GetWiki

{{short description|Political party in Nova Scotia, Canada}}

factoids

| leader = Zach ChurchillMargaret Miller (politician)>Margaret MillerBOARD OF DIRECTORS >URL=HTTPS://WWW.LIBERAL.NS.CA/BOARD-OF-DIRECTORS ACCESS-DATE=19 APRIL 2024, | chairman = | secretary = David Mackeigan| spokesperson = 1883}}Liberalism in Canada>Liberalism5151 George Street}}Suite 1400{{nowrap|Halifax, Nova Scotia}}B3J 2T3| international = www.liberal.ns.ca}}| country = Canada| native_name = | _subheader = Active provincial party| chairperson = | leader1_title = | leader1_name = | dissolution = | merger = | split = | predecessor = | merged = | successor = Centrist politics>Centre| national = Liberal Party of Canada| youth_wing = Nova Scotia Young Liberals| membership = | membership_year = | colours = Red| colors = | blank1_title = Fiscal policy| blank1 = | blank2_title = Social policy| blank2 = | seats1_title = Seats in the House of Commons| seats1 = | seats2_title = Seats in the Senate| seats2 = Nova Scotia House of Assembly>House of Assembly15hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}} }}| state = Nova Scotia| parties_dab1 = List of political parties in Nova Scotia| elections_dab1 = List of post-confederation Nova Scotia general elections| footnotes = }}The Nova Scotia Liberal Party (officially the Liberal Association of Nova ScotiaWEB, September 2018, By-laws of the Liberal Association of Nova Scotia,liberal.ns.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/By-Laws-of-the-Liberal-Association-of-Nova-Scotia.pdf, 13 March 2023, ) is a centrist provincial political party in Nova Scotia, Canada and the provincial section of the Liberal Party of Canada. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in Nova Scotia, under the leadership of Zach Churchill. The party was in power most recently from the 2013 election until the 2021 election.WEB,www.cbc.ca/player/play/1934251587624, Liberal Leader Iain Rankin concedes election result {{!, CBC.ca}} WEB,www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/election-campaign-liberals-ndp-pc-1.6144162, Progressive Conservatives surge to surprise majority win in Nova Scotia election {{!, CBC News}}

Origins

The party is descended from the pre-Confederation Reformers in Nova Scotia who coalesced around Joseph Howe demanding the institution of responsible government. The Liberals (Reformers) formed several governments in the colony between 1848 and 1867.The party split during the debate on Confederation, with Howe and most other Liberals forming an Anti-Confederation Party, while supporters of confederation joined Tory Charles Tupper’s Confederation Party. Howe, himself, initially opposed Confederation, but accepted it as a reality after initial attempts to scuttle it failed.In 1868, Howe joined the pro-Confederation forces, serving for a time in the federal Cabinet of Sir John A. Macdonald.The Anti-Confederation Party took most of Nova Scotia’s seats in the House of Commons of Canada in 1867, as well as forming the government of the new province under William Annand. The new, post-1867 Liberal Party was organised by Annand and his anti-Confederate forces, while the Conservative Party was organised by Tupper and supporters of Sir John A. Macdonald’s coalition in the province.Prior to 1956, the Nova Scotia Liberal Party had ruled the province for 76 of its 89 years, most of that time with fewer than five opposition members. It had also ruled prior to confederation, and was responsible for bringing the first responsible government to North America. From 1882 to 1925, the Liberals held power for an unbroken 43 years, the second longest serving political dynasty in Canadian history, behind the Alberta PCs.WEB,thechronicleherald.ca/canada/89693-alberta-keeps-tories, Alberta keeps Tories, The Chronicle Herald, April 24, 2012, 2012-05-12,

