–1864)
Adams G. Archibald (1864–1867)
William Annand (1867–1875)
Philip Carteret Hill (1875–1878)
William F. McCurdy (1878–1882) (house leader)
William Thomas Pipes (1882–1884)
William Stevens Fielding (1884–1896)
George Henry Murray (1896–1923)
Ernest Howard Armstrong (1923–1925)
William Chisholm (1925–1930)
Angus L. Macdonald (1930–1940)
A.S. MacMillan (1940–1945)
Angus L. Macdonald (1945–1954)
Harold Connolly (1954) (interim)
Henry Hicks (1954–1961)
Earl W. Urquhart (1961–1965) (house leader 1961–1962)
Gerald Regan (1965–1980)
Benoit Comeau (1980) (interim)
Sandy Cameron (1980–1985)
Vince MacLean (1985)
Bill Gillis (1985–1986) (interim)
Vince MacLean (1986–1992)
John Savage (1992–1997)
Russell MacLellan (1997–2000)
Wayne Gaudet (2000–2002) (interim)
Danny Graham (2002–2004)
Wayne Gaudet (2004) (interim)
Francis MacKenzie (2004–2006)
Michel Samson (2006–2007) (interim)
Stephen McNeil (2007–2021)
Iain Rankin (2021–2022)^[21]
Zach Churchill (2022–2024)^[22]
Derek Mombourquette (2024–2025) (interim)^[23]
Iain Rankin (2025–present) (interim)^[20]

Electoral performance

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Status
1867	William Annand		58.6	Template:Composition bar	Increase 21	Increase 1st	Majority
1871	William Annand		52.2	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 12	Steady 1st	Majority
1874	Philip Carteret Hill		55.0	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 2	Steady 1st	Majority
1878	Philip Carteret Hill		45.1	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 16	Decrease 2nd	Opposition
1882	None		51.8	Template:Composition bar	Increase 18	Increase 1st	Majority
1886	William Stevens Fielding		54.7	Template:Composition bar	Increase 4	Steady 1st	Majority
1890			52.2	Template:Composition bar	Increase 1	Steady 1st	Majority
1894			51.9	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 4	Steady 1st	Majority
1897	George Henry Murray		55.0	Template:Composition bar	Increase 9	Steady 1st	Majority
1901			56.7	Template:Composition bar	Increase 2	Steady 1st	Majority
1906			53.2	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 4	Steady 1st	Majority
1911			51.1	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 10	Steady 1st	Majority
1916			50.4	Template:Composition bar	Increase 5	Steady 1st	Majority
1920			44.4	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 2	Steady 1st	Majority
1925	Ernest Howard Armstrong		36.3	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 26	Decrease 2nd	Opposition
1928	William Chisholm		47.2	Template:Composition bar	Increase 15	Steady 2nd	Opposition
1933	Angus Lewis Macdonald		52.6	Template:Composition bar	Increase 4	Increase 1st	Majority
1937	Angus Lewis Macdonald		51.0	Template:Composition bar	Increase 3	Steady 1st	Majority
1941	Alexander Stirling MacMillan		52.6	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 3	Steady 1st	Majority
1945	Angus Lewis Macdonald		52.7	Template:Composition bar	Increase 6	Steady 1st	Majority
1949			51.0	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 1	Steady 1st	Majority
1953			49.0	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 5	Steady 1st	Majority
1956	Henry Hicks	159,666	48.2	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 4	Decrease 2nd	Opposition
1960	Henry Hicks	147,951	42.6	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 3	Steady 2nd	Opposition
1963	Earl Wallace Urquhart	134,873	39.7	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 11	Steady 2nd	Opposition
1967	Gerald Regan	142,945	41.8	Template:Composition bar	Increase 2	Steady 2nd	Opposition
1970		174,943	46.1	Template:Composition bar	Increase 17	Increase 1st	Minority
1974		206,648	47.9	Template:Composition bar	Increase 8	Steady 1st	Majority
1978		175,218	39.4	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 14	Decrease 2nd	Opposition
1981	Sandy Cameron	139,604	33.2	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 4	Steady 2nd	Opposition
1984	Sandy Cameron	129,310	31.3	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 7	Steady 2nd	Opposition
1988	Vince MacLean	186,007	39.6	Template:Composition bar	Increase 15	Steady 2nd	Opposition
1993	John Savage	243,298	49.7	Template:Composition bar	Increase 19	Increase 1st	Majority
1998	Russell MacLellan	158,620	35.3	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 21	Steady 1st	Minority
1999	Russell MacLellan	128,795	29.8	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 8	Decrease 3rd	Third party
2003	Danny Graham	128,417	31.5	Template:Composition bar	Increase 1	Steady 3rd	Third party
2006	Francis MacKenzie	94,872	23.4	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 3	Steady 3rd	Third party
