2003 Nova Scotia general election
August 5, 2003
52 seats of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
27 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
LIB
Leader John Hamm Darrell Dexter Danny Graham
Party Progressive Conservative New Democratic Liberal
Leader since October 28, 1995 June 2, 2002 April 13, 2002
Leader's seat Pictou Centre Cole Harbour Halifax Citadel
Last election 30 11 11
Seats won 25 15 12
Seat change Decrease5 Increase4 Increase1
Popular vote 148,182 126,479 128,417
Percentage 36.32% 31.00% 31.47%
Swing Decrease2.88% Increase1.03% Increase1.66%
Popular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each riding.
Premier before election

John Hamm
Progressive Conservative

 Premier after election

John Hamm
Progressive Conservative

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).[1]

General results

Results by party

Party Party leader # of
candidates		 Seats Popular vote
1999 Dissolution Elected % Change # % Change
  Progressive Conservative John Hamm 52 30 31 25 -16.7% 148,182 36.32% -2.88%
  New Democratic Darrell Dexter 52 11 11 15 +36.4% 126,479 31.00% +1.03%
  Liberal Danny Graham 52 11 7 12 +9.1% 128,417 31.47% +1.66%
  Independents 6 0 1 0 -100% 1,694 0.42% +0.13%
Nova Scotia Party Gerry Rodgers 16 0 0 0 0% 1,637 0.40% -0.33%
Marijuana Michael Patriquen 11 * 0 0 0% 1,608 0.39% *
  Vacant 2  
Total 189 52 52 52   408,017 100%  
Popular vote
PC
 
 36.32%
Liberal
 
 31.47%
New Democratic
 
 31.00%
Others
 
 1.11%
Seats summary
PC
 
 48.08%
New Democratic
 
 28.85%
Liberal
 
 23.08%

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%
Nova Scotia Party Popular vote: 0.70% - 0.75% 0.27% 0.23% - 0.40%
Marijuana Popular vote: 0.40% - 0.56% - - 1.85% 0.39%
Total seats: 18 9 7 7 6 5 52

Retiring incumbents

Liberal
Progressive Conservative
New Democratic

Nominated candidates

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

Valley

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PCNDPLiberalNova ScotiaMarijuanaIndependent
Annapolis Frank Chipman
2,795
31.42%		 Adrian Nette
1,395
15.68%		 Stephen McNeil
4,522
50.83%		 Harry Wilson
185
2.08%		 Frank Chipman
Clare Marc Boudreau
1,456
25.26%		 Don Melanson
760
13.19%		 Wayne Gaudet
3,547
61.55%		 Wayne Gaudet
Digby-Annapolis Gordon Balser
2,339
39.98%		 Deborah Trask
755
12.90%		 Harold Theriault
2,666
45.56%		 Gordon D. Reid
91
1.56%		 Gordon Balser
Hants West 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%		 Ron Russell
Kings North Mark Parent
4,063
50.20%		 Jim Morton
2,340
28.91%		 Michael Landry
1,533
18.94%		 Ben Friesen
157
1.94%		 Mark Parent
Kings South David Morse
3,347
37.65%		 David Mangle
2,794
31.43%		 Maura Ryan
2,682
30.17%		 Victor Harris
67
0.75%		 David Morse
Kings West Jon Carey
2,929
35.51%		 Greg Hubbert
2,275
27.58%		 Leo Glavine
3,045
36.91%		 Jon Carey

South Shore

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

Fundy-Northeast

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

Central Halifax

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

Suburban Halifax

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PCNDPLiberalNova ScotiaMarijuanaIndependent
Bedford Peter G. Christie
4,114
43.87%		 Bob Watson
2,055
21.92%		 Richard Zurawski
3,208
34.21%		 Peter G. Christie
Halifax Atlantic Linda Mosher
2,996
33.68%		 Michele Raymond
3,327
37.40%		 Ian MacKinnon
2,382
26.78%		 Gerald Rodgers
191
2.15%		 Robert Chisholm †
Hammonds Plains Upper Sackville Barry Barnet
3,322
41.14%		 Brenda Haley
2,229
27.60%		 Pam Streeter
2,419
29.96%		 Melanie Patriquen
105
1.30%		 Barry Barnet
Sackville-Cobequid John Giannakos
2,426
28.37%		 Dave Wilson
3,881
45.39%		 Bob Harvey
2,147
25.11%		 Michael D. Patriquen
97
1.13%		 John Holm †
Timberlea-Prospect Barry Fraser
1,535
18.25%		 Bill Estabrooks
5,049
60.01%		 Bruce Holland
1,829
21.74%		 Bill Estabrooks
Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank 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%		 Gary Hines

Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PCNDPLiberalNova ScotiaMarijuanaIndependent
Cole Harbour Brian Thomas
2,387
26.55%		 Darrell Dexter
4,977
55.37%		 Peter Foy
1,523
16.94%		 Jessica Gould
102
1.13%		 Darrell Dexter
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage Henry McInroy
1,641
24.02%		 Kevin Deveaux
3,997
58.50%		 Brian Churchill
1,121
16.41%		 Kallee A. McPherson
74
1.08%		 Kevin Deveaux
Dartmouth East Terry Degen
3,107
34.80%		 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%		 Jim Smith †
Dartmouth North Jane MacKay
1,900
26.54%		 Jerry Pye
3,799
53.06%		 Rosemary Godin
1,300
18.16%		 Pat Gould
86
1.20%		 Marc-Andre Roy
75
1.05%		 Jerry Pye
Dartmouth South-Portland Valley Tim Olive
2,813
31.70%		 Marilyn More
3,844
43.31%		 Collin A. MacEachern
2,218
24.99%		 Tim Olive
Eastern Shore Bill Dooks
3,073
45.02%		 Sid Prest
2,427
35.56%		 Randy Carter
1,326
19.43%		 Bill Dooks
Preston David Hendsbee
1,361
32.77%		 Douglas Sparks
1,331
32.05%		 Keith Colwell
1,411
33.98%		 Marc-Boris St-Maurice
50
1.20%		 David Hendsbee

Central Nova

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PCNDPLiberalNova ScotiaMarijuanaIndependent
Antigonish 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%		 Angus MacIsaac
Guysborough-Sheet Harbour Ron Chisholm
2,587
37.99%		 Jim Boudreau
2,023
29.71%		 Gordon MacDonald
2,199
32.30%		 Ron Chisholm
Pictou Centre John Hamm
4,262
54.70%		 Alexander MacIsaac
1,571
20.16%		 Tim Daley
1,789
22.96%		 Darryl Gallivan
170
2.18%		 John Hamm
Pictou East Jim DeWolfe
3,295
44.15%		 Bob Matheson
1,929
25.85%		 John Fraser
2,239
30.00%		 Jim DeWolfe
Pictou West Paul Veniot
2,530
32.68%		 Charlie Parker
3,410
44.05%		 Ed MacMaster
1,639
21.17%		 Doug Corbett
163
2.11%		 Muriel Baillie †

Cape Breton

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

See also

References

  • Government of Nova Scotia. "Summary Results from 1867 to 2011" (PDF). Elections Statistics. Elections Nova Scotia. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.

Further reading

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