The party in recent years

From 1956, the Tories gained significant ground with Robert Stanfield’s reformation of the “Progressive Conservatives”, and have successfully challenged the Liberals for control of the government. The Liberals faltered in the province at the beginning of the 21st century, and for a time were the third-largest party in the House of Assembly, behind the Tories and the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. After the Nova Scotia Liberal Party’s dismal performance in the 2006 election (and failing to win his own seat), leader Francis MacKenzie announced his resignation.WEB,www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mackenzie-steps-down-as-liberal-leader-1.627013, MacKenzie steps down as Liberal leader, CBC News, June 20, 2006, 2013-10-09, He was succeeded by Stephen McNeil. In the 2009 election, the Liberals moved out of third-party status and formed the official opposition once again. In the 2013 election, the Liberals won a majority government, their first since the 1993 election under John Savage, and took office for the first time in 14 years.WEB,www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nsvotes2013/stephen-mcneil-leads-liberals-to-majority-in-nova-scotia-1.1929962, Stephen McNeil leads Liberals to majority in Nova Scotia, CBC News, October 8, 2013, 2013-10-09, Under McNeil, a self-described fiscal conservative, the party pushed for balanced provincial budgets and took a firm stance against public sector unions.NEWS, The Canadian Press, The Chronicle Herald, Liberal Premier Stephen McNeil: Nova Scotia’s soft-spoken fiscal hawk,thechronicleherald.ca/nsvotes/1464420-liberal-premier-stephen-mcneil-nova-scotias-soft-spoken-fiscal-hawk,thechronicleherald.ca/nsvotes/1464420-liberal-premier-stephen-mcneil-nova-scotias-soft-spoken-fiscal-hawk," title="web.archive.org/web/20171204062340thechronicleherald.ca/nsvotes/1464420-liberal-premier-stephen-mcneil-nova-scotias-soft-spoken-fiscal-hawk,">web.archive.org/web/20171204062340thechronicleherald.ca/nsvotes/1464420-liberal-premier-stephen-mcneil-nova-scotias-soft-spoken-fiscal-hawk, December 4, 2017, The Nova Scotia Liberals are the provincial section of the federal Liberal Party of Canada. The two parties have a shared membership, and Liberal Members of Parliament often become Liberal Members of the Legislative Assembly, and vice versa. Gerald Regan, for instance, became leader of the provincial party after serving as a Liberal MP. He joined the federal Liberal government after serving as premier of Nova Scotia. Angus L. Macdonald, the province’s most storied Liberal premier, split his term into two by spending five years as a federal Liberal cabinet minister in the wartime government of William Lyon Mackenzie King.In the 2009 election, Stephen McNeil led the Liberals to Official Opposition status, winning 11 seats.WEB,www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/liberals-see-gains-form-nova-scotia-s-official-opposition-1.854521, Liberals see gains, form Nova Scotia’s Official Opposition, CBC News, June 9, 2009, February 10, 2014, In the 2013 election, the McNeil Liberals won a majority government, defeating the NDP government of Darrell Dexter.NEWS, 4 changes Stephen McNeil is promising for Nova Scotia,www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nsvotes2013/4-changes-stephen-mcneil-is-promising-for-nova-scotia-1.1930924, CBC News, October 9, 2013, November 24, 2014, In the 2017 election, the McNeil Liberals retained a reduced majority of 27 seats in the legislature.NEWS, Gorman, Michael, Liberals score back-to-back majorities in Nova Scotia nail-biter,www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/provincial-election-liberals-mcneil-wins-vote-1.4138000, 30 June 2017, CBC News, On August 6, 2020, McNeil announced he will step down as party leader and that he will continue to act as premier and as the party’s leader until the a replacement is found.WEB, Grant, Taryn, Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil to step down after 17 years in politics,www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-premier-stephen-mcneil-stepping-down-1.5676453, CBC News, 20 August 2020, On February 23, 2021, Rankin became the 29th Premier of Nova Scotia, replacing McNeil.NEWS, Doucette, Keith, Premier Iain Rankin, new Nova Scotia cabinet sworn in by lieutenant-governor,atlantic.ctvnews.ca/premier-iain-rankin-new-nova-scotia-cabinet-sworn-in-by-lieutenant-governor-1.5320169, 3 March 2021, Atlantic, Bell Media, 23 February 2021, en, Rankin called a snap election for August 17, 2021, which his Liberal Party lost.WEB,atlantic.ctvnews.ca/bad-campaign-leader-who-didn-t-connect-with-voters-led-to-n-s-liberal-loss-experts-1.5552298, Bad campaign, leader who didn’t connect with voters led to N.S. Liberal loss: Experts, 18 August 2021, Rankin was personally re-elected in Timberlea-Prospect.NEWS,www.thestar.com/politics/2021/08/17/cp-newsalert-nova-scotia-liberal-leader-iain-rankin-wins-timberlea-prospect-riding.html, Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Iain Rankin wins Timberlea-Prospect riding {{!, The Star| newspaper = The Toronto Star| date = 17 August 2021}}

