The
Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a
social-democraticSocial democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
provincial party in
Nova ScotiaNova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
,
CanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is aligned with the federal
New Democratic PartyThe New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
(NDP). Originally founded as the
Co-operative Commonwealth FederationThe Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
(CCF) in 1932, it became the New Democratic Party in 1961. It became the governing party of Nova Scotia following the 2009 Nova Scotia Election. They made history by becoming the first New Democratic Party in
Atlantic CanadaAtlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
to form a government. Much of the party's success prior to the 2009 election was based in the urban areas of the provincial capital, the Halifax Regional Municipality, however the party's support has grown to the rest of Nova Scotia.
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 1933-1961
Since shortly after
confederationCanadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
, Nova Scotia has had a
two-party systemA two-party system is a system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government and, as a result, all or nearly all elected offices are members of one of the two major parties...
in which power alternated between the Nova Scotia Liberal Party and
Progressive ConservativesThe Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, registered under the Nova Scotia Elections Act as the "Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia", is a moderate right-of-centre political party in Nova Scotia, Canada....
. In the
1920 provincial electionThe 14th Nova Scotia general election was held on 27 July 1920 to elect members of the 37th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
the
leftIn politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
had a breakthrough with the United Farmers winning six seats and the Independent Labour Party winning 5. The two forces joined together to form an 11 member official opposition under Daniel G. Mackenzie, but the group was undermined by the Liberals (who tarnished the image of the opposition MLAs by offering them payments) and the United Farmers/Labour grouping was wiped out in 1925.
Though the CCF/NDP has a long history in Nova Scotia, it was unable to break the two-party system and win more than a handful of seats (if any) in the Nova Scotia
House of AssemblyThe Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
until the 1990s.
The
Co-operative Commonwealth FederationThe Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
was formed in 1932 and ran its first candidates in the
1933 Nova Scotia electionThe 17th Nova Scotia general election was held on 22 August 1933 to elect members of the 40th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
but failed to win any electoral representation. The party did not contest the
1937 general electionThe 18th Nova Scotia general election was held on 20 June 1937 to elect members of the 41st House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
.
In the 1939
Cape Breton CentreCape Breton Centre is a provincial electoral district in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
by-electionA by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
Douglas MacDonaldDouglas MacDonald was a farmer, miner and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Cape Breton Centre in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1939 to 1945 as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation member....
won the CCF's first seat in the legislature.
In 1941, the future
Canadian Labour CongressThe Canadian Labour Congress, or CLC is a national trade union centre, the central labour body in English Canada to which most Canadian labour unions are affiliated.- Formation :...
(CLC) president Donald MacDonald was elected from the
Cape Breton SouthCape Breton South is a provincial electoral district in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Its Member of the Legislative Assembly since 1993 has been Manning MacDonald of the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia...
constituency. He was joined by
Douglas Neil BrodieDouglas Neil Brodie was a businessman and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Cape Breton East in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1941 to 1945 as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation member.He was born in Halifax, the son of Neil MacNeil Brodie and Margaret Carroll,...
, who was elected in Cape Breton East constituency, bringing the CCF up to a total of three MLAs. Donald MacDonald was the party's leader in the Assembly until 1945. He lost a close campaign in the 1945 election, but the party still retained two seats on
Cape Breton IslandCape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
. MacDonald then transitioned into working full-time with the Canadian Congress of Labour, a predecessor of the CLC.
A lot of the early organization of the CCF in Nova Scotia was done by Maritime Organizer Fred Young. Young would go on to continue his work in Ontario and eventually sit as an MPP in the Ontario legislature, however, his early work laid the groundwork for any future advancements the party would make during this period. This was evident in
1945The 20th Nova Scotia general election was held on 23 October 1945 to elect members of the 43rd House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
when the two CCF members elected from Cape Breton.
