2003 Nova Scotia general election

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox election The 2003 Nova Scotia general election was held on August 5, 2003, to elect members of the 59th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The ruling Progressive Conservative Party, led by Premier John Hamm, was reduced to a minority government.

Campaign

The election was called by Progressive Conservatives, who decided to hold a rare summer election in the hope of strengthening their hold on the legislature. Running against them were the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Darrell Dexter, and the Liberal Party, led by Danny Graham.

Hamm's party ran on a policy of fiscal management, tax cuts, and on their record of fulfilling most of their promises. While the NDP agreed in principle to tax cuts, their main cause was the creation of a public auto insurance company. The Liberals were the only party to criticize the tax cuts.

For the most part, the campaign was quiet and uneventful. Hamm received criticism for a great number of spending programs, including a $150 tax rebate cheque sent to Nova Scotians right before the election. The party was also criticized for holding an election in the summer when most people have other concerns. Darrell Dexter's friendly, non-confrontational style, was popular with many voters, and was a marked change from his party's usually strident socialism. Danny Graham, a young leader, was popular, but failed to make much of a mark.

The election was considered a mild failure for the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives, and something of a success for the NDP.

This election is also notable for being one of the last Canadian provincial elections in which British subjects could vote (a tiny number can still vote provincially in Saskatchewan if they were qualified in 1971).<ref>Voters' List Being Prepared In New Way Nova Scotia Government</ref>

General results

Results by party

• The Marijuana Party did not contest the 1999 general election.

Results by region

Party name			HRM	C.B.	Valley	S. Shore	Fundy	Central	Total
Parties winning seats in the legislature:										Progressive Conservative	Seats:	4	2	3	7	5	4	25	Popular vote:	30.97%	26.68%	38.41%	45.57%	50.67%	42.94%	36.32%	New Democratic Party	Seats:	11	2	-	-	1	1	15	Popular vote:	40.67%	26.21%	23.15%	25.10%	27.51%	25.59%	31.00%	Liberal	Seats:	3	5	4	-	-	-	12	Popular vote:	27.14%	45.71%	37.13%	29.06%	20.85%	29.21%	31.47%
Parties not winning seats in the legislature:											Independents	Popular vote:	0.13%	1.40%	-	-	0.74%	0.41%	0.42%	Popular vote:	0.70%	-	0.75%	0.27%	0.23%	-		0.40%	Popular vote:	0.40%	-	0.56%	-	-	1.85%	0.39%
Total seats:			18	9	7	7	6	5	52

Retiring incumbents

Liberal

• Don Downe, Lunenburg West
• Jim Smith, Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage
• Paul MacEwan, Cape Breton Nova

Progressive Conservative

• Neil LeBlanc, Argyle
• Muriel Baillie, Pictou West

New Democratic

• Robert Chisholm, Halifax Atlantic
• John Holm, Sackville-Cobequid

Nominated candidates

Legend
bold denotes party leader
† denotes an incumbent who is not running for re-election or was defeated in nomination contest

Valley

Template:Canadian politics/candlist header |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Annapolis | |Frank Chipman
2,795
31.42% | |Adrian Nette
1,395
15.68% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Stephen McNeil
4,522
50.83% | |Harry Wilson
185
2.08% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Frank Chipman |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Clare | |Marc Boudreau
1,456
25.26% | |Don Melanson
760
13.19% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Wayne Gaudet
3,547
61.55% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Wayne Gaudet |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Digby-Annapolis | |Gordon Balser
2,339
39.98% | |Deborah Trask
755
12.90% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Harold Theriault
2,666
45.56% | |Gordon D. Reid
91
1.56% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gordon Balser |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Hants West |Template:Canadian party colour| |Ron Russell
3,871
46.15% | |Sean Bennett
2,200
26.23% | |Randy Matheson
2,118
25.25% | |Connie Brauer
51
0.61% | |Chummy Anthony
148
1.76% | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Ron Russell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings North |Template:Canadian party colour| |Mark Parent
4,063
50.20% | |Jim Morton
2,340
28.91% | |Michael Landry
1,533
18.94% | | | |Ben Friesen
157
1.94% | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Mark Parent |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings South |Template:Canadian party colour| |David Morse
3,347
37.65% | |David Mangle
2,794
31.43% | |Maura Ryan
2,682
30.17% | |Victor Harris
67
0.75% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |David Morse |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings West | |Jon Carey
2,929
35.51% | |Greg Hubbert
2,275
27.58% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Leo Glavine
3,045
36.91% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jon Carey |}

