Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia PCs secure second majority government with re-election win

Nova Scotia voters handed Tim Houston's Progressive Conservatives a second consecutive majority government in Tuesday's provincial election, a formidable outcome aided in part by the stunning collapse of Liberal support.

Premier Tim Houston called a snap election last month, defying his government's own fixed election law

Progressive Conservatives win majority in N.S. election

13 hours ago
Duration 4:25
Celebrations were underway at Tim Houston's campaign headquarters as early votes rolled in shortly after 9 p.m. AT Tuesday.

Nova Scotia voters handed Tim Houston's Progressive Conservatives a second consecutive majority government in Tuesday's provincial election, a formidable outcome aided in part by the stunning collapse of Liberal support.

Houston wore a wide smile as he waded through a packed room of supporters at a community centre near his riding of Pictou East — where he was re-elected — with John Fogerty's Centerfield blasting in the background.

As he took the podium, Houston described being premier "the greatest honour of my life."

He spoke about the many doorsteps Progressive Conservative candidates visited during the election campaign.

"We shared a message with them — a message of positivity and potential," said Houston, flanked by his wife and two children.

"Tonight they have sent us a message, and I received that message loud and clear. Their message is very simple: keep going."

Houston and the Tories were leading or elected in 42 ridings around 9 a.m. Wednesday. The NDP was leading or elected in nine ridings, while the Liberals were leading or elected in four.

A man stands behind a podium with hand extended.
Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston celebrates with his family at the PC Party election headquarters in New Glasgow, N.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)

While Tuesday's big win was bestowed upon the Progressive Conservatives, the NDP also made notable gains. 

The party has remained in third place since falling from power in the 2013 provincial election, but launched into second place on Tuesday, becoming the Official Opposition.

And with that, NDP Leader Claudia Chender is slated to become the first elected female leader of the Opposition.

Speaking to boisterous supporters at a hotel banquet room in Halifax, Chender said the winds of change are blowing in the province.

A woman smiles at a podium in front of a crowd of cheering supporters.
NDP Leader Claudia Chender takes the podium at her party's election night headquarters at a hotel in Halifax following her re-election in Dartmouth South and news the party will form the Official Opposition. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)

"Our vision for a different kind of government has struck a nerve," she said. "The Nova Scotia NDP is on the rise."

Meanwhile, the Liberals suffered devastating losses, losing grip on the bulk of the 16 seats they secured during the last election and falling into third place.

In a speech from his riding of Yarmouth, Liberal Leader Zach Churchill conceded his party's defeat, saying the loss rests squarely on his shoulders.

"Loss is a part of life," said Churchill, saying he will be taking some time to discuss his future. "In life, you can lose, and the most important thing is you get back up, and how you get back up."

On Wednesday morning, Churchill's own fate was still unknown. He and the PC candidate in the riding were in a close race.

A man wearing a suit looks down to the ground as microphones are pointed toward his face.
Liberal Leader Zach Churchill speaks with reporters following his party's poor showing in the Nova Scotia election. Churchill accepted blame for the party's losses, saying it was not the outcome he had hoped for. (CBC)

Independent Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin was re-elected in the riding of Cumberland North, becoming the first Independent politician to win back-to-back elections.

The PC majority is not a surprise. Polls leading up to election day suggested the Tories were far ahead of the NDP and the Liberals.

The results were delayed by one hour on Tuesday evening because one polling station was open later than the rest, since it was late opening Tuesday morning. But the vote count at all other polls started during that hour.

In combination with the province's new e-balloting system, which used electronic tablets for early voting, that meant results poured in quickly once the final poll closed. Within about seven minutes, it was known the Progressive Conservatives would form a majority.

WATCH | Claudia Chender speaks to NDP supporters on election night 

Claudia Chender to lead Official Opposition in N.S. Legislature

12 hours ago
Duration 7:24
Chender will be the first woman elected to be the leader of the Official Opposition in Nova Scotia.

Houston called the snap election on Oct. 27, ignoring his government's own election law, which had set Nova Scotia's very first fixed election date of July 15, 2025. 

Some analysts have said the early election call was to capitalize on the unpopularity of the Trudeau government.

But Houston contended it was to secure a second mandate to continue his party's plans to tackle the major societal issues affecting Nova Scotians, like affordability and housing.

In 2021, his party campaigned and rose to power on a central promise: fixing health care.

This time around, Houston touted his government's accomplishments in that sector to date, including hiring more doctors, and made his case for getting more time to improve the system.

Those three topics — affordability, housing and health care — were indeed pushed by all three main political parties as their top priorities, with some even making similar campaign promises.

WATCH | Zach Churchill speaks to Liberal supporters in Yarmouth, N.S.

'Sometimes you lose': N.S. Liberal Leader Zach Churchill thanks supporters

11 hours ago
Duration 6:15
Churchill says he was proud of the campaign his party ran after big losses on election night.

Experts have said that left voters the challenge of differentiating between the parties and their platforms.

Analysts have also spoken about election fatigue, as voters across the province just went to the polls in October for the municipal elections.

As well, Elections Nova Scotia decided not to issue voter information cards during this provincial election due to the threat of a Canada Post strike that began Nov. 15.

Houston has made a number of clear-cut pledges, including cutting the HST to 14 per cent from 15 per cent, making parking at hospitals free and removing the toll from the Halifax bridges.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aly Thomson

Reporter/Editor

Aly Thomson is an award-winning journalist based in Halifax who loves helping the people of her home province tell their stories. She is particularly interested in issues surrounding justice, education and the entertainment industry. You can email her with tips and feedback at aly.thomson@cbc.ca.

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