Nova Scotia voters could make history Tuesday if, as polls suggest, they elect the first NDP government east of Ontario.
The province has been ruled since 2003 by two minority Progressive Conservative governments. Premier Rodney MacDonald was forced to call an election when the NDP and Liberal voted down a government bill to re-direct offshore energy revenues from paying down the debt to other expenditures.
In the last week of May, a Corporate Research Associates poll showed the NDP at 44%, the Liberals at 28%, the Tories at 26% and the Greens at 2%.
CRA president Don Mills said Monday that if the numbers hold, the New Democrats will form a “slim majority government.” But he added that he believes the NDP under Darryl Dexter have surged in the closing days of the campaign and could win an even larger majority.
“The shift in voting behaviour is based on years of dissatisfaction with Liberal and Conservative governments,” Mr. Mills said. “The province has reached a tipping point where people are voting for real change.”
[More]
Updates:
2:46 pm EDT, June 9th, 2009 — Voting brisk as Nova Scotians head to the polls
7:50 pm EDT, June 9th, 2009 — NDP wins majority gov’t in Nova Scotia
Oh, lucky Nova Scotia.
Good luck with that Nova Scotia.
It worked out well for both Ontario and BC.
Wow, poor Nova Scotia (as they will soon become with an NDP gov’t) Sheesh.
It will be Ontario’s Billy Bob Rae all over again. Some Canadians never learn.
ndp – no downpayment party.
Congrats NS!! things are likley to turn out as Sask and Man… not Ontario… and these people need to learn the truth about BC (performed better under the NDP then it has the liberals). The NSNDP has learned alot, and is much more progressive moderate (along the likes of MAN this explains why the liberals have collapsed).
Darrell don’t blow it!
Bestontheleft. When it comes to socialist governments, you cant polish a turd. BC was better under the NDP? Give me a break. I lived here through the NDP’s reign and am here with the Libs (best of a bad lot).
Funny thing seems to happen when socialists get elected. Ecomonies go in the crapper. And when they inevitably lose, things magically rebound.
NS obviously has far too many people who like handouts rather than hand ups.
Saskatchewan turned around THE MINUTE the Sask Party got elected. The NDP held this province back for too many years.
To late for Nova Scotia. They will have to learn the hard way.