3 more Liberals sitting out the next Nova Scotia election

Three more provincial politicians will sit out Nova Scotia's next election: Liberals Tony Ince, Lorelei Nicoll and Rafa DiCostanzo.

Ince, a former cabinet minister and the longest serving MLA of the three, said he wants to spend more time with his loved ones.

"I'm three years away from 70 [years old]. I've had a good run," said Ince. "The people of Cole Harbour have been very, very, very good to me. I'm just done."

Ince said he came to his decision after a discussion with family in Toronto a month ago.

"They said, "Dad, you said you were only going to do two terms — this is now four," said Ince. "Talking to them, looking at the loss of my mom and everything else. I'm just done." 

MLAs call out lack of respect at Province House

Ince said the growing partisan nature of the House also played a factor.

"I don't think there's any real respect for the democratic process anymore," he said.

The MLA for neighbouring Cole Harbour-Dartmouth, Lorelei Nicoll, also noted a growing culture of "disrespect" at Province House in a news release issued by the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia.

"I believe it has gotten in the way of advocating for Nova Scotians," said the statement issued on her behalf. Nicoll has represented Cole Harbour-Dartmouth since 2021, but was a local municipal councillor for 12 years before that.

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DiCostanzo called the decision to sit out the next election "heartbreaking." She planned to run in July 2025 — the fixed election date — but with an election call seemingly imminent, DiCostanzo said she isn't healthy enough to spend a month campaigning now.

She underwent breast cancer treatment that ended a year ago, on Oct. 20, 2023.

"Honestly I was on the fence because of my health," DiCostanzo told CBC News. "My energy is still not 100 per cent."

She said she was "very upset" knowing an election could be around the corner.

"I have not slept," said DiCostanzo. "I've been up at 2 a.m. every night.

"It's been tough because I wanted to run, but my body isn't ready. It can't do it."

There are now a total of 11 MLAs sitting out the next election: five Liberals, five Progressive Conservatives and one New Democrat. Former NDP Leader Gary Burrill is retiring from politics.