1999 Nova Scotia general election

The 1999 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. The government was defeated on a money bill on June 18, and the Nova Scotia House of Assembly was dissolved by Lieutenant Governor James Kinley. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party, led by Dr. John Hamm. They received a majority of 30 seats compared to 11 seats by the NDP and 11 by the Liberals.

1999 Nova Scotia general election

← 1998July 27, 19992003 →

52 seats of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
27 seats were needed for a majority
Turnout68.12% Decrease1.35pp
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
LeaderJohn HammRobert ChisholmRussell MacLellan
PartyProgressive ConservativeNew DemocraticLiberal
Leader sinceOctober 28, 1995March 30, 1996July 12, 1997
Leader's seatPictou CentreHalifax AtlanticCape Breton North
Last election141919
Seats won301111[1]
Seat changeIncrease16Decrease8Decrease8
Popular vote169,383129,474128,795
Percentage38.93%29.76%29.60%
SwingIncrease9.33ppDecrease4.67ppDecrease5.50pp

Riding map of Nova Scotia showing winning parties

Premier before election

Russell MacLellan
Liberal

Premier after election

John Hamm
Progressive Conservative

Campaign

The Halifax Daily News ran an article which asked each party leader personal questions, including one about whether the candidate had ever been convicted of a criminal offence. NDP Leader Robert Chisholm said no in response, however, several days later it was revealed that Chisholm had a past criminal record for driving under the influence of alcohol when he was 19 years old. Chisholm claimed that he lied because he did not want his daughter to find out about his past.[2]

Results

Results by party

301111
Progressive ConservativeNew DemocraticLiberal
Official results[3][4]
PartyParty leader# of
candidates
SeatsPopular vote
1998DissolutionElectedChange#%Change (pp)
 Progressive ConservativeJohn Hamm52141330+16169,38338.93%+9.33%
 New DemocraticRobert Chisholm52191911-8129,47429.76%-4.67%
 LiberalRussell MacLellan52191911-8128,79529.60%-5.50%
 Nova Scotia PartyJack Friis1700003,1530.72%
 Independent501001,2780.29%0.00%
 Vacant0 
Total valid votes432,08399.31%+0.12%
Blank and invalid ballots2,9830.69%+0.12%
Total178525252435,066100.00%
Registered voters / turnout638,65568.12%-1.35%
Popular vote
PC
38.93%
New Democratic
29.76%
Liberal
29.60%
Nova Scotia Party
0.72%
Independent
0.29%
Seats summary
PC
57.69%
New Democratic
21.15%
Liberal
21.15%

Results by region

Party nameHRMC.B.ValleyS. ShoreFundyCentralTotal
Parties winning seats in the legislature:
 Progressive ConservativeSeats:71665530
 Popular vote:36.64%17.26%48.06%46.24%55.96%46.00%38.93%
 New Democratic PartySeats:91111
 Popular vote:37.24%33.77%21.47%23.49%24.14%25.57%29.76%
 LiberalSeats:181111
 Popular vote:24.68%47.53%29.64%29.45%19.03%28.16%29.60%
Parties not winning seats in the legislature:
Nova Scotia PartyPopular vote:1.35%0.83%0.82%0.21%0.27%0.72%
 IndependentsPopular vote:0.09%1.44%0.66%0.29%
Total seats:179776552

Retiring incumbents

Liberal
Progressive Conservative
Independent

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 districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalNDPPCNova ScotiaIndependent
AnnapolisStephen McNeil
3,265
35.22%
Tom Clahane
1,708
18.43%
Frank Chipman
4,026
43.43%
Paul Mann
271
2.92%
Laurie Montgomery
ClareWayne Gaudet
2,705
43.76%
Don Melanson
1,078
17.44%
Paul Comeau
2,355
38.10%
Anne Marie Boyer
43
0.70%
Wayne Gaudet
Digby—AnnapolisVivian O'Neil
1,550
24.09%
Steve Downes
1,105
17.17%
Gordon Balser
3,780
58.74%
Gordon Balser
Hants WestJoe Robertson
2,015
22.25%
Dick Terfry
1,764
19.48%
Ron Russell
5,276
58.27%
Ron Russell
Kings NorthPeter Hill
1,975
22.42%
Neil H. McNeil
2,513
28.53%
Mark Parent
4,321
49.05%
George Archibald
Kings SouthRobbie Harrison
3,213
33.23%
Mary DeWolfe
2,567
26.55%
David Morse
3,890
40.23%
Robbie Harrison
Kings WestDon Clarke
2,346
28.70%
Jacquie DeMestral
1,629
19.93%
Jon Carey
4,033
49.34%
Frances Adams
166
2.03%
George Moody

