1998 Nova Scotia general election

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The 1998 Nova Scotia general election was held on March 24, 1998, to elect members of the 57th House of Assembly of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Liberal party and the New Democratic Party tied in the seat count, with 19 each, while the Progressive Conservatives won 14 seats. The Liberals went on to form a minority government with the support of the Progressive Conservatives.

Background

Liberal Premier John Savage was elected in a landslide in 1993. The Liberals inherited a $471-million deficit, and launched an austerity program which cut the province's health and education systems.[1] On April 1, 1997, the provincial government imposed a 15% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) which merged the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). This shift angered some Nova Scotians who now had to pay taxes on things that had previously been exempted, such as home heating fuel. Savage also implemented an unpopular highway toll. Liberal party infighting eventually resulted in Savage's resignation in July 1997.[2] Russell MacLellan became Premier of Nova Scotia on July 18, 1997.

Campaign

The governing Liberals were desperate to distance themselves from the Savage government which was viewed as deeply unpopular. New leader, Russell MacLellan, was made the focus of the campaign with all Liberal candidates signs displaying the phrase, "the MacLellan Liberals."[3]

During a televised debate on March 5, 1998, MacLellan stumbled badly when Progressive Conservative Leader John Hamm asked if he would resign if he failed to bring in a balanced budget. Instead of responding, MacLellan stared straight ahead and did not speak for seven seconds.[4] MacLellan blamed the pause on rigid debate rules. This moment marked a turning point in a race that saw the Liberals barely retain power.[5]

Opinion polls

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firm Last day
of survey
Source LANS NSNDP PCNS Other ME Sample
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"| style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"| style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"| style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"|
Election 1998 March 24, 1998 35.10 34.43 29.60 0.29
Omnifacts January 1994 [6] 60 24 16
Election 1993 May 25, 1993 48.96 17.72 31.09 1.53

Results

Results by party

19 19 14
Liberal New Democratic Progressive Conservative
Official results [7][8]
Party Party leader # of
candidates
Seats Popular vote
1993 Dissolution Elected Change # % Change (pp)

Template:Canadian party colour

Liberal Russell MacLellan 52 40 35 19 -21 158,380 35.10% -13.86%

Template:Canadian party colour

New Democratic Robert Chisholm 52 3 4 19 +16 155,361 34.43% +16.71%

Template:Canadian party colour

Progressive Conservative John Hamm 52 9 9 14 +5 133,540 29.60% -1.49%

Template:Canadian party colour

Independent 7 0 0 0 0 1,325 0.29% -0.90%
  Vacant 2  
Total valid votes 448,606 99.43% +0.13%
Blank and invalid ballots 2,578 0.57% -0.13%
Total 163 52 52 52 451,184 100.00%
Registered voters / turnout 649,536 69.47% -5.92%
Popular vote
Liberal
35.10%
New Democratic
34.43%
PC
29.60%
Independent
0.29%
Seats summary
Liberal
36.54%
New Democratic
36.54%
PC
26.92%

Results by region

Party name HRM C.B. Valley S. Shore Fundy Central Total
Parties winning seats in the legislature:

Template:Canadian party colour

Liberal Seats: 4 7 3 2 1 2 19

Template:Canadian party colour

Popular vote: 34.46% 44.91% 32.54% 35.30% 29.31% 31.42% 35.34%

Template:Canadian party colour

New Democratic Party Seats: 13 3 - 1 1 1 19

Template:Canadian party colour

Popular vote: 43.94% 38.02% 25.44% 28.09% 25.57% 27.41% 34.61%

Template:Canadian party colour

Progressive Conservative Seats: - - 4 4 4 2 14

Template:Canadian party colour

Popular vote: 21.47% 16.16% 41.66% 36.46% 44.98% 41.17% 29.75%
Parties not winning seats in the legislature:

Template:Canadian party colour

Independents Popular vote: 0.13% 0.91% 0.36% 0.15% 0.14% - 0.30%
Total seats: 17 10 7 7 6 5 52

