Politics of Nova Scotia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nova Scotia is a parliamentary democracy. Its legislature consists of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and fifty-five members representing their electoral districts in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.[1] As Canada's head of state, Queen Elizabeth II is the head of Nova Scotia's chief executive government. Her duties in Nova Scotia are carried out by the Lieutenant-Governor, Arthur LeBlanc. The government is headed by the Premier, Iain Rankin, who took office February 6, 2021. Halifax is home to the House of Assembly and Lieutenant-Governor. The House of Assembly has met in Halifax at Province House since 1819.[2]

History[]

The first general assembly in Nova Scotia sat in May, 1758, making it the oldest in Canada.[1][3]

Of the registered voters in 2017, 53.4% voted. Voter turnout has decreased from 82% turnout in 1960.[4]

From Confederation to World War I[]

Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia (1867-1916) - seats won by party
Government Anti Confederation Liberal Con Liberal
Party 1867 1871 1874 1878 1882 1886 1890 1897 1897 1901 1906 1911 1916
    Liberal 36 24 22 6 24 28 29 25 34 36 32 26 31
    Conservative 2 14 12 32 14 10 9 13 3 2 4 12 12
    Independent 4 1 2
Total 38 38 38 38 38 37 38 37 38 38 38 38 43

From 1920 to 1967[]

Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia (1920-1967) - seats won by party
Government Liberal Con Liberal PC
Party 1920 1925 1928 1933 1937 1941 1945 1949 1953 1956 1960 1963 1967
    Liberal 29 3 18 22 25 22 28 27 22 18 15 4 6
    Conservative 3 40 24 8 5 5
    Progressive Conservative 8 13 24 27 39 40
    United Farmers 6
    Labour 5 1
    Cooperative Commonwealth Federation 3 2 2 2 1 1
Total 43 43 43 30 30 30 30 37 37 43 43 43 46

From 1970 to present[]

Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia (1970-2017) - seats won by party
Government Liberal PC Liberal PC NDP Liberal PC
Party 1970 1974 1978 1981 1984 1988 1993 1998 1999 2003 2006 2009 2013 2017 2021
    Liberal 23 31 17 13 6 21 40 19 11 12 9 11 33 27 17
    Progressive Conservative 21 12 31 37 42 28 9 14 30 25 23 10 11 17 31
    New Democratic 2 3 4 1 3 2 3 19 11 15 20 31 7 7 6
    Cape Breton Labour 1 1 1
    Independent 1
Total 46 46 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 51 51 55

Nova Scotia elected minority governments in the 2006, 2003, and 1998. The Progressive Conservative government of John Hamm, and later Rodney MacDonald, required the support of the New Democratic Party or Liberal Party after the election in 2003.

The Liberal party won both the October 8th, 2013 and most recent provincial election on May 30, 2017, each with a majority government.[5] Prior to that, the election on June 9, 2009 was won by the NDP party for the first time ever. They captured a majority with 31 seats to 11 for the Liberals and 10 for the PC Party.[6] The election on June 13, 2006 elected 23 Progressive Conservatives, 20 New Democrats and 9 Liberals, leaving Nova Scotia with a Progressive Conservative minority government.[7]

In 2006/07, the Province passed a budget of $6.9 billion, with a projected $72 million surplus. Federal equalization payments account for $1.385 billion, or 20.07% of the provincial revenue. While Nova Scotians have enjoyed balanced budgets for several years, the accumulated debt exceeds $12 billion (including forecasts of future liability, such as pensions and environmental cleanups), resulting in slightly over $897 million in debt servicing payments, or 12.67% of expenses.[8]

Current politics[]

The Liberal party won the most recent election on May 30, 2017 with its second consecutive majority government.[5]

In the 2018/19 budget, results were $10.78 billion in expenses, $10.81 billion in revenue, and a projected surplus of $29.4 million.[9] The surplus is largely related to expected tax income from the future sale of cannabis within the province.[10] The province's revenue comes mainly from the taxation of personal and corporate income, although taxes on tobacco and alcohol, its stake in the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, and oil and gas royalties are also significant.[11] The province participates in the HST, a blended sales tax collected by the federal government using the GST tax system.[12]

In the 2021 Nova Scotia general election, the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "About the Legislature". Nova Scotia Legislature. 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
  2. ^ Province of Nova Scotia (2009). "Province House, Halifax, Nova Scotia" (PDF). Nova Scotia Legislature.
  3. ^ Archives, Nova Scotia (1758-05-20). "Nova Scotia Archives - Voices of the People: Nova Scotia House of Assembly ~ Petitions and Correspondence, 1758-1850". novascotia.ca. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  4. ^ Chief Electoral Officer (30 May 2017). "Statement of Votes and Statistics: Volume 1" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Liberals score back-to-back majorities in Nova Scotia nail-biter | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
  6. ^ Smith, Amy; Jackson, David (May 6, 2009). "N.S. heads to polls June 9". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on May 6, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
  7. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes by Party 2006" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. June 13, 2006.
  8. ^ Nova Scotia Finance (2006). "2006-2007 Estimates" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-11-10. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
  9. ^ "Budget 2018-19 Highlights" (PDF). Nova Scotia. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Nova Scotia tables balanced budget, with $29.4M surplus relying heavily on cannabis sales | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  11. ^ "Current Revenues and Taxes in Nova Scotia" (PDF). Nova Scotia. 18 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Nova Scotia Department of Finance - Tax 101". www.novascotia.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-15.

External links[]

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