South Shore

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalNDPPCNova ScotiaIndependent
ArgyleKaren Kravfe
820
15.55%
Belinda Tucker
343
6.51%
Neil LeBlanc
4,060
77.01%
Oscar Harris
49
0.93%
Neil LeBlanc
Chester—St. Margaret'sKaren Willis Duerden
1,971
21.28%
Hinrich Bitter-Suermann
3,098
33.45%
John Chataway
4,193
45.27%
Hinrich Bitter-Suermann
LunenburgLila O'Connor
2,344
26.29%
Marilyn B. Crook
1,982
22.23%
Michael Baker
4,590
51.48%
Michael Baker
Lunenburg WestDon Downe
4,248
45.46%
Eric Hustvedt
1,846
19.75%
Jerry Swain
3,251
34.79%
Don Downe
QueensEddie Whitty
1,296
20.77%
John Wiles
1,498
24.00%
Kerry Morash
3,447
55.23%
John Leefe
ShelburneClifford Huskilson
3,206
41.54%
Dianne Nickerson
1,306
16.92%
Cecil O'Donnell
3,206
41.54%
Clifford Huskilson
YarmouthPhil DeMille
2,605
28.21%
John Deveau
3,079
33.34%
Richard Hurlburt
3,141
34.02%
Brian W. Hurlburt
409
4.43%
John Deveau

Fundy-Northeast

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalNDPPCNova ScotiaIndependent
Colchester—Musquodoboit ValleyLeo Stacey
1,052
12.97%
Jim Harpell
1,591
19.62%
Brooke Taylor
5,465
67.40%
Brooke Taylor
Colchester NorthJohn Davidson
2,274
27.03%
Ralph Martin
2,411
28.66%
Bill Langille
3,728
44.31%
Ed Lorraine
Cumberland NorthKathy Langille
1,595
19.02%
Doug Wilson
856
10.21%
Ernie Fage
5,936
70.78%
Ernie Fage
Cumberland SouthJohn Harrison
1,000
13.39%
Scott McKee
941
12.60%
Murray Scott
5,527
74.01%
Murray Scott
Hants EastSara Stewart
2,150
23.33%
John MacDonell
3,985
43.25%
Reese Morash
3,079
33.42%
John MacDonell
Truro—Bible HillMatthew Graham
1,613
18.21%
Ibel Scammell
2,499
28.21%
Jamie Muir
4,747
53.58%
Jamie Muir

Central Halifax

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalNDPPCNova ScotiaIndependent
Halifax Bedford BasinJack Hardiman
2,935
27.74%
Errol Gaum
2,946
27.85%
Mary Ann McGrath
4,489
42.43%
Janice Lively
209
1.98%
Gerry Fogarty
Halifax ChebuctoRoyden Trainer
2,286
27.27%
Howard Epstein
3,159
37.69%
Sean Phillips
2,811
33.54%
Hilda M. Stevens
126
1.50%
Howard Epstein
Halifax CitadelEd Kinley
2,752
29.88%
Peter Delefes
2,958
32.11%
Jane Purves
3,392
36.83%
Grace Patterson
52
0.56%
Art Canning
57
0.62%
Peter Delefes
Halifax FairviewGreta Murtagh
1,888
24.15%
Eileen O'Connell
3,615
46.23%
Narayana Swamy
2,117
27.08%
Maria Alexandridis
199
2.55%
Eileen O'Connell
Halifax NeedhamMike Rogers
1,970
25.12%
Maureen MacDonald
3,525
44.95%
Linda Carvery
2,185
27.86%
Scott Higgins
162
2.07%
Maureen MacDonald

Suburban Halifax

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalNDPPCNova ScotiaIndependent
Bedford—Fall RiverGerry St. Armand
2,197
19.17%
Jane Earle
2,700
23.55%
Peter Christie
6,566
57.28%
Francene Cosman
Halifax AtlanticDavid Melnick
1,458
16.53%
Robert Chisholm
4,266
48.37%
Bruce Cooke
2,794
31.68%
Gerald Rodgers
234
2.65%
Golda M. Redden
68
0.77%
Robert Chisholm
Sackville—Beaver BankBill MacDonald
2,276
25.86%
Rosemary Godin
2,951
33.53%
Barry Barnet
3,573
40.60%
Rosemary Godin
Sackville—CobequidKevin Perkins
1,235
14.59%
John Holm
4,787
56.57%
Wade Marshall
2,440
28.83%
John Holm
Timberlea—ProspectVicki Brown
2,171
23.34%
Bill Estabrooks
4,356
46.83%
Ken Fralick
2,600
27.95%
Ken Bumstead
174
1.87%
Bill Estabrooks

Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalNDPPCNova ScotiaIndependent
Cole Harbour—Eastern PassageColin MacEachern
2,216
23.39%
Kevin Deveaux
3,721
39.27%
Nadune Cooper Mont
3,539
37.35%
Kevin Deveaux
Dartmouth—Cole HarbourPeter Foy
2,150
25.79%
Darrell Dexter
3,164
37.95%
Greg Frampton
2,750
32.98%
Rufus Peacock
274
3.29%
Darrell Dexter
Dartmouth EastJim Smith
2,975
37.39%
Heather Henderson
2,272
28.55%
Terry Degen
2,710
34.06%
Jim Smith
Dartmouth NorthFrank Cameron
1,746
24.74%
Jerry Pye
3,105
44.01%
Jane MacKay
2,060
29.20%
Susan Livingstone
145
2.05%
Jerry Pye
Dartmouth SouthAudrey Goodyer
2,322
25.83%
Don Chard
3,011
33.50%
Tim Olive
3,656
40.67%
Don Chard
Eastern ShoreKeith Colwell
2,695
31.01%
Mary-Alice Tzagarakis
1,970
22.67%
Bill Dooks
3,637
41.85%
Jack Friis
388
4.46%
Keith Colwell
PrestonWendell Thomas
509
13.38%
Yvonne Atwell
1,496
39.32%
David Hendsbee
1,800
47.31%
Yvonne Atwell

Central Nova

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalNDPPCNova ScotiaIndependent
AntigonishHyland Fraser
4,058
39.18%
Charlene Long
2,229
21.52%
Angus MacIsaac
4,070
39.30%
Hyland Fraser
Guysborough—Port HawkesburyRay White
3,151
40.19%
Wendy Panagopoulos
1,267
16.16%
Ron Chisholm
3,285
41.90%
Ray White
Pictou CentreMarie Maxwell
1,171
13.78%
Jeff Callaghan
1,850
21.76%
John Hamm
5,479
64.46%
John Hamm
Pictou EastLynn MacDonald
1,285
15.76%
Andy Thompson
2,388
29.30%
Jim DeWolfe
4,478
54.94%
Jim DeWolfe
Pictou WestPaul Landry
2,109
25.47%
Charlie Parker
2,955
35.69%
Muriel Baillie
3,102
37.46%
D. Ed Berringer
114
1.38%
Charlie Parker

Cape Breton

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalNDPPCNova ScotiaIndependent
Cape Breton CentreSusan Deruelle Marsh
2,985
39.94%
Frank Corbett
4,042
54.09%
John Morrissey
446
5.97%
Frank Corbett
Cape Breton EastDave Wilson
3,704
40.12%
Cecil Saccary
3,699
40.06%
Brad Kerr
1,043
11.30%
Gerard Burke
787
8.52%
Reeves Matheson
Cape Breton NorthRussell MacLellan
4,222
48.69%
Archie MacKinnon
2,587
29.83%
Murray Johnston
1,863
21.48%
Russell MacLellan
Cape Breton NovaPaul MacEwan
4,004
53.44%
Gordie Gosse
3,253
43.42%
Harold Dorrington
235
3.14%
Paul MacEwan
Cape Breton SouthManning MacDonald
5,356
62.90%
Elizabeth Cusack
2,451
28.78%
Leland Lewis
708
8.31%
Manning MacDonald
Cape Breton—The LakesBrian Boudreau
3,715
43.70%
Helen MacDonald
3,614
42.51%
Ken Langley
1,173
13.80%
Helen MacDonald
Cape Breton WestRussell MacKinnon
5,094
51.83%
Brian Slaney
3,359
34.18%
Joe Boudreau
1,375
13.99%
Russell MacKinnon
InvernessCharlie MacDonald
3,549
39.27%
Roy Yipp
1,612
17.84%
Rodney MacDonald
3,876
42.89%
Charlie MacDonald
RichmondMichel Samson
3,105
47.01%
Wilma Conrod
1,595
24.15%
Joseph MacPhee
1,905
28.84%
Michel Samson
VictoriaKennie MacAskill
2,263
49.46%
Nancy MacKeigan
772
16.87%
Anna Curtis-Steele
1,174
25.66%
Osborne Burke
229
5.01%
Stemer MacLeod
137
2.99%
Kennie MacAskill

See also

References