Retiring incumbents

Liberal
Progressive Conservative

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 Incumbent
colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour
Annapolis Template:Canadian party colour| Laurie Montgomery
3,448
36.96%
Basil Stewart
3,198
34.28%
John Kinsella
2,468
26.46%
Bob Mann
215
2.30%
Template:Canadian party colour| Earle Rafuse
Clare Template:Canadian party colour| Wayne Gaudet
2,950
47.28%
Guy LeBlanc
2,578
41.32%
Vanessa Paddock
711
11.40%
Template:Canadian party colour| Wayne Gaudet
Digby—Annapolis John Drish
2,232
33.71%
Template:Canadian party colour| Gordon Balser
2,465
37.22%
Steve Downes
1,925
29.07%
Template:Canadian party colour| Joseph H. Casey
Hants West Debbi Bowes
2,596
27.35%
Template:Canadian party colour| Ron Russell
4,507
47.48%
Dana Harvey
2,390
25.18%
Template:Canadian party colour| Ron Russell
Kings North Jennifer Foster
2,457
27.09%
Template:Canadian party colour| George Archibald
3,760
41.45%
Neil H. McNeil
2,854
31.46%
Template:Canadian party colour| George Archibald
Kings South Template:Canadian party colour| Robbie Harrison
3,650
36.46%
David Morse
3,069
30.65%
Mary DeWolfe
3,293
32.89%
Template:Canadian party colour| Robbie Harrison
Kings West Baden Thurber
1,684
20.60%
Template:Canadian party colour| George Moody
5,075
62.09%
Jacquie DeMestral
1,414
17.30%
Template:Canadian party colour| George Moody

South Shore

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour
Argyle Allister Surette
1,891
33.47%
Template:Canadian party colour| Neil LeBlanc
3,028
53.59%
Diane E. Cromwell
651
11.52%
Oscar Harris
80
1.42%
Template:Canadian party colour| Allister Surette
Chester—St. Margaret's Jim Barkhouse
3,153
34.10%
Template:Canadian party colour| Hinrich Bitter-Suermann
3,256
35.22%
Doris Maley
2,837
30.68%
Template:Canadian party colour| Jim Barkhouse
Lunenburg Lila O'Connor
3,099
34.62%
Template:Canadian party colour| Michael Baker
3,231
36.10%
Marilyn B. Crook
2,621
29.28%
Template:Canadian party colour| Lila O'Connor
Lunenburg West Template:Canadian party colour| Don Downe
4,364
47.95%
Lou Centa
2,027
22.27%
Eric Hustvedt
2,711
29.78%
Template:Canadian party colour| Don Downe
Queens Tery Doucette
2,072
31.42%
Template:Canadian party colour| John Leefe
3,582
54.32%
Basil L. Giffin
940
14.26%
Template:Canadian party colour| John Leefe
Shelburne Template:Canadian party colour| Clifford Huskilson
3,144
38.57%
Cecil O'Donnell
2,835
34.78%
Derek Jones
2,173
26.66%
Template:Canadian party colour| Clifford Huskilson
Yarmouth Richie Hubbard
2,212
25.22%
Alex McIntosh
2,629
29.97%
Template:Canadian party colour| John Deveau
3,931
44.81%
Template:Canadian party colour| Richie Hubbard

Fundy-Northeast

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour
Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley Dick Steeves
1,587
18.31%
Template:Canadian party colour| Brooke Taylor
5,122
59.08%
Jim Harpell
1,960
22.61%
Template:Canadian party colour| Brooke Taylor
Colchester North Template:Canadian party colour| Ed Lorraine
3,301
39.13%
Andy Williamson
2,511
29.77%
Janet Maybee
2,623
31.10%
Template:Canadian party colour| Ed Lorraine
Cumberland North Russell Scott
2,438
27.89%
Template:Canadian party colour| Ernie Fage
5,451
62.35%
Peter Stewart
854
9.77%
Template:Canadian party colour| Ernie Fage
Cumberland South Mike Uberoi
2,153
26.81%
Template:Canadian party colour| Murray Scott
4,714
58.69%
Sandy Graham
1,089
13.56%
James MacLeod
76
0.95%
Template:Canadian party colour| Guy Brown
Hants East Jim W. Smith
3,377
35.32%
Lawrin Armstrong
2,010
21.02%
Template:Canadian party colour| John MacDonell
4,175
43.66%
Template:Canadian party colour| Bob Carruthers
Truro—Bible Hill Eleanor Norrie
2,560
27.94%
Template:Canadian party colour| Jamie Muir
3,852
42.03%
Ibel Scammell
2,752
30.03%
Template:Canadian party colour| Eleanor Norrie

