1956 Nova Scotia general election

The 1956 Nova Scotia general election was held on 30 October 1956 to elect members of the 46th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservatives led by Robert Stanfield.

1956 Nova Scotia general election

October 30, 1956
43 seats of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly 22 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	79.83% 4.04pp
First party Second party Third party   Lib CCF Leader Robert Stanfield Henry Hicks Michael James MacDonald Party Progressive Conservative Liberal Co-operative Commonwealth Leader since November 10, 1948 September 9, 1954 1953 Leader's seat Colchester Annapolis ran in Annapolis East (won) Cape Breton Centre Last election 12 23 2 Seats won 24 18 1 Seat change 12 5 1 Popular vote 162,678 159,666 9,878 Percentage 48.55% 47.65% 2.95% Swing 5.37pp 1.27pp 3.87pp
Premier before election Henry Hicks Liberal Premier after election Robert Stanfield Progressive Conservative

This was the first election the Liberals had fought after the death of their longtime charismatic leader, Angus L. Macdonald. Public Health Minister Harold Connolly became interim leader and premier following Macdonald's death in 1954, but was defeated at a leadership convention by Education Minister Henry Hicks. The convention exposed a sharp religious divide in the Liberal Party; Hicks was a Protestant and Connolly was a Catholic. Hicks was unable to heal the breach, and the Liberals were narrowly defeated, ending 23 years of Liberal rule.