2009	Stephen McNeil	112,160	27.2	Template:Composition bar	Increase 2	Increase 2nd	Opposition
2013		190,112	45.7	Template:Composition bar	Increase 22	Increase 1st	Majority
2017		157,541	39.5	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 6	Steady 1st	Majority
2021	Iain Rankin	155,026	36.7	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 10	Decrease 2nd	Opposition
2024	Zach Churchill	81,137	22.87	Template:Composition bar	Decrease 14	Decrease 3rd	Third party

References

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External links

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@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 | logo_size        = 175
 | colorcode        = {{Canadian party colour|NS|Liberal}}
-| leader           = [[Derek Mombourquette]] ''(interim)''
+| leader           = [[Iain Rankin]] ''(interim)''
 | president        = [[Margaret Miller (politician)|Margaret Miller]]<ref name="Executive">{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.liberal.ns.ca/board-of-directors |website=Nova Scotia Liberal Party |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref>
 | chairman         =
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 | footnotes        =
 }}
-The '''Nova Scotia Liberal Party''' (officially the '''Liberal Association of Nova Scotia'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2018 |title=By-laws of the Liberal Association of Nova Scotia |url=https://liberal.ns.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/By-Laws-of-the-Liberal-Association-of-Nova-Scotia.pdf |access-date=13 March 2023}}</ref>) is a [[Centrist politics|centrist]]{{cn|date=November 2024}} provincial political party in [[Nova Scotia]], Canada and the provincial section of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. The party currently holds two seats in the [[Nova Scotia House of Assembly|Legislature]], under the interim leadership of [[Derek Mombourquette]]. The party was in power most recently from the [[2013 Nova Scotia general election|2013 election]] until the [[2021 Nova Scotia general election|2021 election]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1934251587624| title = Liberal Leader Iain Rankin concedes election result {{!}} CBC.ca}} </ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/election-campaign-liberals-ndp-pc-1.6144162| title = Progressive Conservatives surge to surprise majority win in Nova Scotia election {{!}} CBC News}} </ref>
+The '''Nova Scotia Liberal Party''' (officially the '''Liberal Association of Nova Scotia'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2018 |title=By-laws of the Liberal Association of Nova Scotia |url=https://liberal.ns.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/By-Laws-of-the-Liberal-Association-of-Nova-Scotia.pdf |access-date=13 March 2023}}</ref>) is a [[Centrist politics|centrist]]{{cn|date=November 2024}} provincial political party in [[Nova Scotia]], Canada and the provincial section of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. The party currently holds two seats in the [[Nova Scotia House of Assembly|Legislature]], under the interim leadership of [[Iain Rankin]]. The party was in power most recently from the [[2013 Nova Scotia general election|2013 election]] until the [[2021 Nova Scotia general election|2021 election]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1934251587624| title = Liberal Leader Iain Rankin concedes election result {{!}} CBC.ca}} </ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/election-campaign-liberals-ndp-pc-1.6144162| title = Progressive Conservatives surge to surprise majority win in Nova Scotia election {{!}} CBC News}} </ref>
-The party is the only party in the province with uninterrupted presence in the legislature since [[Canadian Confederation|confederation]]. It has formed the [[Government of Nova Scotia]] for 90 of the approximately 160 years since it became a province of Canada. It won 25 of the province's 42 elections, but was supplanted by the NDP as the official opposition for three consecutive elections in 1999, 2003 and 2006, and again in the most recent election in 2024. It produced 14 of the province's 29 [[List of premiers of Nova Scotia|premiers]], including:
+The party is the only party in the province with uninterrupted presence in the legislature since [[Canadian Confederation|confederation]]. It has formed the [[Government of Nova Scotia]] for 90 of the approximately 160 years since it became a province of Canada. It won 25 of the province's 42 elections, but was supplanted by the NDP as the official opposition for three consecutive elections in 1999, 2003 and 2006, and again in the most recent election in 2024.