Russell CunninghamRussell Cunningham was a Canadian social democratic politician from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. He was the leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in Nova Scotia from 1945 until 1953...
was the only CCF leader to serve as
Leader of the OppositionThe Leader of the Opposition in Nova Scotia is the MLA in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly who leads the political party recognized as the Official Opposition. This status generally goes to the leader of the second largest party in the Legislative Assembly...
after the
1945 provincial electionThe 20th Nova Scotia general election was held on 23 October 1945 to elect members of the 43rd House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
in which Premier Angus L. Macdonald's Liberal Party swept 28 of the 30 seats and the Tories were wiped out. CCFers Cunningham and fellow Cape Bretoner
Michael James MacDonaldMichael James MacDonald was a union leader, coal miner, volunteer firefighter and politician in Nova Scotia....
were the only opposition MLAs elected. Cunningham and MacDonald were re-elected in
1949The 21st Nova Scotia general election was held on 9 June 1949 to elect members of the 44th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
but were reduced to
third party statusIn Canada, a third party usually refers to a relatively small federal or provincial political party that is not usually considered to have a realistic chance of forming a government, but has representation in the federal House of Commons or the provincial legislature...
behind the
Robert StanfieldRobert Lorne Stanfield, PC, QC was the 17th Premier of Nova Scotia and leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He is sometimes referred to as "the greatest prime minister Canada never had", and earned the nickname "Honest Bob"...
-led Progressive Conservatives.
MacDonald led the CCF from 1953 to 1963 and was the party's sole MLA in that period despite the fact that he led the CCF to an 8.9% popular vote in
1960The 24th Nova Scotia general election was held on 7 June 1960 to elect members of the 47th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservatives....
.
The New Party
Following the creation of the federal and provincial
New Democratic PartyThe New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
(NDP), MacDonald stepped down as leader and the locus of authority in the party moved to Halifax under the leadership of Professor
James H. AitchisonJames Hermiston Aitchison was a Canadian academic and politician and leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
. MacDonald lost his seat in the
1963 provincial electionThe 25th Nova Scotia general election was held on 8 October 1963 to elect members of the 48th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservatives.* party was then the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
and the NDP would not win another until
Jeremy AkermanJeremy Bernard Akerman is a former Canadian politician, writer and actor and a former leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.-Biography:...
became party leader and won the riding of Cape Breton East in the
1970 electionThe 27th Nova Scotia general election was held on 13 October 1970 to elect members of the 50th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
. NDP representation in the House of Assembly grew slowly in throughout the 1970s, but never rose above four seats. The CCF had only been able to win seats on
Cape Breton IslandCape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
and the NDP did not win seats outside of Cape Breton until 1981. With the election of the 26-year-old Akerman as party leader in 1968, and his subsequent election to the legislature two years later, the party regained and developed its strong base in industrial Cape Breton, ultimately winning four seats in the election of
1978The 29th Nova Scotia general election was held on September 19, 1978 to elect members of the 52nd House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party....
. However, the party failed to win any seats on the mainland, and this exacerbated tensions between the Akerman-dominated Cape Breton wing of the party and the university-based party establishment in Halifax. Following increasingly bloody internal battles Akerman resigned and the NDP lost all four Cape Breton seats in the following election.
Alexa McDonough
In 1980, Haligonian
Alexa McDonoughAlexa Ann Shaw McDonough OC is a Canadian politician who became the first woman to lead a major, recognized political party in Canada, when she was elected the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party's leader in 1980...
became leader of the Nova Scotia NDP, the first female leader of a major recognized party in Canada. While she was the only NDP member of the legislature elected in
1981The 30th Nova Scotia general election was held on October 6, 1981 to elect members of the 53rd House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party.* vote share included in "other"....