Central Halifax

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour
Halifax Bedford Basin Template:Canadian party colour| Gerry Fogarty
4,246
40.10%
Michael Maddalena
2,530
23.89%
Errol Gaum
3,813
36.01%
Template:Canadian party colour| Gerry Fogarty
Halifax Chebucto Kenzie MacKinnon
3,165
35.51%
Sean Phillips
1,590
17.84%
Template:Canadian party colour| Howard Epstein
4,158
46.65%
Template:Canadian party colour| Jay Abbass
Halifax Citadel Ed Kinley
4,377
39.53%
Tara Erskine
2,175
19.64%
Template:Canadian party colour| Peter Delefes
4,414
39.87%
Art Canning
106
0.96%
Template:Canadian party colour| Ed Kinley
Halifax Fairview Bob Britton
2,597
30.03%
Brian Nash
1,402
16.21%
Template:Canadian party colour| Eileen O'Connell
4,649
53.76%
Template:Canadian party colour| Eileen O'Connell
Halifax Needham Gerry O'Malley
2,506
30.31%
Artho Kartsaklis
924
11.18%
Template:Canadian party colour| Maureen MacDonald
4,837
58.51%
Template:Canadian party colour| Gerry O'Malley

Suburban Halifax

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour
Bedford—Fall River Template:Canadian party colour| Francene Cosman
4,205
37.58%
Peter Christie
3,892
34.79%
Marvin Silver
3,091
27.63%
Template:Canadian party colour| Francene Cosman
Halifax Atlantic Darren Watts
2,818
29.31%
Jeff Campbell
1,340
13.94%
Template:Canadian party colour| Robert Chisholm
5,364
55.79%
Golda M. Redden
93
0.97%
Template:Canadian party colour| Robert Chisholm
Sackville—Beaver Bank Bill MacDonald
3,128
33.16%
Stephen Taylor
2,485
26.34%
Template:Canadian party colour| Rosemary Godin
3,821
40.50%
Template:Canadian party colour| Bill MacDonald
Sackville—Cobequid Jack Brill
2,131
22.61%
Rob Batherson
1,383
14.68%
Template:Canadian party colour| John Holm
5,909
62.71%
Template:Canadian party colour| John Holm
Timberlea—Prospect Bruce Holland
3,308
33.34%
Tom Robertson
1,852
18.67%
Template:Canadian party colour| Bill Estabrooks
4,762
47.99%
Template:Canadian party colour| Bruce Holland

Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour
Cole Harbour—Eastern Passage Randy Anstey
3,303
34.25%
Linda DeGrace
1,931
20.02%
Template:Canadian party colour| Kevin Deveaux
4,411
45.73%
Template:Canadian party colour| Dennis Richards
Dartmouth—Cole Harbour Alan Mitchell
2,986
33.98%
Michael L. MacDonald
2,084
23.72%
Template:Canadian party colour| Darrell Dexter
3,717
42.30%
Template:Canadian party colour| Alan Mitchell
Dartmouth East Template:Canadian party colour| Jim Smith
3,326
40.92%
Ralph Hawley
1,849
22.75%
Viola Huntington
2,954
36.34%
Template:Canadian party colour| Jim Smith
Dartmouth North Gloria McClusky
2,575
33.87%
Mike Brownlow
2,003
26.35%
Template:Canadian party colour| Jerry Pye
3,024
39.78%
Template:Canadian party colour| Vacant
Dartmouth South Bruce Hetherington
3,164
35.40%
Allan Billard
2,099
23.48%
Template:Canadian party colour| Don Chard
3,676
41.12%
Template:Canadian party colour| John Savage
Eastern Shore Template:Canadian party colour| Keith Colwell
3,299
38.49%
Greg Brown
2,472
28.84%
Darren Richard
2,801
32.68%
Template:Canadian party colour| Keith Colwell
Preston Wayne Adams
1,548
37.45%
Ross D. Isenor
809
19.57%
Template:Canadian party colour| Yvonne Atwell
1,777
42.99%
Template:Canadian party colour| Wayne Adams

