1998 Nova Scotia general election

Canadian provincial election September 2023 1998 Nova Scotia general election Nova Scotia parliamentary no no 1993 Nova Scotia general election 1993 56th General Assembly of Nova Scotia March 24, 1998 members 1999 Nova Scotia general election 1999 52 seats of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly 27 69.47% 5.92pp 150x150px NS Liberal nohash Russell MacLellan July 12, 1997 NS Liberal name Cape Breton North 40 19 21 158,380 35.10% 13.86pp 150x150px NS NDP nohash Robert Chisholm March 30, 1996 NS NDP name Halifax Atlantic 3 19 16 155,361 34.43% 16.71pp 150x150px NS PC nohash John Hamm October 28, 1995 NS PC name Pictou Centre 9 14 5 133,540 29.60% 1.49pp 1998 Nova Scotia Election.png 300px Riding map of Nova Scotia showing winning parties Premier Russell MacLellan NS Liberal name Russell MacLellan Premier after election NS Liberal name 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.MacLellan New NS Premier Maclean's - July 21, 1997 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.A Savage sweep in Nova Scotia CBC Archives 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."Lawn signs for politicians in Canada tough to perfect, says Graham Steele CBC News 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.'It went very well' Halifax Chronicle Herald - March 6, 1998 MacLellan blamed the pause on rigid debate rules. This moment marked a turning point in a race that saw the Liberals barely retain power.Press Michael MacDonald-The Canadian 2013-09-24 N.S. election: Leaders hoping to avoid costly gaffes during upcoming debate https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/ns-election-leaders-hoping-to-avoid-costly-gaffes-during-upcoming-debate/ 2025-07-05 CTVNews en Opinion polls + Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level Polling firmLast day of survey Source LANS NSNDP PCNS Other ME Margin of Error SampleElection 1998March 24, 199835.1034.4329.600.29OmnifactsJanuary 1994N.S. Liberals top poll January 24, 1994 The Globe and Mail N3602416Election 1993May 25, 199348.9617.7231.091.53 Results Results by party + ↓ 19 19 14 Liberal New Democratic Progressive Conservative +Official results Summary, by Electoral District and Party, of Valid Votes Cast- 1998 https://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/Votes_0.pdf Elections Nova Scotia November 11, 2021Elections Returns 1998 Recapitulation https://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/RECAPS1998.pdf Elections Nova Scotia November 11, 2021PartyParty leader# ofcandidatesSeatsPopular vote1993DissolutionElectedChange#%Change (pp) NS Liberal rowLiberalRussell MacLellan52403519-21158,38035.10%-13.86% NS NDP rowNew DemocraticRobert Chisholm523419+16155,36134.43%+16.71% NS PC rowProgressive ConservativeJohn Hamm529914+5133,54029.60%-1.49% NS Independent rowIndependent700001,3250.29%-0.90% Vacant2 Total valid votes448,60699.43%+0.13%Blank and invalid ballots2,5780.57%-0.13%Total163525252–451,184100.00%–Registered voters / turnout649,53669.47%-5.92% Popular vote #ddd 600px 410px Liberal NS Liberal 35.10 New Democratic NS NDP 34.43 PC NS PC 29.60 Independent NS Independent 0.29Seats summary #ddd 600px 410px Liberal NS Liberal 36.54 New Democratic NS NDP 36.54 PC NS PC 26.92 Results by region Party nameHRMC.B.ValleyS. ShoreFundyCentralTotalParties winning seats in the legislature: NS Liberal rowLiberal Seats:47321219 NS Liberal row Popular vote: 34.46%44.91%32.54%35.30%29.31%31.42%35.34% NS NDP rowNew Democratic Party Seats:133-11119 NS NDP row Popular vote: 43.94%38.02%25.44%28.09%25.57%27.41%34.61% NS PC rowProgressive Conservative Seats:--444214 NS PC row Popular vote: 21.47%16.16%41.66%36.46%44.98%41.17%29.75%Parties not winning seats in the legislature: NS Independent rowIndependents Popular vote: 0.13%0.91%0.36%0.15%0.14%-0.30%Total seats: 1710776552 Retiring incumbents Liberal Jay Abbass, Halifax Chebucto Guy Brown, Cumberland South Bob Carruthers, Hants East Bill Gillis, Antigonish Charles MacArthur, Inverness