1998 Nova Scotia general election

The 1998 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 Liberals went on to form a minority government with the support of the Progressive Conservatives.

1998 Nova Scotia general election
March 24, 1998
52 seats of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
27 seats needed for a majority
Turnout69.47% 5.92pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Russell MacLellan Robert Chisholm John Hamm
Party Liberal New Democratic Progressive Conservative
Leader since July 12, 1997 March 30, 1996 October 28, 1995
Leader's seat Cape Breton North Halifax Atlantic Pictou Centre
Last election 40 3 9
Seats won 19 19 14
Seat change 21 16 5
Popular vote 158,380 155,361 133,540
Percentage 35.10% 34.43% 29.60%
Swing 13.86pp 16.71pp 1.49pp
Riding map of Nova Scotia showing winning parties
Premier before election

Russell MacLellan
Liberal

 Premier after election

Russell MacLellan
Liberal

Background

Liberal Premier John Savage was elected in a landslide in 1993. The Liberals inherited a $471-million deficit, and launched an austerity program which cut the province's health and education systems.[1] On April 1, 1997, the provincial government imposed a 15% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) which merged the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). This shift angered some Nova Scotians who now had to pay taxes on things that had previously been exempted, such as home heating fuel. Savage also implemented an unpopular highway toll. Liberal party infighting eventually resulted in Savage's resignation in July 1997.[2] Russell MacLellan became Premier of Nova Scotia on July 18, 1997.

Campaign

The governing Liberals were desperate to distance themselves from the Savage government which was viewed as deeply unpopular. New leader, Russell MacLellan, was made the focus of the campaign with all Liberal candidates signs displaying the phrase, "the MacLellan Liberals."[3]

During a televised debate on March 5, 1998, MacLellan stumbled badly when Progressive Conservative Leader John Hamm asked if he would resign if he failed to bring in a balanced budget. Instead of responding, MacLellan stared straight ahead and did not speak for seven seconds.[4] MacLellan blamed the pause on rigid debate rules. This moment marked a turning point in a race that saw the Liberals barely retain power.[5]

Results

Results by party
↓
19 19 14
Liberal New Democratic Progressive Conservative
Official results [6][7]
Party Party leader # of
candidates		 Seats Popular vote
1993 Dissolution Elected Change # % Change (pp)
  Liberal Russell MacLellan 52 40 35 19 -21 158,380 35.10% -13.86%
  New Democratic Robert Chisholm 52 3 4 19 +16 155,361 34.43% +16.71%
  Progressive Conservative John Hamm 52 9 9 14 +5 133,540 29.60% -1.49%
  Independent 7 0 0 0 0 1,325 0.29% -0.90%
  Vacant 2  
Total valid votes 448,606 99.43% +0.13%
Blank and invalid ballots 2,578 0.57% -0.13%
Total 163 52 52 52 – 451,184 100.00% –
Registered voters / turnout 649,536 69.47% -5.92%
Popular vote
Liberal
 
 35.10%
New Democratic
 
 34.43%
PC
 
 29.60%
Independent
 
 0.29%
Seats summary
Liberal
 
 36.54%
New Democratic
 
 36.54%
PC
 
 26.92%

Results by region
Party name HRM C.B. Valley S. Shore Fundy Central Total
Parties winning seats in the legislature:
  Liberal Seats: 4 7 3 2 1 2 19
  Popular vote: 34.46% 44.91% 32.54% 35.30% 29.31% 31.42% 35.34%
  New Democratic Party Seats: 13 3 - 1 1 1 19
  Popular vote: 43.94% 38.02% 25.44% 28.09% 25.57% 27.41% 34.61%
  Progressive Conservative Seats: - - 4 4 4 2 14
  Popular vote: 21.47% 16.16% 41.66% 36.46% 44.98% 41.17% 29.75%
Parties not winning seats in the legislature:
  Independents Popular vote: 0.13% 0.91% 0.36% 0.15% 0.14% - 0.30%
Total seats: 17 10 7 7 6 5 52

Retiring incumbents
Liberal
Progressive Conservative

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
LiberalPCNDPIndependent
Annapolis Laurie Montgomery Basil Stewart John Kinsella Bob Mann Earle Rafuse †
Clare Wayne Gaudet Guy LeBlanc Vanessa Paddock Wayne Gaudet
Digby—Annapolis John Drish Gordon Balser Steve Downes Joseph H. Casey†
Hants West Debbi Bowes Ron Russell Dana Harvey Ron Russell
Kings North Jennifer Foster George Archibald Neil H. McNeil George Archibald
Kings South Robbie Harrison David Morse Mary DeWolfe Robbie Harrison
Kings West Baden Thurber George Moody Jacquie DeMestral George Moody

South Shore
Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
LiberalPCNDPIndependent
Argyle Allister Surette Neil LeBlanc Diane E. Cromwell Oscar Harris Allister Surette
Chester—St. Margaret's Jim Barkhouse Hinrich Bitter-Suermann Doris Maley Jim Barkhouse
Lunenburg Lila O'Connor Michael Baker Marilyn Crook Lila O'Connor
Lunenburg West Don Downe Lou Centa Eric Hustvedt Don Downe
Queens Tery Doucette John Leefe Basil L. Giffin John Leefe
Shelburne Clifford Huskilson Cecil O'Donnell Derek Jones Clifford Huskilson
Yarmouth Richie Hubbard Alex McIntosh John Deveau Richie Hubbard