Central Nova

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour
Antigonish Template:Canadian party colour| Hyland Fraser
4,649
41.55%
Andrew MacNeil
3,554
31.76%
Maurice Smith
2,986
26.69%
Template:Canadian party colour| Bill Gillis
Guysborough—Port Hawkesbury Template:Canadian party colour| Ray White
3,438
42.81%
Ron Chisholm
2,717
33.83%
Wendy Panagopoulos
1,876
23.36%
Template:Canadian party colour| Ray White
Pictou Centre Roseanne Skoke
2,114
23.68%
Template:Canadian party colour| John Hamm
5,037
56.42%
Judy Hughes
1,776
19.89%
Template:Canadian party colour| John Hamm
Pictou East Wayne Fraser
2,208
26.52%
Template:Canadian party colour| James DeWolfe
3,816
45.83%
David MacKenzie
2,302
27.65%
Template:Canadian party colour| Wayne Fraser
Pictou West Rob McDowell
1,633
19.89%
Luke Young
3,273
39.86%
Template:Canadian party colour| Charlie Parker
3,306
40.26%
Template:Canadian party colour| Donald P. McInnes

Cape Breton

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour colspan="2" style="width:1%; border-right:none;" Template:Canadian party colour
Cape Breton Centre Steve Drake
2,435
28.61%
Julien Frison
576
6.77%
Template:Canadian party colour| Frank Corbett
5,499
64.62%
Template:Canadian party colour| Russell MacNeil
Cape Breton East Clarence Routledge
2,859
30.06%
Henry Boutillier
1,651
17.36%
Template:Canadian party colour| Reeves Matheson
5,002
52.59%
Template:Canadian party colour| John MacEachern
Cape Breton North Template:Canadian party colour| Russell MacLellan
4,666
50.13%
Murray Johnston
1,853
19.91%
Archie MacKinnon
2,789
29.96%
Template:Canadian party colour| Russell MacLellan
Cape Breton Nova Template:Canadian party colour| Paul MacEwan
3,944
53.98%
Walter Hagen
312
4.27%
Lou Surette
3,050
41.75%
Template:Canadian party colour| Paul MacEwan
Cape Breton South Template:Canadian party colour| Manning MacDonald
5,118
60.30%
Anna Steele
861
10.14%
Ed Murphy
2,508
29.55%
Template:Canadian party colour| Manning MacDonald
Cape Breton—The Lakes Allan Henderson
3,707
42.29%
Rollie Clarke
485
5.53%
Template:Canadian party colour| Helen MacDonald
4,573
52.17%
Template:Canadian party colour| Helen MacDonald
Cape Breton West Template:Canadian party colour| Russell MacKinnon
4,528
44.05%
Alfie MacLeod
2,818
27.42%
Brian Slaney
2,933
28.53%
Template:Canadian party colour| Alfie MacLeod
Inverness Template:Canadian party colour| Charlie MacDonald
4,396
47.83%
Randy MacDonald
1,951
21.23%
Maria Coady
2,274
24.74%
Ed MacDonald
569
6.19%
Template:Canadian party colour| Charles MacArthur
Richmond Template:Canadian party colour| Michel Samson
3,230
48.40%
Frank Sutherland
1,392
20.86%
Wilma Conrod
2,051
30.74%
Template:Canadian party colour| Vacant
Victoria Template:Canadian party colour| Kennie MacAskill
2,405
48.08%
Dan Chiasson
1,524
30.47%
Ruth Schneider
887
17.73%
Stemer MacLeod
186
3.72%
Template:Canadian party colour| Kennie MacAskill

References

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  1. MacLellan New NS Premier Maclean's - July 21, 1997
  2. A Savage sweep in Nova Scotia CBC Archives
  3. Lawn signs for politicians in Canada tough to perfect, says Graham Steele CBC News
  4. 'It went very well' Halifax Chronicle Herald - March 6, 1998
  5. N.S. election: Leaders hoping to avoid costly gaffes during upcoming debate CTV News
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External links

Template:NS Elections