John MacEachern, Cape Breton East Russell MacNeil, Cape Breton Centre Earle Rafuse, Annapolis Dennis Richards, Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage John Savage, Dartmouth South Progressive Conservative Donald P. McInnes, Pictou West Nominated candidates Legend bold denotes party leader † denotes an incumbent who is not running for re-election or was defeated in nomination contest Valley NS Liberal PC NDP Independent |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Annapolis |NS Liberal background| |Laurie Montgomery3,44836.96% | |Basil Stewart 3,19834.28% | |John Kinsella2,46826.46% | |Bob Mann 2152.30% |NS Liberal background| |Earle Rafuse † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Clare |NS Liberal background| |Wayne Gaudet2,95047.28% | |Guy LeBlanc2,57841.32% | |Vanessa Paddock71111.40% | | |NS Liberal background| |Wayne Gaudet |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Digby—Annapolis | |John Drish 2,23233.71% |NS PC background| |Gordon Balser2,46537.22% | |Steve Downes1,92529.07% | | |NS Liberal background| |Joseph H. Casey† |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Hants West | |Debbi Bowes 2,59627.35% |NS PC background| |Ron Russell4,50747.48% | |Dana Harvey 2,39025.18% | | |NS PC background| |Ron Russell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings North | |Jennifer Foster2,45727.09% |NS PC background| |George Archibald3,76041.45% | |Neil H. McNeil 2,85431.46% | | |NS PC background| |George Archibald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings South |NS Liberal background| |Robbie Harrison3,65036.46% | |David Morse3,06930.65% | |Mary DeWolfe3,29332.89% | | |NS Liberal background| |Robbie Harrison |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings West | |Baden Thurber1,68420.60% |NS PC background| |George Moody5,07562.09% | |Jacquie DeMestral1,41417.30% | | |NS PC background| |George Moody |} South Shore NS Liberal PC NDP Independent |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Argyle | |Allister Surette1,89133.47% |NS PC background| |Neil LeBlanc3,02853.59% | |Diane E. Cromwell65111.52% | |Oscar Harris 801.42% |NS Liberal background| |Allister Surette |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Chester—St. Margaret's | |Jim Barkhouse3,15334.10% |NS PC background| |Hinrich Bitter-Suermann3,25635.22% | |Doris Maley2,83730.68% | | |NS Liberal background| |Jim Barkhouse |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Lunenburg | |Lila O'Connor3,09934.62% |NS PC background| |Michael Baker3,23136.10% | |Marilyn B. Crook2,62129.28% | | |NS Liberal background| |Lila O'Connor |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Lunenburg West |NS Liberal background| |Don Downe4,36447.95% | |Lou Centa2,02722.27% | |Eric Hustvedt2,71129.78% | | |NS Liberal background| |Don Downe |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Queens | |Tery Doucette 2,07231.42% |NS PC background| |John Leefe3,58254.32% | |Basil L. Giffin94014.26% | | |NS PC background| |John Leefe |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Shelburne |NS Liberal background| |Clifford Huskilson3,14438.57% | |Cecil O'Donnell2,83534.78% | |Derek Jones2,17326.66% | | |NS Liberal background| |Clifford Huskilson |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Yarmouth | |Richie Hubbard2,21225.22% | |Alex McIntosh2,62929.97% |NS NDP background| |John Deveau3,93144.81% | | |NS Liberal background| |Richie Hubbard |} Fundy-Northeast NS Liberal PC NDP Independent |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley | |Dick Steeves1,58718.31% |NS PC background| |Brooke Taylor5,12259.08% | |Jim Harpell1,96022.61% | | |NS PC background| |Brooke Taylor |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Colchester North |NS Liberal background| |Ed Lorraine3,30139.13% | |Andy Williamson 2,51129.77% | |Janet Maybee2,62331.10% | | |NS Liberal background| |Ed Lorraine |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cumberland North | |Russell Scott2,43827.89% |NS