, and had at most a
caucusA caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
of three
Members of the Legislative AssemblyA Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLAs), she raised the party's profile and become a well known advocate for the poor and disadvantaged. In a reversal of earlier times it was under McDonough's leadership that either the CCF or the NDP was able to win seats on the mainland for the first time. At the same time the NDP lost all its Cape Breton seats in the 1981 election and was unable to regain any of them under McDonough's leadership. She resigned as Nova Scotia NDP leader in 1994 and went on to be elected leader of the federal NDP in 1995.
Chisholm years: Breakthrough
Under Robert Chisholm's leadership, in
1998The 34th 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 party vaulted from third place to ahead of the Progressive Conservatives, and won 19 seats in the
Nova Scotia House of AssemblyThe Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
, the same number of seats as won by the Liberals. The Liberals formed a
minority governmentA minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
with the support of 14 Progressive Conservatives (Tories), the latter who had also improved their standings. The prospect of an NDP government seemed imminent.
However, the party was unable to improve on its standings in the
1999 electionThe 35th Nova Scotia general election was held on July 27, 1999, to elect members of the 58th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party, led by Dr...
. But with 11 seats in the legislature with 29.9% of the vote, it edged out the Liberals and were able to retain "Official Opposition" status when the Tories formed a
majority governmentA majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
under
John HammJohn Frederick Hamm, is a Canadian physician and politician and was the 25th Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada.Hamm, a graduate of the University of King's College and Dalhousie University, was a family doctor in his hometown of Stellarton, Nova Scotia, and the president of the Nova Scotia Medical...
. Chisholm's unexpected resignation immediately following the election led to a period of internal party strife, with new leader Helen MacDonald, a former Cape Breton MLA, resigning after barely a year.
Darrell Dexter
The
2003 electionThe 36th 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...
resulted in a Tory minority government while the NDP maintained Official Opposition status under new leader
Darrell DexterDarrell Dexter is a Canadian lawyer, journalist and former naval officer who is serving as the 27th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. A member of the New Democratic Party, he has led the Nova Scotia NDP since 2001. He was elected Premier in 2009 after defeating...
. In the election, the NDP won 15 seats and 31% of the vote, coming slightly behind the Liberals in the popular vote but winning three more seats than the Liberals' 12. In the
2006 electionThe 37th Nova Scotia general election was held on June 13, 2006 to elect members of the 60th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada....
, the NDP managed to capitalise on its position as the Official Opposition to squeeze the Liberal vote, and the party increased its number of seats from 15 to 20, an all time high, and won 34.63% of the vote. Unlike in 2003, in 2006 the NDP came in a clear second, far ahead of the Liberals.
On June 9, 2009, Dexter led the NDP to victory, winning a
majority governmentA majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
, and was sworn in as
Premier of Nova ScotiaThe Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
on June 19, 2009. With his party's victory, it marks the first time in Canadian provincial politics that an NDP government had been formed in a province east of
OntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Current elected members
- NOTE: All italicized cabinet postings are the main portfolios for those ministers.
| Name |
Riding |
Year elected |
Cabinet Posting |
| Darrell Dexter Darrell Dexter is a Canadian lawyer, journalist and former naval officer who is serving as the 27th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. A member of the New Democratic Party, he has led the Nova Scotia NDP since 2001. He was elected Premier in 2009 after defeating...
|
Cole HarbourCole Harbour is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The Member of the Legislative Assembly since 1998 is Premier Darrell Dexter of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
|
1998 |
Premier,
Intergovernmental Affairs,
Chair of Treasury and Policy Board,
Aboriginal Affairs,
Military Relations,
Cabinet President |
| Frank Corbett Frank Corbett is a Canadian politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia. He represents the riding of Cape Breton Centre for the NDP. He is from New Waterford, Nova Scotia...
|
Cape Breton CentreCape Breton Centre is a provincial electoral district in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
|
1998 |
Deputy Premier,
Public Services,
Communications,
Cabinet Vice President |
| Sterling Belliveau Sterling Belliveau is a politician in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represents the electoral district of Shelburne in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. In the Executive Council of Nova Scotia, Belliveau serves as Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Minister of Environment...
