The 2021 Nova Scotia general election was held on August 17, 2021, to elect members to the 64th General Assembly of Nova Scotia.
In a major upset, Tim Houston led the Progressive Conservatives to power for the first time since 2006, and with a majority government for the first time since 1999. With a popular vote share of 38.44%, the PCs won the smallest winning vote share of any majority government in Nova Scotian electoral history, and won nearly twice the number of seats as the Liberals, despite their overall vote share differing by less than 2%.
Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin’s victory in Cumberland North marked the first occasion since 1988 that an independent candidate won election to the House of Assembly. A record number of four Black Nova Scotians were elected MLAs; prior to this election, only five Black MLAs had ever been elected in Nova Scotia.
Redistribution of ridings In April 2019, the Electoral Boundaries Commission released its report which recommended changing the number of electoral districts from 51 to 55, including reinstating the four former districts of Argyle, Clare, Preston and Richmond. In October 2019, the Nova Scotia Legislature passed implementing legislation, providing for the following changes to take effect at the forthcoming election.
Abolished ridings New ridingsRenaming of districts Argyle-Barrington Argyle Cape Breton Centre Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier Cape Breton-Richmond Richmond Glace Bay Glace Bay-Dominion Guysborough-Eastern Shore-Tracadie Guysborough-Tracadie Preston-Dartmouth Preston Sackville-Beaver Bank Sackville-Uniacke Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg Cape Breton East Sydney-Whitney Pier Sydney-MembertouDivision of districts Bedford Bedford Basin Bedford South Queens-Shelburne Queens ShelburneReorganization of districts Annapolis Clare-Digby Annapolis Clare Digby-Annapolis Cole Harbour-Portland Valley Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage Cole Harbour Cole Harbour-Dartmouth Eastern Passage
Timeline
May 30, 2017 – The Liberal Party, led by Stephen McNeil, wins the 2017 Nova Scotia general election, the Progressive Conservative Association stay as the official opposition, and the New Democratic Party remain at third party status. January 24, 2018 - Jamie Baillie resigns as leader of the Progressive Conservative Association, and MLA Karla MacFarlane becomes interim leader. October 27, 2018 - Tim Houston is elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Association. August 6, 2020 - Premier Stephen McNeil announces he will resign as leader of the Liberal Party and as Premier of Nova Scotia in early 2021. February 6, 2021 - Iain Rankin is elected as leader of the Liberal Party. February 23, 2021 - Iain Rankin is officially sworn in as the 29th Premier of Nova Scotia. July 17, 2021 - Premier Iain Rankin calls a general election for August 17, 2021.
Seat Before ChangeDateMemberPartyReasonDateMemberPartyCumberland SouthJanuary 24, 2018Jamie BaillieResignationamid an allegation of harassmentJune 19, 2018Tory RushtonSackville-CobequidNovember 16, 2018Dave WilsonResignationJune 18, 2019Steve CraigTruro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon RiverJune 9, 2019Lenore ZannResigned from caucusin order to seek the federal Liberal nomination in Cumberland-ColchesterCape Breton-RichmondJune 24, 2019Alana PaonRemoved from caucusamid a conflict over constituency office accessibilityArgyle-BarringtonJuly 31, 2019Chris d'EntremontResignationto run in the federal district of West NovaSeptember 3, 2019Colton LeBlancNorthside-WestmountJuly 31, 2019Eddie OrrellResignationto run in the federal district of Sydney-VictoriaSeptember 3, 2019Murray RyanSydney River-Mira-LouisbourgJuly 31, 2019Alfie MacLeodResignationto run in the federal district of Cape Breton-CansoSeptember 3, 2019Brian ComerTruro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon RiverSeptember 12, 2019Lenore ZannResignationto run in the federal district of Cumberland—ColchesterMarch 10, 2020Dave RitceyCape Breton CentreFebruary 6, 2020Tammy MartinResignationdue to ongoing health issuesMarch 10, 2020Kendra CoombesChester-St. Margaret'sFebruary 23, 2020Hugh MacKayResigned from caucusamid charges of impaired drivingAnnapolisMay 3, 2021Stephen McNeilResignationretired from political lifeHants EastJune 1, 2021Margaret MillerResignationretired from political lifeCumberland NorthJune 24, 2021Elizabeth Smith-McCrossinRemoved from caucusamid encouraging a protest that blocked the provincial border
Leaders' debates 2021 Nova Scotia general election debates Date Organizers Venue Moderator(s) Participant Absent invitee Non-invitee Source Liberal PC NDP Green Atlantica July 28, 2021 CBC Nova Scotia Neptune Theatre, Halifax Tom Murphy Amy SmithP RankinP HoustonP BurrillN AlexanderN Dean August 5, 2021 CTV Atlantic CTV Studios, Halifax Steve MurphyP RankinP HoustonP BurrillN AlexanderN Dean
Results
Results by party ↓ 31 17 6 1 Progressive Conservative Liberal New Democratic
+ Summary of the 2021 Nova Scotia House of Assembly electionPartyLeaderCandidatesVotesSeats # ± % Change (pp) 2017 2021 ±Tim Houston 55 162,473 19,119 38.59 1731 / 5514Iain Rankin 55 155,026 3,357 36.82 2717 / 5510Gary Burrill 55 88,477 2,178 21.02 77 / 551Jessica Alexander 43 9,042 2,085 2.15 6 4,960 4,513 1.18 –1 / 551Jonathan Geoffrey Dean 16 1,023 609 0.24 -0.16Total 230421,001 100.00% Rejected ballots 1,711 412 Turnout422,712 19,34755.07% 1.72 Registered voters767,618 11,505
Synopsis of results
= Newly created districts = Open seat = Turnout is above provincial average = Winning candidate was in previous Legislature = Incumbent had switched allegiance = Previously incumbent in another riding = Not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature = Incumbency arose from byelection gain = Other incumbents renominated = Previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada = Multiple candidates