Current elected member{| border“1” cellpadding“2”

! Name! Riding! Year elected style="text-align:center;“! Zach ChurchillYarmouth (provincial electoral district)>Yarmouth| 2010 style="text-align:center;“| Patricia Arab| Fairview-Clayton Park| 2013 style="text-align:center;“| Braedon Clark| Bedford South| 2021 style="text-align:center;“| Rafah DiCostanzoClayton Park West (electoral district)>Clayton Park West| 2017 style="text-align:center;“| Ali Duale| Halifax Armdale| 2021 style="text-align:center;“| Tony InceCole Harbour-Portland Valley>Cole Harbour| 2013 style="text-align:center;“| Keith Irving| Kings South| 2013 style="text-align:center;“| Ben Jessome| Hammonds Plains-Lucasville| 2013 style="text-align:center;“| Carman KerrAnnapolis (provincial electoral district)>Annapolis| 2021 style="text-align:center;“| Ronnie LeBlancClare (electoral district)>Clare| 2021 style="text-align:center;“| Derek Mombourquette| Sydney-Membertou| 2015 style="text-align:center;“| Lorelei Nicoll| Cole Harbour-Dartmouth| 2021 style="text-align:center;”Iain Rankin (politician)>Iain Rankin| Timberlea-Prospect| 2013 style="text-align:center;“| Kelly ReganBedford Basin (electoral district)>Bedford Basin| 2009 style="text-align:center;“| Fred Tilley| Northside-Westmount| 2021

Party leaders

• James B. Uniacke (1840–1854)
• William Young (1854–1860)
• Joseph Howe (1860–1864)
• Adams G. Archibald (1864–1867)
• William Annand (1867–1875)
• Philip Carteret Hill (1875–1878)
• William F. McCurdy (1878–1882) (house leader)
• William Thomas Pipes (1882–1884)
• William Stevens Fielding (1884–1896)
• George Henry Murray (1896–1923)
• Ernest Howard Armstrong (1923–1925)
• William Chisholm (1925–1930)
• Angus L. Macdonald (1930–1940)
• A.S. MacMillan (1940–1945)
• Angus L. Macdonald (1945–1954)
• Harold Connolly (1954) (interim)
• Henry Hicks (1954–1961)
• Earl W. Urquhart (1961–1965) (house leader 1961–1962)
• Gerald Regan (1965–1980)
• Benoit Comeau (1980) (interim)
• Sandy Cameron (1980–1985)
• Vince MacLean (1985)
• Bill Gillis (1985–1986) (interim)
• Vince MacLean (1986–1992)
• John Savage (1992–1997)
• Russell MacLellan (1997–2000)
• Wayne Gaudet (2000–2002) (interim)
• Danny Graham (2002–2004)
• Wayne Gaudet (2004) (interim)
• Francis MacKenzie (2004–2006)
• Michel Samson (2006–2007) (interim)
• Stephen McNeil (2007–2021)
• Iain Rankin (2021–2022)WEB, Rankin, Iain, 2021-02-06, Premier-designate Iain Rankin delivers his first speech as Leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party,twitter.com/IainTRankin/status/1358185659266072578, Twitter,
• Zach Churchill (2022-Present)TWEET, 1545912748919476225, zachchurchill, Today is a new day for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. Members from across our Province put their confidence in me to revive our Party and win back the trust of Nova Scotians. I’m excited to move forward, united, as one Party, with one goal: moving Nova Scotia forward. nspoli, 9 July 2022, Churchill, Zach, 9 July 2022,