PC background| |Ernie Fage5,45162.35% | |Peter Stewart8549.77% | | |NS PC background| |Ernie Fage |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cumberland South | |Mike Uberoi2,15326.81% |NS PC background| |Murray Scott4,71458.69% | |Sandy Graham 1,08913.56% | |James MacLeod760.95% |NS Liberal background| |Guy Brown † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Hants East | |Jim W. Smith3,37735.32% | |Lawrin Armstrong2,01021.02% |NS NDP background| |John MacDonell4,17543.66% | | |NS Liberal background| |Bob Carruthers † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Truro—Bible Hill | |Eleanor Norrie2,56027.94% |NS PC background| |Jamie Muir3,85242.03% | |Ibel Scammell2,75230.03% | | |NS Liberal background| |Eleanor Norrie |} Central Halifax NS Liberal PC NDP Independent |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Bedford Basin |NS Liberal background| |Gerry Fogarty4,24640.10% | |Michael Maddalena 2,53023.89% | |Errol Gaum3,81336.01% | | |NS Liberal background| |Gerry Fogarty |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Chebucto | |Kenzie MacKinnon3,16535.51% | |Sean Phillips1,59017.84% |NS NDP background| |Howard Epstein4,15846.65% | | |NS Liberal background| |Jay Abbass † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Citadel | |Ed Kinley4,37739.53% | |Tara Erskine2,17519.64% |NS NDP background| |Peter Delefes4,41439.87% | |Art Canning1060.96% |NS Liberal background| |Ed Kinley |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Fairview | |Bob Britton2,59730.03% | |Brian Nash 1,40216.21% |NS NDP background| |Eileen O'Connell4,64953.76% | | |NS NDP background| |Eileen O'Connell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Needham | |Gerry O'Malley2,50630.31% | |Artho Kartsaklis92411.18% |NS NDP background| |Maureen MacDonald4,83758.51% | | |NS Liberal background| |Gerry O'Malley |} Suburban Halifax NS Liberal PC NDP Independent |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Bedford—Fall River |NS Liberal background| |Francene Cosman4,20537.58% | |Peter Christie3,89234.79% | |Marvin Silver 3,09127.63% | | |NS Liberal background| |Francene Cosman |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Atlantic | |Darren Watts 2,81829.31% | |Jeff Campbell1,34013.94% |NS NDP background| |Robert Chisholm5,36455.79% | |Golda M. Redden930.97% |NS NDP background| |Robert Chisholm |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Sackville—Beaver Bank | |Bill MacDonald3,12833.16% | |Stephen Taylor2,48526.34% |NS NDP background| |Rosemary Godin3,82140.50% | | |NS Liberal background| |Bill MacDonald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Sackville—Cobequid | |Jack Brill2,13122.61% | |Rob Batherson1,38314.68% |NS NDP background| |John Holm5,90962.71% | | |NS NDP background| |John Holm |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Timberlea—Prospect | |Bruce Holland3,30833.34% | |Tom Robertson1,85218.67% |NS NDP background| |Bill Estabrooks4,76247.99% | | |NS Liberal background| |Bruce Holland |- |} Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore NS Liberal PC NDP Independent |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cole Harbour—Eastern Passage | |Randy Anstey3,30334.25% | |Linda DeGrace1,93120.02% |NS NDP background| |Kevin Deveaux4,41145.73% | | |NS Liberal background| |Dennis Richards † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth—Cole Harbour | |Alan Mitchell2,98633.98% | |Michael L. MacDonald2,08423.72% |NS NDP background| |Darrell Dexter3,71742.30% | | |NS Liberal background| |Alan Mitchell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth East |NS Liberal background| |Jim Smith 3,32640.92% | |Ralph Hawley1,84922.75% | |Viola Huntington2,95436.34% | | |NS Liberal background| |Jim Smith |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth North | |Gloria McClusky2,57533.87% | |Mike Brownlow 2,00326.35% |NS NDP background| |Jerry Pye3,02439.78% | | |NS Vacant background| |Vacant |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth South | |Bruce Hetherington3,16435.40% | |Allan Billard 2,09923.48% |NS NDP background| |Don Chard3,67641.12% | | |NS Liberal background| |John Savage † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Eastern Shore |NS Liberal background| |Keith Colwell3,29938.49% | |Greg Brown2,47228.84% | |Darren Richard2,80132.68% | | |NS Liberal background| |Keith Colwell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Preston | |Wayne Adams1,54837.45% | |Ross D. Isenor 80919.57% |NS NDP background| |Yvonne Atwell1,77742.99% | | |NS Liberal background| |Wayne Adams |} Central Nova NS Liberal PC NDP Independent |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Antigonish |NS Liberal background| |Hyland Fraser 4,64941.55% | |Andrew MacNeil3,55431.76% | |Maurice Smith2,98626.69% | | |NS Liberal background| |Bill Gillis † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Guysborough—Port Hawkesbury |NS Liberal background| |Ray White3,43842.81% | |Ron Chisholm2,71733.83% | |Wendy Panagopoulos1,87623.36% | | |NS Liberal background| |Ray White |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou Centre | |Roseanne Skoke2,11423.68% |NS PC background| |John Hamm5,03756.42% | |Judy Hughes1,77619.89% | | |NS PC background| |John Hamm |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou East | |Wayne Fraser2,20826.52% |NS PC background| |James DeWolfe3,81645.83% | |David MacKenzie2,30227.65% | | |NS Liberal background| |Wayne Fraser |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou West | |Rob McDowell1,63319.89% | |Luke Young3,27339.86% |NS NDP background| |Charlie Parker3,30640.26% | | |NS PC background| |Donald P. McInnes† |} Cape Breton NS Liberal PC NDP Independent |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton Centre | |Steve Drake2,43528.61% | |Julien Frison5766.77% |NS NDP background| |Frank Corbett5,49964.62% | | |NS Liberal background| |Russell MacNeil † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton East | |Clarence Routledge2,85930.06% | |Henry Boutillier1,65117.36% |NS NDP background| |Reeves Matheson5,00252.59% | | |NS Liberal background| |John MacEachern † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton North |NS Liberal background| |Russell MacLellan 4,66650.13% | |Murray Johnston1,85319.91% | |Archie MacKinnon2,78929.96% | | |NS Liberal background| |Russell MacLellan |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton Nova |NS Liberal background| |Paul MacEwan3,94453.98% | |Walter Hagen3124.27% | |Lou Surette3,05041.75% | | |NS Liberal background| |Paul MacEwan |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton South |NS Liberal background| |Manning MacDonald5,11860.30% | |Anna Steele86110.14% | |Ed Murphy2,50829.55% | | |NS Liberal background| |Manning MacDonald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton—The Lakes | |Allan Henderson3,70742.29% | |Rollie Clarke4855.53% |NS NDP background| |Helen MacDonald4,57352.17% | | |NS NDP background| |Helen MacDonald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton West |NS Liberal background| |Russell MacKinnon4,52844.05% | |Alfie MacLeod2,81827.42% | |Brian Slaney2,93328.53% | | |NS PC background| |Alfie MacLeod |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Inverness |NS Liberal background| |Charlie MacDonald4,39647.83% | |Randy MacDonald1,95121.23% | |Maria Coady2,27424.74% | |Ed MacDonald5696.19% |NS Liberal background| |Charles MacArthur † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Richmond |NS Liberal background| |Michel Samson3,23048.40% | |Frank Sutherland1,39220.86% | |Wilma Conrod2,05130.74% | | |NS Vacant background| |Vacant |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Victoria |NS Liberal background| |Kennie MacAskill2,40548.08% | |Dan Chiasson1,52430.47% | |Ruth Schneider88717.73% | |Stemer MacLeod 1863.72% |NS Liberal background| |Kennie MacAskill |} References External links 1998 Campaign News Archived from Halifax Chronicle Herald 1998 Nova Scotia general election General election Nova Scotia general election