+==Origins==
+The Nova Scotia Liberal Party produced 14 of the province's 29 [[List of premiers of Nova Scotia|premiers]], including:
 * [[William Stevens Fielding]] - after a 12 year tenure as Premier (1884-96) went on to become the longest serving [[Minister of Finance (Canada)|federal finance minister]]
 * [[George Henry Murray]] - whose premiership between 1896 and 1923 was the longest unbroken tenure for a head of government in Canadian history
 * [[Angus L. MacDonald]] - the only premier to have occupied the office over two non-consecutive terms, tenure broken by a stint as the [[Minister of National Defence for Naval Services (Canada)|naval services minister]] in [[William Lyon Mackenzie King|MacKenzie King]]'s wartime cabinet.
-Prior to 2017, the party and its counterparts in [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], [[Prince Edward Island]], and [[New Brunswick]] were formally the provincial branches of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. The national party ended its confederated organizational model in 2016 and severed formal governance relationship with all provincial liberal parties. The Nova Scotia Liberal Party (along with the [[Prince Edward Island Liberal Party]]) has however continued its formal affiliation with the national party by amending the governance and membership provisions in its constitution to align them with applicable rules and requirements of the national party, create overlapping governance organizational and administrative structures that serve the functions of both a provincial branch of a national party and a provincial party.
-==Origins==
 The party is descended from the pre-[[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]] Reformers in [[Nova Scotia]] who coalesced around [[Joseph Howe]] demanding the institution of [[responsible government]]. The Liberals (Reformers) formed several governments in the colony between 1848 and 1867.
@@ Line 69: / Line 70: @@
 ==Recent history==
 From 1956, the Tories gained significant ground with [[Robert Stanfield]]'s reformation of the "[[Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia|Progressive Conservatives]]", and have successfully challenged the Liberals for control of the government. The Liberals faltered in the province at the beginning of the 21st century, and for a time were the third-largest party in the House of Assembly, behind the Tories and the [[Nova Scotia New Democratic Party]]. After the Nova Scotia Liberal Party's dismal performance in the [[2006 Nova Scotia general election|2006 election]] (and failing to win his own seat), leader [[Francis MacKenzie]] announced his resignation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mackenzie-steps-down-as-liberal-leader-1.627013 |title=MacKenzie steps down as Liberal leader |publisher=CBC News |date=June 20, 2006 |access-date=2013-10-09}}</ref> He was succeeded by [[Stephen McNeil]].  In the [[2009 Nova Scotia general election|2009 election]], the Liberals moved out of third-party status and formed the [[official opposition]] once again.  In the [[2013 Nova Scotia general election|2013 election]], the Liberals won a majority government, their first since the [[1993 Nova Scotia general election|1993 election]] under [[John Savage (Nova Scotia politician)|John Savage]], and took office for the first time in 14 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nsvotes2013/stephen-mcneil-leads-liberals-to-majority-in-nova-scotia-1.1929962 |title=Stephen McNeil leads Liberals to majority in Nova Scotia |publisher=CBC News |date=October 8, 2013 |access-date=2013-10-09}}</ref> Under McNeil, a self-described [[fiscal conservative]], the party pushed for balanced provincial budgets and took a firm stance against public sector unions.<ref name="Liberal Premier Stephen McNeil: Nova Scotia's soft-spoken fiscal hawk">{{cite news|agency=The Canadian Press|work=The Chronicle Herald|title=Liberal Premier Stephen McNeil: Nova Scotia's soft-spoken fiscal hawk|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/nsvotes/1464420-liberal-premier-stephen-mcneil-nova-scotias-soft-spoken-fiscal-hawk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204062340/http://thechronicleherald.ca/nsvotes/1464420-liberal-premier-stephen-mcneil-nova-scotias-soft-spoken-fiscal-hawk|archive-date=December 4, 2017}}</ref>
-The Nova Scotia Liberals are the provincial section of the federal [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. The two parties have a shared membership, and Liberal [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]] often become Liberal [[Member of the Legislative Assembly|Members of the Legislative Assembly]], and vice versa. [[Gerald Regan]], for instance, became leader of the provincial party after serving as a Liberal MP. He joined the federal Liberal government after serving as [[Premier (Canada)|premier]] of Nova Scotia. [[Angus Lewis Macdonald|Angus L. Macdonald]], the province's most storied Liberal premier, split his term into two by spending five years as a federal Liberal cabinet minister in the wartime government of [[William Lyon Mackenzie King]].
