Just over three years ago, Nova Scotians went to the polls to elect a Progressive Conservative (PC) majority government for the first time since 2006. After a new start for the Nova Scotia government, Premier Tim Houston called a snap election for Tuesday, November 26, 2024. Over these past few years his government has dealt with issues pertaining to healthcare, housing, affordability, and climate change. Now with yet another provincial election looming, all three issues are back on the table for the next government. Here is what you need to know about Nova Scotia’s upcoming provincial election.
Premier Houston’s PCs have been in power since the Summer of 2021. Despite polls suggesting another Liberal win, the PCs shocked the province and won with 38 percent of the vote. His next four years seemed to be guaranteed after one of Houston’s first moves was to create a fixed election date system. In the past, setting election dates was up to the government. Although they were guaranteed to be every four years, the government often called snap elections. Calling early elections is still possible with a fixed election date system, however, it was designed to mandate an election on the third Tuesday of July every four years. Houston said that the aim of this measure is to ensure “predictability, transparency and […] [to] limit any perceived advantage by the government to control the timing of the next election.”
Houston backtracked from this decision when announcing the upcoming snap election. He cited the reason for this decision, saying he wished to tackle the high cost of living and affordability, however Nova Scotians needed their say before this happens. He also said that he wanted to ensure a Nova Scotia election would not coincide with a possible federal election.
As the PC government enjoys high poll numbers, calling this election seemed to be more about expanding his majority to guarantee power until 2028.
The Nova Scotia NDP and Nova Scotia Liberals both criticized this move by highlighting that this broken promise reflects upon other broken promises. One of these was the Coastal Protection Act. After passing unanimously in 2019, it planned to use building and development restrictions to protect the Nova Scotia coastline and homeowners from erosion and climate change.
Minister of the Environment, Tim Halman, went back on this issue by saying “we trust Nova Scotians and we respect Nova Scotians to make an informed decision about their property.” Liberal MLA, Braedon Clark spoke on this issue calling it both “a decision the government can’t rationalize” and that they “[want lower] levels of government [to] take care of it for them.”
NDP leader Claudia Chender highlighted how despite three years in power, Houston’s actions against high rent prices have not been as effective as he promised. “After big promises and wasteful spending from the Conservatives, things feel more out of reach than ever. Both Zach and Tim spent years in government and didn’t help families afford what they needed,” said Chender. “The NDP will protect renters and build homes that people can actually afford.”
Leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, Zach Churchill touched upon the same issue saying, “We have to build more quickly,” he said. “We have to empower the private sector to develop market housing and we have to lean on the models that are working the best in our province, and that is the not-for-profit model and co-op options.”
Houston’s main talking point throughout the campaign was for Nova Scotians to put their trust back in the process. “The NDP are beholden to Jagmeet Singh in Ottawa, the Liberals are beholden to Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. I am only beholden to Nova Scotians,” said Houston.
Despite this, healthcare remains on the table as one of the hottest issues of the campaign. Chender looks to address the issue through creating 15 family doctor clinics per year, adding financial incentives for medical professionals, and through reducing costs of prescription drugs, seniors pharmacare premiums, and providing free contraceptives.
Churchill’s healthcare plan wants to add 40 primary care clinics and especially focus on areas with the highest percentage of those waiting on a family doctor. His government also plans to double the physician financial incentive from $5000 to $10000.
Houston has flexed these past three years, especially healthcare. His platform showcases the hiring of more medical professionals, establishment of new medical schools, and the addition of primary care facilities.
Several issues create the framework of this election. Whether it is fixed election dates, healthcare, or dealing with high costs, Nova Scotians have many reasons to get out and vote on November 26.