South Shore

Template:Canadian politics/candlist header |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Argyle |Template:Canadian party colour| |Chris d'Entremont
2,345
47.99% | |Charles Muise
595
12.18% | |Aldric Benoit d'Entremont
1,946
39.83% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Neil LeBlanc † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Chester-St. Margaret's |Template:Canadian party colour| |John Chataway
3,451
37.30% | |Hinrich Bitter-Suermann
3,412
36.87% | |Mitt Larsen
2,249
24.31% | |Sue Gault
141
1.52% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |John Chataway |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Lunenburg |Template:Canadian party colour| |Michael Baker
3,734
46.36% | |Chris Heide
2,625
32.59% | |Jim Davis
1,695
21.05% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Michael Baker |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Lunenburg West |Template:Canadian party colour| |Carolyn Bolivar-Getson
3,111
39.68% | |David Ferguson
2,180
27.80% | |John MacDonald
2,550
32.52% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Don Downe † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Queens |Template:Canadian party colour| |Kerry Morash
2,721
44.19% | |Vicki Conrad
2,300
37.35% | |Win Seaton
1,137
18.46% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Kerry Morash |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Shelburne |Template:Canadian party colour| |Cecil O'Donnell
3,702
48.59% | |Kendall Stoddard
810
10.63% | |Clifford Huskilson
3,107
40.78% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Cecil O'Donnell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Yarmouth |Template:Canadian party colour| |Richard Hurlburt
4,656
56.48% | |Gillian Rowley
1,142
13.85% | |Phil DeMille
2,446
29.67% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Richard Hurlburt |}

Fundy-Northeast

Template:Canadian politics/candlist header |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley |Template:Canadian party colour| |Brooke Taylor
4,695
64.34% | |Kathryn Belzer
1,694
23.22% | |Joan Barnhill
908
12.44% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Brooke Taylor |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Colchester North |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bill Langille
3,324
45.12% | |Garfield Forrest
1,860
25.25% | |John Davidson
2,183
29.63% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bill Langille |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cumberland North |Template:Canadian party colour| |Ernie Fage
4,609
61.95% | |Kim Cail
1,105
14.85% | |Marsh G. Fox
1,389
18.67% | | | | | |Jason Blanch
337
4.53% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Ernie Fage |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cumberland South |Template:Canadian party colour| |Murray Scott
4,898
71.69% | |Scott McKee
745
10.90% | |Harriet McCready
1,189
17.40% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Murray Scott |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Hants East | |Mary Lou LeRoy
1,640
19.54% |Template:Canadian party colour| |John MacDonell
4,783
56.97% | |Larry Matthews
1,866
22.23% | |Ken Smith
106
1.26% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |John MacDonell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Truro-Bible Hill |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jamie Muir
3,862
47.11% | |Jim Harpell
2,314
28.23% | |Jeff Yuill
2,021
24.66% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jamie Muir |}

Central Halifax

Template:Canadian politics/candlist header |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Chebucto | |Sandy Phillips
1,983
23.72% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Howard Epstein
3,682
44.04% | |Kenzie MacKinnon
2,592
31.00% | |Scott Higgins
103
1.23% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Howard Epstein |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Citadel | |Jane Purves
2,466
30.27% | |Peter Delefes
2,542
31.20% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Danny Graham
3,042
37.34% | |James A. C. Marchoine
38
0.47% | |Michael R. Patriquen
59
0.72% | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jane Purves |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Clayton Park | |Mary Ann McGrath
3,034
34.37% | |Roberta Morrison
2,312
26.19% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Diana Whalen
3,329
37.71% | | | | | |Greg Lavern
152
1.72% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Mary Ann McGrath |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Fairview | |Bruce MacCharles
1,684
22.45% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Graham Steele
3,439
45.85% | |Susan Hayes
2,284
30.45% | |David F. Boyd
94
1.25% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Graham Steele |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Needham | |Linda Carvery
1,377
18.66% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Maureen MacDonald
3,709
50.26% | |Mike Rogers
2,178
29.51% | |Blair Baxter
116
1.57% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Maureen MacDonald |}

Suburban Halifax

Template:Canadian politics/candlist header |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Bedford |Template:Canadian party colour| |Peter G. Christie
4,114
43.87% | |Bob Watson
2,055
21.92% | |Richard Zurawski
3,208
34.21% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Peter G. Christie |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Atlantic | |Linda Mosher
2,996
33.68% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Michele Raymond
3,327
37.40% | |Ian MacKinnon
2,382
26.78% | |Gerald Rodgers
191
2.15% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Robert Chisholm † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Hammonds Plains Upper Sackville |Template:Canadian party colour| |Barry Barnet
3,322
41.14% | |Brenda Haley
2,229
27.60% | |Pam Streeter
2,419
29.96% | | | |Melanie Patriquen
105
1.30% | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Barry Barnet |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Sackville-Cobequid | |John Giannakos
2,426
28.37% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Dave Wilson
3,881
45.39% | |Bob Harvey
2,147
25.11% | | | |Michael D. Patriquen
97
1.13% | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |John Holm † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Timberlea-Prospect | |Barry Fraser
1,535
18.25% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bill Estabrooks
5,049
60.01% | |Bruce Holland
1,829
21.74% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bill Estabrooks |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gary Hines
3,141
37.67% | |Percy Paris
2,778
33.31% | |David E. Merrigan
2,240
26.86% | |Heather Sawers
94
1.13% | |Alex Neron
86
1.03% | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gary Hines |}

Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

Template:Canadian politics/candlist header |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cole Harbour | |Brian Thomas
2,387
26.55% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Darrell Dexter
4,977
55.37% | |Peter Foy
1,523
16.94% | |Jessica Gould
102
1.13% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Darrell Dexter |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage | |Henry McInroy
1,641
24.02% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Kevin Deveaux
3,997
58.50% | |Brian Churchill
1,121
16.41% | |Kallee A. McPherson
74
1.08% | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Kevin Deveaux |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth East | |Terry Degen
3,107
34.80% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Joan Massey
3,272
36.65% | |Debra Barlow
2,321
26.00% | |Scott Anderson
98
1.10% | |Hugo St-Onge
101
1.13% | |Sebastien Theriault
28
0.31% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim Smith † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth North | |Jane MacKay
1,900
26.54% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jerry Pye
3,799
53.06% | |Rosemary Godin
1,300
18.16% | |Pat Gould
86
1.20% | |Marc-Andre Roy
75
1.05% | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jerry Pye |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth South-Portland Valley | |Tim Olive
2,813
31.70% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Marilyn More
3,844
43.31% | |Collin A. MacEachern
2,218
24.99% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Tim Olive |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Eastern Shore |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bill Dooks
3,073
45.02% | |Sid Prest
2,427
35.56% | |Randy Carter
1,326
19.43% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bill Dooks |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Preston | |David Hendsbee
1,361
32.77% | |Douglas Sparks
1,331
32.05% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Keith Colwell
1,411
33.98% | | | |Marc-Boris St-Maurice
50
1.20% | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |David Hendsbee |}

Central Nova

Template:Canadian politics/candlist header |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Antigonish |Template:Canadian party colour| |Angus MacIsaac
4,256
41.64% | |Terry O'Toole
1,755
17.17% | |David Allister Cameron
3,650
35.71% | | | |Gene Purdy
560
5.48% | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Angus MacIsaac |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Guysborough-Sheet Harbour |Template:Canadian party colour| |Ron Chisholm
2,587
37.99% | |Jim Boudreau
2,023
29.71% | |Gordon MacDonald
2,199
32.30% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Ron Chisholm |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou Centre |Template:Canadian party colour| |John Hamm
4,262
54.70% | |Alexander MacIsaac
1,571
20.16% | |Tim Daley
1,789
22.96% | | | |Darryl Gallivan
170
2.18% | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |John Hamm |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou East |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim DeWolfe
3,295
44.15% | |Bob Matheson
1,929
25.85% | |John Fraser
2,239
30.00% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim DeWolfe |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou West | |Paul Veniot
2,530
32.68% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Charlie Parker
3,410
44.05% | |Ed MacMaster
1,639
21.17% | | | | | |Doug Corbett
163
2.11% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Muriel Baillie † |}

Cape Breton

Template:Canadian politics/candlist header |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton Centre | |Rita Tighe-MacLeod
373
4.81% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Frank Corbett
3,929
50.64% | |Basil McGillivray
3,456
44.55% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Frank Corbett |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton North |Template:Canadian party colour| |Cecil Clarke
3,754
43.46% | |Cecil Snow
1,714
19.84% | |Mike White
3,169
36.69% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Cecil Clarke |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton Nova | |Todd Marsman
684
9.85% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gordie Gosse
3,168
45.61% | |Mel Crowe
3,094
44.54% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Paul MacEwan † |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton South | |John Morrison
1,677
17.27% | |Mike MacSween
2,759
28.41% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Manning MacDonald
5,275
54.32% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Manning MacDonald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton West | |Ivan Doncaster
2,221
25.51% | |Douglas MacKinlay
1,868
21.46% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Russell MacKinnon
4,616
53.03% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Russell MacKinnon |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Glace Bay | |Mark Bettens
1,351
16.65% | |Vince Hall
2,342
28.87% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Dave Wilson
4,420
54.48% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Dave Wilson |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Inverness |Template:Canadian party colour| |Rodney MacDonald
5,398
51.19% | |Tim Murphy
1,277
12.11% | |Debbie Gillis
3,871
36.71% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Rodney MacDonald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Richmond | |Richie Cotton
1,850
31.18% | |Clair Rankin
1,036
17.46% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Michel Samson
3,047
51.36% | | | | | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Michel Samson |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Victoria-The Lakes | |Keith Bain
2,036
32.48% | |Nancy MacKeigan
934
14.90% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gerald Sampson
2,284
36.44% | | | | | |Brian Boudreau
750
11.97%
Stemer MacLeod
264
4.21% |Template:Canadian party colour| |Brian Boudreau |}

See also

• List of Nova Scotia general elections
• List of Nova Scotia political parties

References

• Template:Cite web

Further reading

• Template:Cite book

External links

• CBC Nova Scotia Votes 2003
• Halifax Herald 2003 election website via Internet Archive.