 In the [[2009 Nova Scotia general election|2009 election]], [[Stephen McNeil]] led the Liberals to [[Opposition (parliamentary)|Official Opposition]] status, winning 11 seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/liberals-see-gains-form-nova-scotia-s-official-opposition-1.854521|title=Liberals see gains, form Nova Scotia's Official Opposition|publisher=CBC News|date=June 9, 2009|access-date=February 10, 2014}}</ref>
@@ Line 78: / Line 77: @@
 In the [[2017 Nova Scotia general election|2017 election]], the McNeil Liberals retained a reduced majority of 27 seats in the legislature.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gorman|first1=Michael|title=Liberals score back-to-back majorities in Nova Scotia nail-biter|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/provincial-election-liberals-mcneil-wins-vote-1.4138000|access-date=30 June 2017|agency=CBC News}}</ref>
-On August 6, 2020, McNeil announced he would step down as party leader and that he would continue to act as premier and as the party's leader until a replacement was found.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grant |first1=Taryn |title=Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil to step down after 17 years in politics |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-premier-stephen-mcneil-stepping-down-1.5676453 |website=CBC News |access-date=20 August 2020}}</ref> On February 23, 2021, Rankin became the 29th Premier of Nova Scotia, replacing McNeil, following a [[2021 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election|leadership election]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Doucette |first1=Keith |title=Premier Iain Rankin, new Nova Scotia cabinet sworn in by lieutenant-governor |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/premier-iain-rankin-new-nova-scotia-cabinet-sworn-in-by-lieutenant-governor-1.5320169 |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=Atlantic |publisher=Bell Media |date=23 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Rankin called a [[2021 Nova Scotia general election|snap election]] for August 17, 2021, which his Liberal Party lost.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/bad-campaign-leader-who-didn-t-connect-with-voters-led-to-n-s-liberal-loss-experts-1.5552298|title=Bad campaign, leader who didn't connect with voters led to N.S. Liberal loss: Experts|date=18 August 2021}}</ref> Rankin was personally re-elected in [[Timberlea-Prospect]].<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.thestar.com/politics/2021/08/17/cp-newsalert-nova-scotia-liberal-leader-iain-rankin-wins-timberlea-prospect-riding.html| title = Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Iain Rankin wins Timberlea-Prospect riding {{!}} The Star| newspaper = The Toronto Star| date = 17 August 2021}} </ref> In the wake of the defeat, Rankin stepped down as leader. [[Yarmouth (provincial electoral district)|Yarmouth]] MLA [[Zach Churchill]] was elected leader of the Liberal Party in the [[2022 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election|2022 leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-09 |title=Nova Scotia Liberals elect new leader Zach Churchill to replace ex-premier Iain Rankin |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-scotia-liberals-to-elect-new-leader-to-replace-ex-premier-rankin-1.5981146 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Atlantic |language=en}}</ref>
+On August 6, 2020, McNeil announced he would step down as party leader and that he would continue to act as premier and as the party's leader until a replacement was found.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grant |first1=Taryn |title=Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil to step down after 17 years in politics |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-premier-stephen-mcneil-stepping-down-1.5676453 |website=CBC News |access-date=20 August 2020}}</ref> On February 23, 2021, Rankin became the 29th Premier of Nova Scotia, replacing McNeil, following a [[2021 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election|leadership election]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Doucette |first1=Keith |title=Premier Iain Rankin, new Nova Scotia cabinet sworn in by lieutenant-governor |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/premier-iain-rankin-new-nova-scotia-cabinet-sworn-in-by-lieutenant-governor/ |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=Atlantic |publisher=Bell Media |date=23 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Rankin called a [[2021 Nova Scotia general election|snap election]] for August 17, 2021, which his Liberal Party lost.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/bad-campaign-leader-who-didnt-connect-with-voters-led-to-ns-liberal-loss-experts/|title=Bad campaign, leader who didn't connect with voters led to N.S. Liberal loss: Experts|date=18 August 2021}}</ref> Rankin was personally re-elected in [[Timberlea-Prospect]].<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.thestar.com/politics/2021/08/17/cp-newsalert-nova-scotia-liberal-leader-iain-rankin-wins-timberlea-prospect-riding.html| title = Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Iain Rankin wins Timberlea-Prospect riding {{!}} The Star| newspaper = The Toronto Star| date = 17 August 2021}} </ref> In the wake of the defeat, Rankin stepped down as leader. [[Yarmouth (provincial electoral district)|Yarmouth]] MLA [[Zach Churchill]] was elected leader of the Liberal Party in the [[2022 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election|2022 leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-09 |title=Nova Scotia Liberals elect new leader Zach Churchill to replace ex-premier Iain Rankin |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-scotia-liberals-to-elect-new-leader-to-replace-ex-premier-rankin-1.5981146 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709185656/https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-scotia-liberals-to-elect-new-leader-to-replace-ex-premier-rankin-1.5981146 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Atlantic |language=en}}</ref>