|
ShelburneShelburne is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.Its Member of the Legislative Assembly since the 2006 election has been Sterling Belliveau of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party . Belliveau defeated PC L. Eddie...
|
2006 |
Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture |
| Pam Birdsall Pam Birdsall is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Lunenburg as a member of the New Democratic Party.-External links:* * *...
|
LunenburgThe Lunenburg electoral district is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
|
2009 |
| Jim Boudreau Jim Boudreau is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Guysborough-Sheet Harbour as a member of the New Democratic Party....
|
Guysborough-Sheet HarbourGuysborough—Sheet Harbour is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.-Members of the Legislative Assembly:*Chuck MacNeil, Progressive Conservative...
|
2009 |
| Gary Burrill Gary Burrill is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley as a member of the New Democratic Party....
|
Colchester-Musquodoboit ValleyColchester—Musquodoboit Valley is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The riding was created in 1993 from Colchester South and Bedford-Musquodoboit Valley...
|
2009 |
| Vicki Conrad Vicki Conrad is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, representing the riding of Queens for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party...
|
QueensQueens is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.It is located in the South Shore region, bordered by the ridings of Lunenburg West, Shelburne, and Digby Annapolis...
|
2006 |
| Howard Epstein Howard Epstein is a Canadian politician, lawyer and part-time law professor.Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he is an environmentalist, serving as the director of the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax from 1991-1994....
|
Halifax ChebuctoHalifax Chebucto is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.It is one of several ridings within the Halifax Regional Municipality. It encompasses the neighbourhood known informally as West End, Halifax...
|
1998 |
| Bill Estabrooks Bill Estabrooks is a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia and currently Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. He represents the riding of Timberlea-Prospect for the NDP....
|
Timberlea-Prospect Timberlea—Prospect is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.Its Member of the Legislative Assembly since 1998 has been Bill Estabrooks of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party .-Members of the Legislative Assembly:This...
|
1998 |
Transportation,
Infrastructure Renewal,
Energy,
Conserve Nova Scotia,
Gateway Initiative,
Sydney Tar PondsThe Sydney Tar Ponds are a hazardous waste site on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.Located on the eastern shore of Sydney Harbour in the former city of Sydney , the Tar Ponds form a tidal estuary at the mouth of Muggah Creek, a freshwater stream that empties into the harbour...
Agency |
| Gordie Gosse Gordie Gosse is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, representing the electoral district of Cape Breton Nova for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
|
Cape Breton NovaCape Breton Nova is a provincial electoral district in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Its Member of the Legislative Assembly since 2003 has been Gordie Gosse of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party...
|
2003 |
| Ramona Jennex Ramona Jennex is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Kings South as a member of the New Democratic Party. She was previously a schoolteacher. On January 11, 2011 she was appointed...
|
Kings SouthKing South is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.-Members of the Legislative Assembly:This riding has elected the following Members of the Legislative Assembly:...
|
2009 |
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations,
Emergency Management,
Immigration,
Youth |
| Becky Kent Becky Kent is a Canadian politician. She was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage provincial by-election on October 2, 2007...
|
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage Cole Harbour—Eastern Passage is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.Its current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Becky Kent of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
|
2007 |
| Ross Landry Ross Landry is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Pictou Centre as a member of the New Democratic Party. He was named Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the NDP's first...
|
Pictou CentrePictou Centre is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.-Members of the Legislative Assembly:This riding has elected the following Members of the Legislative Assembly:...
|
2009 |
Justice,
Attorney General |
| Maureen MacDonald Maureen MacDonald is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, representing the riding of Halifax Needham for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. She was first elected in the 1998 election, and was re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2009...
|
Halifax NeedhamHalifax Needham is a provincial electoral district in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It has existed since 1967, though its boundaries have changed periodically....
|
1998 |
Health,
Health Promotion and Protection,
Gaelic Affairs |
| John MacDonell John MacDonell is a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. He was first elected in the 1998 election, and was re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2009...
