Liberal triumph over NDP caps Nova Scotia run that began in 2013
3 NDP incumbents in the Halifax area soundly defeated by Liberal challengers
The Liberal triumph over the NDP that started with a provincial win in 2013 was completed in Nova Scotia Monday as the party unseated all three New Democrat incumbents in a province-wide federal election sweep.
The Liberals soundly defeated two of the NDP's most popular MPs — Peter Stoffer in Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook and the party's deputy leader Megan Leslie in Halifax.
"It has been an incredible honour to serve the people of Halifax," Leslie told supporters Monday night, with a catch in her voice.
She told reporters there was nothing she could or would have changed about her campaign that would have altered the outcome.
"The feedback I was getting was people were proud of their representation. Obviously that doesn't necessarily translate into votes," she said.
"Sometimes it's not about individual candidates, it's about parties and leaders. I suspect once all the dust has settled that's what happened here."
Reversal of fortunes
The reversal of fortunes was stark in the three metro Halifax seats held by New Democrats entering the election campaign.
Stoffer saw his share of the vote drop from 54 per cent in 2011 to 34 per cent. The Liberals went from 11 per cent in 2011 to 48 per cent for winner Darrell Samson.
Leslie took 52 per cent of the vote in 2011. On Monday she managed just 36 per cent, and Liberal Andy Fillmore beat her by more than 8,000 votes, garnering nearly 54 per cent of the ballots cast.
Robert Chisholm's support slid from 36 per cent in 2011 down to 24 per cent in Dartmouth Cole-Harbour. He lost by more than 17,000 votes to Liberal Darren Fisher.
It was worse for New Democrats in ridings they did not hold. The party was third place in seven ridings — garnering less that 10 per cent in West Nova, Cape Breton-Canso, Cumberland-Colchester and Kings-Hants.
"The tide comes in and the tide comes out. Unfortunately the tide has gone out in this election for the NDP," said former federal NDP leader Alexa McDonough at a glum post-election event for Leslie.
Last of NDP class of '97 now gone
It was McDonough who led the NDP's Nova Scotia federal breakthrough in 1997 when the party won five seats. On Monday night, McDonough watched the breakthrough erased by the Justin Trudeau-led Liberals.
The last of the NDP class of 1997 was Stoffer, who went down to defeat.
New Democrats say they were sideswiped in the rush to the Liberals by a public venting their displeasure with Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.
"This was a referendum on an extraordinary unpopular prime minister," said the NDP's interim provincial leader, Maureen Macdonald. She said Trudeau was a more appealing figure to voters.
"We live in an image age and I think Justin Trudeau's image is very attractive right across the age spectrum," she said.
"People are very much looking for youth and renewal and hope … coupled with the economy is in the toilet and economic issues have never been the NDP's strength."
Leslie says she doesn't know what she will do now, but she ruled out a run for the leadership of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.
"You're hearing it here tonight. I am not seeking the leadership of the provincial NDP," she said.
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