-In the [[2024 Nova Scotia general election|2024 election]], the Liberals suffered their worst defeat in history, winning only two seats total.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=N.S. Liberals lose official opposition status amid several electoral defeats |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/more/n-s-liberals-lose-official-opposition-status-amid-several-electoral-defeats-1.7124831 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=[[CTV News]] |language=en}}</ref> Leader [[Zach Churchill]] lost his own seat,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-27 |title=N.S. Liberal Leader loses seat to PC candidate, trails just 14 votes |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/n-s-liberal-leader-loses-seat-to-pc-candidate-trails-just-14-votes-1.7125316 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Atlantic |language=en}}</ref> and resigned from his position as leader two weeks later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zach Churchill stepping down as leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party - Halifax {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10910343/zach-churchill-stepping-down-as-leader-of-the-nova-scotia-liberal-party/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref>
+In the [[2024 Nova Scotia general election|2024 election]], the Liberals suffered their worst defeat in history, winning only two seats total.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=N.S. Liberals lose official opposition status amid several electoral defeats |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/more/n-s-liberals-lose-official-opposition-status-amid-several-electoral-defeats-1.7124831 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127202409/https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/more/n-s-liberals-lose-official-opposition-status-amid-several-electoral-defeats-1.7124831 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2024 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=[[CTV News]] |language=en}}</ref> Leader [[Zach Churchill]] lost his own seat,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-27 |title=N.S. Liberal Leader loses seat to PC candidate, trails just 14 votes |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/ns-liberal-leader-loses-seat-to-pc-candidate-trails-just-14-votes/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Atlantic |language=en}}</ref> and resigned from his position as leader two weeks later, and [[Derek Mombourquette]] became the interim leader.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zach Churchill stepping down as leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party - Halifax {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10910343/zach-churchill-stepping-down-as-leader-of-the-nova-scotia-liberal-party/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/liberal-party-zach-churchill-derek-mombourquette-1.7406224|title=Zach Churchill steps down and N.S. Liberals begin rebuild effort|publisher=CBC News|date=December 10, 2024|access-date=December 28, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318093752/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/liberal-party-zach-churchill-derek-mombourquette-1.7406224 |archive-date=2025-03-18}}</ref>
+In December 2025, former leader Iain Rankin once again became party leader, taking over the interim role from Mombourquette.<ref name="Rankin2025">{{cite web |last1=Lombard |first1=Natalie |title=Iain Rankin takes over as interim leader of Nova Scotia Liberal Party |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-scotia/article/iain-rankin-takes-over-as-interim-leader-of-nova-scotia-liberal-party/ |website=[[CTV News]] |publisher=[[Bell Media]] |access-date=10 December 2025 |date=8 December 2025}}</ref>
 == Current elected politicians ==
@@ Line 130: / Line 131: @@
 * [[Michel Samson]] (2006–2007) (''interim'')
 * '''[[Stephen McNeil]]''' (2007–2021)
-* '''[[Iain Rankin]]''' (2021–2022)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rankin|first=Iain|date=2021-02-06|title=Premier-designate Iain Rankin delivers his first speech as Leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party|url=https://twitter.com/IainTRankin/status/1358185659266072578|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Twitter}}</ref>
+* '''[[Iain Rankin]]''' (2021–2022)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rankin|first=Iain|date=2021-02-06|title=Premier-designate Iain Rankin delivers his first speech as Leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party|url=https://twitter.com/IainTRankin/status/1358185659266072578|access-date=|website=Twitter}}</ref>
 * [[Zach Churchill]] (2022–2024)<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1545912748919476225|user=zachchurchill|title=Today is a new day for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. Members from across our Province put their confidence in me to revive our Party and win back the trust of Nova Scotians. I’m excited to move forward, united, as one Party, with one goal: moving Nova Scotia forward. #nspoli|date=9 July 2022|author=Churchill, Zach|access-date=9 July 2022}}</ref>