|
Hants EastHants East is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.Its Member of the Legislative Assembly since 1998 has been John MacDonell of the New Democratic Party of Nova Scotia....
|
1998 |
Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| Clarrie MacKinnon Clarence "Clarrie" MacKinnon is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represents the constituency of Pictou East for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
|
Pictou EastPictou East is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.Its Member of the Legislative Assembly since the 2006 election is Clarrie MacKinnon of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party who replaced the retiring Jim DeWolfe of...
|
2006 |
| Marilyn More Marilyn More is a Canadian politician. She serves as Nova Scotia's Minister of Education, Minister of Labour and Workforce Development, and Minister of Volunteerism in Darrell Dexter's Cabinet. As a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, she represents the constituency of Dartmouth...
|
Dartmouth South-Portland Valley Dartmouth South—Portland Valley is a provincial electoral district in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
|
2003 |
Education,
Labour and Workforce Development,
Volunteerism |
| Jim Morton Jim Morton is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Kings North as a member of the New Democratic Party.-External links:* * *...
|
Kings NorthKings North is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The electoral district was formed through redistribution in 1956...
|
2009 |
Percy ParisPercy A. Paris is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He represents the constituency of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
|
Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank Waverley—Fall River—Beaver Bank is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
|
2006 |
Economic and Rural Development,
Tourism,
Culture and Heritage,
African-Nova Scotian Affairs,
Nova Scotia Business Inc. |
| Charlie Parker |
Pictou WestPictou West is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.Its Member of the Legislative Assembly since 2003 has been Charlie Parker of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party ....
|
1998, 2003 |
| Denise Peterson-Rafuse Denise Peterson-Rafuse is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Chester-St...
|
Chester-St. Margaret's Chester—St. Margaret's is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It is located on the South Shore....
|
2009 |
Community Services,
Seniors,
Advisory Council on the Status of Women,
Disabled Persons' Commission Act |
| Sid Prest |
Eastern ShoreEastern Shore is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.- Members of the Legislative Assembly :* Keith Colwell, Liberal...
|
2009 |
| Leonard Preyra Leonard Preyra is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, representing the riding of Halifax Citadel-Sable Island for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party...
|
Halifax CitadelHalifax Citadel is a provincial electoral district in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.Its current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Leonard Preyra of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
|
2006 |
| Gary Ramey Gary Ramey is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Lunenburg West as a member of the New Democratic Party....
|
Lunenburg WestLunenburg West is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The riding includes the town of Bridgewater, LaHave, and Hebbville.-Members of the Legislative Assembly:...
|
2009 |
| Michele Raymond Michèle Raymond is a Canadian politician and author. She currently serves as Halifax Atlantic's NDP MLA. A Halifax-area resident since 1963, she received degrees from Yale 1978 and Dalhousie in Linguistics and Law, respectively....
|
Halifax AtlanticHalifax Atlantic is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The Member of the Legislative Assembly since 2003 has been Michèle Raymond of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
|
2003 |
| Brian Skabar Brian Skabar is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. Skabar won the riding of Cumberland North, a traditionally Conservative area once held by Sir Charles Tupper.Skabar, as a candidate of the New Democratic Party, obtained 40...
|
Cumberland NorthCumberland North is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Prior to 1993, it was part of Cumberland East.The communities of Amherst and Pugwash are within its boundaries....
|
2009 |
| Maurice Smith Maurice Smith is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in a by-election on October 20, 2009. He represents the electoral district of Antigonish as a member of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.-External links:* *...
|
AntigonishAntigonish is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It has existed since 1867 and is one of only four Nova Scotian districts that has existed continuously since Canadian Confederation.The district includes the community...
|
2009 |
| Graham Steele Graham Steele is Nova Scotia's Minister of Finance and Minister of Acadian Affairs in Darrell Dexter's Cabinet. As a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, he represents the constituency of Halifax Fairview...
