Tim Houston and his Progressive Conservatives have secured a decisive majority in the Nova Scotia election. After the vote count was suspended at 1:30 a-m, the Tories were leading or elected in 42 of the legislature’s 55 ridings, the New Democrats were at nine, the Liberals had three and there was one Independent. Some ridings are still to be determined, including Yarmouth, which is still too close to call, flipping back and forth between Liberal Leader Zach Churchill and the Tory candidate, Nick Hilton. At his victory speech in New Glasgow, Houston returned to a theme that he used to start the campaign on October 27th — warning the federal Liberal government not to get in Nova Scotia’s way. The Tories’ signature promise is to lower the harmonized sales tax by one percentage point to 14 per cent.
Tim Houston had no problem winning his seat in Pictou East again. Houston got 4,380 votes, which was nearly 79 percent of all votes cast in Pictou East. He was first elected in the 2013 provincial election. Houston was re-elected in 2017 and again in 2021. In 2018, he was elected Leader of the PC Party of Nova Scotia, and then sworn in as Premier after the PC election win in 2021.
The Progressive Conservatives held on to Pictou Centre. PC candidate Danny MacGillivray was elected Tuesday getting 67 percent of the vote. Pictou Centre had previously been represented by Progressive Conservative Pat Dunn from 2006-2009 and 2013-2024
In Pictou West, Marco MacLeod of the Progressive Conservatives easily won re-election, getting 74 percent of the vote. MacLeod is fresh off a by-election win earlier this year.
Tom Taggart of the PCs will again represent Colchester North, winning the riding with 67 percent of the votes cast.
Michelle Thompson, the Minister of Health and Wellness, was re-elected in Antigonish, capturing almost 65 percent of Tuesday’s vote. Thompson was first elected in 2021.
In Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River, the Progressive Conservatives’ Dave Ritcey won re-election, earning almost 68 percent of the vote. Ritcey was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in a by-election in 2020 and was re-elected in 2021.
Colchester County District RCMP have arrested a man for attempted murder after an assault that left one person with significant injury. Shortly before 2:00am on Monday, RCMP received a report of an assault in progress at a home in Denmark. Officers arrived to find that the victim had sustained life-threatening injuries, and the culprit had fled on foot. The victim was taken to hospital by EHS. A 30-year old Denmark man was arrested when he returned to the home. He is charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose, and has been remanded into custody.
Federal N-D-P Leader Jagmeet Singh says while he supports the Liberal plan to slash G-S-T off a slew of items and services during the holidays, but won’t back the 250-rebate proposal.
He says the cheques should go to everyone, not just people who earned an income last year.
The Bloc Québécois is also pushing for the rebates to be sent to seniors and retirees.