-* [[Derek Mombourquette]] (2024–present) (''interim'')<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 10, 2024|title=Zach Churchill stepping down as leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party|work=CTV News|url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/zach-churchill-stepping-down-as-leader-of-the-nova-scotia-liberal-party-1.7139908|access-date=December 10, 2024|agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref>
+* [[Derek Mombourquette]] (2024–2025) (''interim'')<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 10, 2024|title=Zach Churchill stepping down as leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party|work=CTV News|url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/zach-churchill-stepping-down-as-leader-of-the-nova-scotia-liberal-party-1.7139908|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210145710/https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/zach-churchill-stepping-down-as-leader-of-the-nova-scotia-liberal-party-1.7139908|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 10, 2024|access-date=December 10, 2024|agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref>
+* [[Iain Rankin]] (2025–present) (''interim'')<ref name="Rankin2025"/>
 ==Electoral performance==
@@ Line 153: / Line 155: @@
 | {{increase}} 21
 | {{increase}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1871 Nova Scotia general election|1871]]
@@ Line 161: / Line 163: @@
 | {{decrease}} 12
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1874 Nova Scotia general election|1874]]
@@ Line 170: / Line 172: @@
 | {{decrease}} 2
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1878 Nova Scotia general election|1878]]
@@ Line 187: / Line 189: @@
 | {{increase}} 18
 | {{increase}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1886 Nova Scotia general election|1886]]
@@ Line 196: / Line 198: @@
 | {{increase}} 4
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1890 Nova Scotia general election|1890]]
@@ Line 204: / Line 206: @@
 | {{increase}} 1
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1894 Nova Scotia general election|1894]]
@@ Line 212: / Line 214: @@
 | {{decrease}} 4
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1897 Nova Scotia general election|1897]]
@@ Line 221: / Line 223: @@
 | {{increase}} 9
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1901 Nova Scotia general election|1901]]
@@ Line 229: / Line 231: @@
 | {{increase}} 2
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1906 Nova Scotia general election|1906]]
@@ Line 237: / Line 239: @@
 | {{decrease}} 4
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1911 Nova Scotia general election|1911]]
@@ Line 245: / Line 247: @@
 | {{decrease}} 10
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1916 Nova Scotia general election|1916]]
@@ Line 253: / Line 255: @@
 | {{increase}} 5
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1920 Nova Scotia general election|1920]]
@@ Line 261: / Line 263: @@
 | {{decrease}} 2
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1925 Nova Scotia general election|1925]]
@@ Line 288: / Line 290: @@
 | {{increase}} 4
 | {{increase}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1937 Nova Scotia general election|1937]]
@@ Line 296: / Line 298: @@
 | {{increase}} 3
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1941 Nova Scotia general election|1941]]
@@ Line 305: / Line 307: @@
 | {{decrease}} 3
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1945 Nova Scotia general election|1945]]
@@ Line 314: / Line 316: @@
 | {{increase}} 6
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1949 Nova Scotia general election|1949]]
@@ Line 322: / Line 324: @@
 | {{decrease}} 1
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1953 Nova Scotia general election|1953]]
@@ Line 330: / Line 332: @@
 | {{decrease}} 5
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1956 Nova Scotia general election|1956]]
@@ Line 381: / Line 383: @@
 | {{increase}} 8
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1978 Nova Scotia general election|1978]]
@@ Line 424: / Line 426: @@
 | {{increase}} 19
 | {{increase}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[1998 Nova Scotia general election|1998]]
@@ Line 476: / Line 478: @@
 | {{increase}} 22
 | {{increase}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[2017 Nova Scotia general election|2017]]
@@ Line 484: / Line 486: @@
 | {{decrease}} 6
 | {{steady}} 1st
-| {{yes2|Majority}}
+| {{yes|Majority}}
 |-
 ! [[2021 Nova Scotia general election|2021]]
@@ Line 522: / Line 524: @@
 {{Nova Scotia politics}}
 {{Major Canadian Liberal Parties}}
+{{Liberalism in Canada}}
-[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada]]
+[[Category:Nova Scotia Liberal Party| ]]
-[[Category:Provincial political parties in Nova Scotia]]
+[[Category:Provincial political parties in Nova Scotia|Liberal]]
 [[Category:Liberal parties in Canada]]
 [[Category:Centrist parties in Canada]]
+[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada]]

Nova Scotia Liberal Party: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:59, 30 December 2025

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Nova Scotia Liberal Party: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:59, 30 December 2025

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