Interim N.S. Liberal leader unsure if he wants job permanently as party releases leadership rules
Derek Mombourquette says that's a discussion that would need to happen with his family
Nova Scotia's interim Liberal leader said Monday he hasn't given much thought to whether he wants the job on a permanent basis, as the party released the rules for next year's leadership race.
The new leader will be selected at a convention on Nov. 28, 2026 — two years after the party suffered its most devastating election performance ever and returned to Province House with just two MLAs.
Candidates have until July 28, 2026, to submit their nomination package, but whether that shortlist will include interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette remains to be seen.
"That would be a conversation I would have with my family, which we haven't really talked about at length to date," the MLA for Sydney-Membertou told CBC News.
Electronic and telephone voting for the party's next leader will run Nov. 21-28, 2026, using a preferential ballot.
Leadership candidates must be at least 18 and a member of the Liberal Party — and no other party — and submit a non-refundable nomination fee of $25,000, paid in three instalments, plus a $5,000 compliance deposit. The deposit is returned to the candidate following the election as long as all required financial filings have been made.
The nomination package must include at least 100 signatures from members in good standing, at least 10 of whom are young Liberals. The signatures must also include members from at least 10 different electoral districts and 15 new members of the Angus L. Club, the party's monthly donor program.
All would-be candidates are subject to a greenlighting process before they can be officially considered in the race for leader.
1-member, 1-vote system
Campaigns are subject to a $250,000 expense limit, which includes the value of donated goods and services, but not the nomination fee, compliance deposit or expenses related to accessibility or family. The borrowing limit for each campaign is $30,000.
The election of the new leader will use a one-member, one-vote system, weighted by provincial district.
Each district is worth 100 points, meaning there is a total available 5,500 points based on there being 55 electoral districts. A candidate requires 2,751 points to win the leadership.
If no candidate has that total after the first tabulation, the candidate with the lowest total is dropped and their points are reassigned to another candidate based on the second selection on the ranked ballot.
That process will continue until a candidate reaches 2,751 points.
Former Liberal MLAs Patricia Arab and David Wilton are co-chairing the leadership committee.
Rankin not running
Mombouquette has served as the party's interim leader since last December when Zach Churchill stepped down after losing his seat in the provincial election.
The party's bylaws state that whoever holds the role of interim leader must agree in writing to remain neutral and not run in the election of the party leader.
When Mombourquette took the helm on an interim basis, it was understood he would do so temporarily and at some point the role would shift to Timberlea-Prospect MLA Iain Rankin, the party's other member in Province House.
Rankin, who previously served as premier and party leader until the Progressive Conservatives defeated the Liberals in the 2021 provincial election, told CBC News on Monday that he's not interested in another run at the job.
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