|
Halifax FairviewHalifax Fairview is a provincial electoral district in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.It was created in the re-distribution of 1993...
|
2001 |
Finance,
Acadian Affairs,
Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. |
| Mat Whynott Mat Whynott is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville as a member of the New Democratic Party....
|
Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville Hammonds Plains—Upper Sackville is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
|
2009 |
| Dave Wilson |
Sackville-Cobequid Sackville—Cobequid is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.Its Member of the Legislative Assembly since 2003 has been Dave Wilson of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party .-Members of the Legislative Assembly:*Dave...
|
2003 |
| Lenore Zann Lenore Zann is a politician as well as a screen, television, stage, and voice actress who has appeared in numerous television shows and films...
|
Truro-Bible HillTruro—Bible Hill is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.-Members of the Legislative Assembly:This riding has elected the following Members of the Legislative Assembly:...
|
2009 |
Party leaders
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
- Donald MacDonald (1941–1945)
- Russell Cunningham
Russell Cunningham was a Canadian social democratic politician from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. He was the leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in Nova Scotia from 1945 until 1953...
(1945–1953)
- Michael James MacDonald
Michael James MacDonald was a union leader, coal miner, volunteer firefighter and politician in Nova Scotia....
(1953–1963)
New Democratic Party
- James H. Aitchison
James Hermiston Aitchison was a Canadian academic and politician and leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
(1963 - November 1968)
- Jeremy Akerman
Jeremy Bernard Akerman is a former Canadian politician, writer and actor and a former leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.-Biography:...
(November 1968 - May 1980)
- James 'Buddy' MacEachern
James "Buddy" MacEachern was a Nova Scotia fisherman and politician. In the 1974 provincial election he was elected to the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly as the NDP member for Cape Breton Centre. When party leader Jeremy Akerman resigned, MacEachern became the party's interim leader by the caucus...
(1980) interim leader
- Alexa McDonough
Alexa Ann Shaw McDonough OC is a Canadian politician who became the first woman to lead a major, recognized political party in Canada, when she was elected the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party's leader in 1980...
(1980–1994)
- John Holm
John Holm is a Canadian politician from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia in the Halifax Regional Municipality.Holm served as the New Democratic Party, Member of the Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Sackville from 1984 until it was redistributed in 1993, then continued to serve the...
(1994–1996)
- Robert Chisholm (1996–2000)
- Helen MacDonald
Helen MacDonald is a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Cape Breton-The Lakes in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia from 1997 to 1999...
(2000–2001)
- Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter is a Canadian lawyer, journalist and former naval officer who is serving as the 27th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. A member of the New Democratic Party, he has led the Nova Scotia NDP since 2001. He was elected Premier in 2009 after defeating...
(2001–present)
Provincial secretaries
- Lloyd Shaw
Lloyd Robert Shaw, CM was a Canadian businessman, political activist and organizer, and a member of the Order of Canada.-Life and career:...
(-1949)
- Dr. L. P. Rutherford (1949–1950)
- Florence E. Welton (1950–1961)
- John McKinnon (1961–1963)
- Nancy Doull (1963–1965)
- Rae Gilman (1965–1969)
- Peggy Prowse (1969–1971)
- Gordon Flowers (1971–1974)
- Karen Vance (1974–1977)
- Bev Ivan (1978)
- Serena Renner (1979–1981)
- Mary Morrison (1982)
- Brian MacNaulty (1983)
- Rod Dickinson (1984–1986)
- Gayle Cromwell (1986–1987)
- Dennis Theman (1987–1990)
- Sandra Houston (1990–1992)
- Ross Fisher (1992–1996)
- Ron Cavalucci (1996–1997)
- Bruce Cox (1997–1999)
- Joe Fraser (1999–2001)
- Matthew Hebb (2001 - June 2005)
- Karen Haslam
Karen Haslam is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995, and served as a Minister in the government of Bob Rae. Later, she became the Mayor of Stratford, Ontario.-Background:Haslam was a teacher and librarian...