Fundy-Northeast
Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
LiberalPCNDPIndependent
Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley Dick Steeves Brooke Taylor Jim Harpell Brooke Taylor
Colchester North Ed Lorraine Andy Williamson Janet Maybee Ed Lorraine
Cumberland North Russell Scott Ernie Fage Peter Stewart Ernie Fage
Cumberland South Mike Uberoi Murray Scott Sandy Graham James MacLeod Guy Brown †
Hants East Jim W. Smith Lawrin Armstrong John MacDonell Bob Carruthers †
Truro—Bible Hill Eleanor Norrie Jamie Muir Ibel Scammell Eleanor Norrie

Central Halifax
Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
LiberalPCNDPIndependent
Halifax Bedford Basin Gerry Fogarty Michael Maddalena Errol Gaum Gerry Fogarty
Halifax Chebucto Kenzie MacKinnon Sean Phillips Howard Epstein Jay Abbass †
Halifax Citadel Ed Kinley Tara Erskine Peter Delefes Art Canning Ed Kinley
Halifax Fairview Bob Britton Brian Nash Eileen O'Connell Eileen O'Connell
Halifax Needham Gerry O'Malley Artho Kartsaklis Maureen MacDonald Gerry O'Malley

Suburban Halifax
Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
LiberalPCNDPIndependent
Bedford—Fall River Francene Cosman Peter Christie Marvin Silver Francene Cosman
Halifax Atlantic Darren Watts Jeff Campbell Robert Chisholm Golda M. Redden Robert Chisholm
Sackville—Beaver Bank Bill MacDonald Stephen Taylor Rosemary Godin Bill MacDonald
Sackville—Cobequid Jack Brill Rob Batherson John Holm John Holm
Timberlea—Prospect Bruce Holland Tom Robertson Bill Estabrooks Bruce Holland

Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Eastern Shore
Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
LiberalPCNDPIndependent
Cole Harbour—Eastern Passage Randy Anstey Linda DeGrace Kevin Deveaux Dennis Richards †
Dartmouth—Cole Harbour Alan Mitchell Michael L. MacDonald Darrell Dexter Alan Mitchell
Dartmouth East Jim Smith Ralph Hawley Viola Huntington Jim Smith
Dartmouth North Gloria McClusky Mike Brownlow Jerry Pye Vacant
Dartmouth South Bruce Hetherington Allan Billard Don Chard John Savage †
Eastern Shore Keith Colwell Greg Brown Darren Richard Keith Colwell
Preston Wayne Adams Ross D. Isenor Yvonne Atwell Wayne Adams

Central Nova
Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
LiberalPCNDPIndependent
Antigonish Hyland Fraser Andrew MacNeil Maurice Smith Bill Gillis †
Guysborough—Port Hawkesbury Ray White Ron Chisholm Wendy Panagopoulos Ray White
Pictou Centre Roseanne Skoke John Hamm Judy Hughes John Hamm
Pictou East Wayne Fraser Jim DeWolfe David MacKenzie Wayne Fraser
Pictou West Rob McDowell Luke Young Charlie Parker Donald P. McInnes †

Cape Breton
Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
LiberalPCNDPIndependent
Cape Breton Centre Steve Drake Julien Frison Frank Corbett Russell MacNeil †
Cape Breton East Clarence Routledge Henry Boutillier Reeves Matheson John MacEachern †
Cape Breton North Russell MacLellan Murray Johnston Archie MacKinnon Russell MacLellan
Cape Breton Nova Paul MacEwan Walter Hagen Lou Surette Paul MacEwan
Cape Breton South Manning MacDonald Anna Steele Ed Murphy Manning MacDonald
Cape Breton—The Lakes Allan Henderson Rollie Clarke Helen MacDonald Helen MacDonald
Cape Breton West Russell MacKinnon Alfie MacLeod Brian Slaney Alfie MacLeod
Inverness Charlie MacDonald Randy MacDonald Maria Coady Ed MacDonald Charles MacArthur †
Richmond Michel Samson Frank Sutherland Wilma Conrod Vacant
Victoria Kennie MacAskill Dan Chiasson Ruth Schneider Stemer MacLeod Kennie MacAskill

References
  1. MacLellan New NS Premier Maclean's - July 21, 1997
  2. A Savage sweep in Nova Scotia CBC Archives
  3. Lawn signs for politicians in Canada tough to perfect, says Graham Steele CBC News
  4. 'It went very well' Halifax Chronicle Herald - March 6, 1998
  5. N.S. election: Leaders hoping to avoid costly gaffes during upcoming debate CTV News
  6. "Summary, by Electoral District and Party, of Valid Votes Cast- 1998" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  7. "Elections Returns 1998 Recapitulation" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved November 11, 2021.


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