Progressive Conservatives easily retain Pictou West in Nova Scotia byelection

Nova Scotia’s governing Progressive Conservatives easily retained the riding of Pictou West in a byelection held Tuesday, with first-time Tory candidate Marco MacLeod receiving more than four times the votes of his next-closest competitor.

progressive conservatives easily retain pictou west in nova scotia byelection

Unofficial results released by Elections Nova Scotia on Tuesday night gave MacLeod, who runs a small custom lumber mill on his family farm, 4,159 votes, placing him far ahead of NDP candidate Melinda MacKenzie, a school teacher and a member of Pictou town council, who placed second with 949 votes.

“Thank you, Pictou West for trusting me to be your MLA. I will be a strong voice for you at the government decision making table,” MacLeod posted on Facebook late Tuesday.

Liberal Mary Wooldridge-Elliott, a school bus driver and member of Pictou County council who finished a distant second in the riding in the 2021 provincial election, came third with 548 votes.

Clare Brett, a singer-songwriter and caregiver who also ran in 2021 for the Green Party of Nova Scotia, trailed in fourth with 82 votes.

The email you need for the day's top news stories from Canada and around the world.

The byelection became necessary with the sudden retirement early last month of the legislature’s speaker, Karla MacFarlane, who had held the riding since 2013.

Premier Tim Houston, who represents the neighbouring riding of Pictou East, called the byelection soon after MacFarlane announced her retirement, despite having up to six months to do so.

More on Politics

“Welcome to the team,” Houston said in a Facebook post that congratulated MacLeod.

With the win, the Tories hold 33 seats in the 55-seat legislature, while the Liberals have 15, the NDP has six seats and there is one Independent.

In an interview last week MacLeod said he was conscious of the need to establish his own presence despite his party’s perceived strength in the electoral district.

MacFarlane easily won the seat for the Progressive Conservatives in the 2021 general election with nearly 64 per cent of the vote, but the riding that includes the town of Pictou had gone to the NDP for a decade before MacFarlane’s election.

The state of the province’s health-care system and the cost of living were among the main issues raised by voters during the campaign.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published May 21, 2024.

OTHER NEWS

31 minutes ago

Growth Stocks vs. Value Stocks: Which Should You Choose?

31 minutes ago

Fortnite could finally be getting its Five Nights at Freddy’s crossover

31 minutes ago

Post wildfire brings destruction for some as lucky neighbors survive

31 minutes ago

New pro-Palestinian encampment sets up in downtown Montreal public square

31 minutes ago

PM used ‘churlish view’ to ‘put out memes’ criticising nuclear: David Littleproud

31 minutes ago

‘Dead weight’: Woman’s chilling text to son before elderly mum’s death in ‘putrid’, faeces-covered house of horror

31 minutes ago

Restoring kampung houses to keep Pulau Ubin’s rustic charm

35 minutes ago

Sacre bleu! Former Commonwealth Games swimmer left with a French accent after suffering a stroke whilst training

35 minutes ago

How depressing? Junk food is bad for your mental health, study warns

35 minutes ago

Labour pledge to give people suffering from brittle bone disease access to vital scans in victory for the Mail on Sunday's War On Osteoporosis campaign

35 minutes ago

ERIC KAUFMANN: Be warned...Labour will turbo charge the woke revolution

35 minutes ago

SUSIE DENT: Rhyming slang isn't brown bread - and it's all down to Kylie and Miley

36 minutes ago

Cameron Young hits 59 as Tom Kim leads Travellers Championship

36 minutes ago

Trump drops $500 tip at Philly cheesesteak restaurant as possible VP name is floated in crowd interaction

36 minutes ago

Surely CBA shares can't just keep rising?

36 minutes ago

Sick at home and bored out of your mind? Here are five films and shows that will get you through

36 minutes ago

SuperAnimal: A deep learning model for automated animal behavior analysis

36 minutes ago

Nationwide tells members you can't turn up to our AGM in person

36 minutes ago

Star Wars fans hone their lightsaber dueling skills at a Mexico City Jedi academy

40 minutes ago

‘Star Wars’ Actress Daisy Ridley Comes Face-To-Face With Rey Character Performer At Disneyland: “Surrealist!”

41 minutes ago

Inflation gauge to offer cold comfort for borrowers

41 minutes ago

5 Reasons to Seriously Consider Using a Living Trust to Pass an Inheritance to Your Family

41 minutes ago

Aussie skateboarders move one step closer to Paris

41 minutes ago

Steelers Plan on Using Payton Wilson’s ‘Superpower’ to Their Advantage

41 minutes ago

Euro 2024 predictions, fixtures, group standings, results: Sunday 23 June

45 minutes ago

L.A. Olympics official: Leaving Caitlin Clark off 2024 U.S. team 'missed opportunity'

45 minutes ago

Caeleb Dressel qualifies for another event at Paris Olympics, 'happy to be done' with trials

48 minutes ago

Australians will get ‘strong leadership’ from a Coalition government

48 minutes ago

Army chiefs plan biggest reservists mobilisation exercise in 20 years

48 minutes ago

Vitamin supplement that costs just £1 a day could help millions of Britons suffering with poor blood circulation

48 minutes ago

PETER HITCHENS: Could Sir Keir Starmer have failed to spot that he was in a Police State?

48 minutes ago

Meghan's the one I want to hear from on my birthday, but here's why I know she won't call: Just weeks from his 80th, a forlorn THOMAS MARKLE sees no hope of a reconciliation with his daughter

48 minutes ago

Addicts being charged huge sums for private rehabilitation services they do not need, expert warns

48 minutes ago

SARAH VINE: Not only does Starmer have a fundamental disregard for women's rights, he has an even more fundamental disregard for their opinions. That's why I'll never vote for him

48 minutes ago

Eight bargain investment trusts that could bring YOU returns of up to 90% over five years

48 minutes ago

Eight bargain investment trusts that could bring YOU returns of up to 90% over five years

54 minutes ago

Philadelphia officer clinging to life after being shot in the head: report

54 minutes ago

How college graduate aged 23 was able to buy $200,000 home that will make him $23,000 profit a year with just a $540 down payment

54 minutes ago

12-year-old set to become the youngest to graduate from NY high school: 'Absolutely insane'

54 minutes ago

Five Teams Emerge With Interest In Golden Knights' Goaltenders