Liberals off to early lead in Nova Scotia
The Liberals held 8 seats and the Conservatives held 3 after the last election in 2021
The Liberals are out to an early lead in Nova Scotia.
CBC is projecting that incumbent Darren Fisher is re-elected in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour and Shannon Miedema, a first-time candidate, has been elected in Halifax.
Meanwhile, Liberal Braedon Clark, a former MLA who lost his seat in November's provincial election, was projected to win in Sackville-Bedford-Preston.
Fisher was elected to Ottawa in the 2015 election and has served as the minister of veterans affairs. He previously served on Halifax's municipal council from 2009 to 2015.
Miedema's seat had been vacated by former Liberal MP Andy Fillmore after he announced his bid for the Halifax mayoralty last fall.
A former municipal staffer, Miedema submitted her nomination papers in November and won the nomination on March 1, one day before then-prime minister Justin Trudeau called the byelection for Halifax. In the ensuing weeks, Mark Carney was named Liberal leader and a general election was called, effectively cancelling the byelection.
Liberal incumbent Kody Blois was elected in the riding of Kings-Hants, a primarily rural riding.
Mike Kelloway was projected to win in Sydney-Glace Bay.
CBC is also projecting that Liberal incumbent Lena Metlege Diab has won in Halifax West.
Results continue to roll in from the province's remaining electoral districts.
Following the last election in 2021, the Liberals held eight seats and the Conservatives held three.
An estimated 26 per cent of eligible Nova Scotia voters already cast their ballots in advance polls over the Easter weekend, an increase from previous elections.
Across the country, an estimated 7.3 million votes were recorded at advance polls, according to Elections Canada, an increase of 25 per cent from the 2021 federal election. On the Friday alone, more than two million people voted — a single-day record.
Conservative candidate and incumbent Chris d'Entremont is hosting a watch party for his supporters at a seafood restaurant in Digby, N.S., where there is a live blue lobster in a tank.
Controversy in the lobster fishery has been a big issue in the riding of Acadie-Annapolis for years and has engendered anti-Trudeau sentiment.
Meanwhile, in New Glasgow, N.S., red "Canada Strong" posters decorated Liberal Sean Fraser's watch party at the Glasgow Square Theatre, along with posters of Liberal Leader Mark Carney.
Fraser is seeking a fourth term. Last year, the 40-year-old said he was not going to run for re-election in Central Nova, saying he wanted to spend more time with his young family. But Carney personally called Fraser earlier this year and persuaded him to throw his hat back into the ring, promising more work-life balance.
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Winnipeg Free Press
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- Winnipeg Free Press
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