(October 2005 - March 2006)
- Ed Wark (2006–2010)
- Joanne Lamey (acting, 2010)
- Mike MacSween (2010 - )
Election results 1933–2009
| Election |
# of candidates nominated |
# of seats won |
# of total votes |
% of popular vote |
| 1933 |
3 |
0 |
2,336 |
0.7% |
| 1937 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0% |
| 1941 |
6 |
3 |
18,583 |
7.0% |
| 1945 |
20 |
2 |
39,637 |
13.6% |
| 1949 |
21 |
2 |
32,869 |
9.6% |
| 1953 |
16 |
2 |
23,700 |
6.8% |
| 1956 |
11 |
1 |
9,932 |
3.0% |
| 1960 |
34 |
1 |
31,036 |
8.9% |
| 1963 |
20 |
0 |
14,076 |
4.1% |
| 1967 |
24 |
0 |
17,873 |
5.2% |
| 1970 |
23 |
2 |
25,259 |
6.6% |
| 1974 |
46 |
3 |
55,902 |
13.0% |
| 1978 |
52 |
4 |
63,979 |
14.4% |
| 1981 |
52 |
1 |
76,289 |
18.1% |
| 1984 |
52 |
3 |
65,876 |
15.9% |
| 1988 |
52 |
2 |
74,038 |
15.7% |
| 1993 |
52 |
3 |
86,743 |
17.7% |
| 1998 |
52 |
19 |
155,361 |
34.4% |
| 1999 |
52 |
11 |
129,474 |
29.7% |
| 2003 |
52 |
15 |
126,479 |
30.9% |
| 2006 |
52 |
20 |
140,128 |
34.6% |
| 2009 |
52 |
31 |
186,556 |
45.2% |
- Election results between 1933 and 1963 represent the party during its time as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Since 1963, the party has been called the New Democratic Party.
Sources:
- To 1984: Politics of Nova Scotia: Vol. Two 1896-1988 by J. Murray Beck. Four Post Publications: Tantallon, Nova Scotia, 1988.
- After 1984: Elections Nova Scotia
Youth wing
The youth wing of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is the Nova Scotia Young New Democrats (NSYND). Founded in the early 1960s, it was not incorporated with a full constitution - aligned with that of the party proper - until 1969.
The youth wing was partially responsible for the election of Jeremy Akerman, as leader, at the 1968 Leadership Convention.
In 1994 the NSYND was renamed "The Nova Scotia NDP Youth Wing". At this time the youth wing was quite moderate, encouraging the main party to focus on government and embrace mainstream values such as fiscal responsibility, "one member one vote" and banning corporate and union donations. They also successfully lobbied the party to include more youth members in the party structure. Members and alumni of the youth wing were instrumental in forming
NDProgressNDProgress was a pressure group or faction within the Canadian federal New Democratic Party. Founded in 2000, NDProgress pushed for structural reform of the party as a means of increasing its electoral success....
in 2000.
In a controversial move in 2001 the youth wing was renamed the “New Party Youth Movement” (NPYM). The name change was made to advocate a renewal of the NDP similar the one in 1961 when the
Co-operative Commonwealth FederationThe Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
(CCF) became the NDP. The “New Party” name was taken from the “New Party” groups formed before the creation of the NDP. The NPYM made a positive impact at the 2001 NSNDP convention pushing the party to adopt a “one member one vote” style of electing its leader, successfully distributed home-made buttons to satire an organized attempt to shame members of the NDP caucus who did not support former leader Helen MacDonald and gaining over 2/3 support from convention delegates for their name change.
The youth wing was reconstituted in 2004 under its current name, the Nova Scotia Young New Democrats (NSYND) and has remained ideologically in step with that of the party proper.
See also
External links