“>

Election results{| classwikitable style@text-align: left;”

! Election! Leader! Votes! %! Seats! +/–! Position! Government! 1867William Annand| | 58.636hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 21| {{increase}} 1stMajority}}! 1871| | 52.224hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 12| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1874Philip Carteret Hill| | 55.022hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 2| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1878| | 45.16hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 16| {{decrease}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1882| None| | 51.824hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 18| {{increase}} 1stMajority}}! 1886William Stevens Fielding| | 54.728hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 4| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1890| | 52.229hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 1| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1894| | 51.925hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 4| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1897George Henry Murray| | 55.034hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 9| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1901| | 56.736hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 2| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1906| | 53.232hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 4| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1911| | 51.126hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 10| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1916| | 50.431hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 5| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1920| | 44.429hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 2| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1925| Ernest Howard Armstrong| | 36.33hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 26| {{decrease}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1928William Chisholm (Nova Scotia politician)>William Chisholm| | 47.218hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 15| {{steady}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1933Angus Lewis Macdonald| | 52.622hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 4| {{increase}} 1stMajority}}! 1937| | 51.025hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 3| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1941| Alexander Stirling MacMillan| | 52.622hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 3| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1945Angus Lewis Macdonald| | 52.728hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 6| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1949| | 51.027hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 1| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1953| | 49.022hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 5| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1956Henry Hicks| 159,666| 48.218hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 4| {{decrease}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1960| 147,951| 42.615hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 3| {{steady}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1963| Earl Wallace Urquhart| 134,873| 39.74hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 11| {{steady}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1967Gerald Regan| 142,945| 41.86hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 2| {{steady}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1970| 174,943| 46.123hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 17| {{increase}} 1stMinority}}! 1974| 206,648| 47.931hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 8| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 1978| 175,218| 39.417hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 14| {{decrease}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1981Sandy Cameron| 139,604| 33.213hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 4| {{steady}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1984| 129,310| 31.36hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 7| {{steady}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1988| Vince MacLean| 186,007| 39.621hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 15| {{steady}} 2ndOpposition}}! 1993John Savage (Nova Scotia politician)>John Savage| 243,298| 49.740hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 19| {{increase}} 1stMajority}}! 1998Russell MacLellan| 158,620| 35.319hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 21| {{steady}} 1stMinority}}! 1999| 128,795| 29.811hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 8| {{decrease}} 3rdThird party}}! 2003Danny Graham (Halifax MLA)>Danny Graham| 128,417| 31.512hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 1| {{steady}} 3rdThird party}}! 2006| Francis MacKenzie| 94,872| 23.49hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 3| {{steady}} 3rdThird party}}! 2009Stephen McNeil| 112,160| 27.211hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 2| {{increase}} 2ndOpposition}}! 2013| 190,112| 45.733hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{increase}} 22| {{increase}} 1stMajority}}! 2017| 157,541| 39.527hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 6| {{steady}} 1stMajority}}! 2021| Iain Rankin| 155,026| 36.6717hex={{Canadian party colourLiberal}}}}| {{decrease}} 10| {{decrease}} 2ndOpposition}}

See also

{{Commons category|Liberal Party of Nova Scotia}}

• List of Nova Scotia political parties
• List of Nova Scotia premiers
• 2022 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election
• Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership elections

References

{{reflist}}

External links

• Liberal Party of Nova Scotia

{{Nova Scotia provincial political parties}}{{Nova Scotia politics}}{{Major Canadian Liberal Parties}}