‘Just wasn’t meant to be.’ NDP hopeful shocked by Nova Scotia losses

HALIFAX – Election night did not go as planned for the NDP in Nova Scotia, with the seats that many people thought would be easy wins, turning out to be anything but.

Peter Stoffer, the long time NDP MP for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook, was defeated by school board superintendent and Liberal candidate Darrell Samson.

NDP Incumbents Megan Leslie of the Halifax riding and Robert Chisolm in the Dartmouth-Cold Harbour riding also lost their seats on Monday night.

READ MORE: NDP loses 3 strongholds in Nova Scotia amid Liberal sweep

Stoffer was the veterans affairs critic for the NDP and a Member of Parliament for nearly two decades. During the 2011 election, Stoffer won with 54 percent of the vote.

“I congratulate Mr. Samson and his family,” Stoffer told his supporters following his defeat. “I thank each and every one of you for your unbelievable support over the last 18 and a half years. It is what it is folks, God bless each and everyone of you. Thank you for your tremendous support.”

While watching the results come in with family and friends, Stoffer said he noticed an ‘unstoppable trend early on.’ He said he has always encouraged people to get out and vote, so can’t complain with the way they voted.

“I’m almost 60 years old in January,” Stoffer said. “I had a wonderful run at it. It just wasn’t meant to be. Fate has a way. The big guy, you know, he plays the cards the way they are and you got to be able to accept it.”

Stoffer says he isn’t sure what’s next for him, but will work with Samson to provide an easy transition for the area’s constituents. Despite losing his own seat, Stoffer said he was sad to hear Megan Leslie has also lost her riding, calling her “exactly the type of woman you want in Ottawa.”

During the election campaign, polls flipped back and forth in Leslie’s riding of Halifax, which is a key Nova Scotia riding. One week, polls showed Megan Leslie and the NDP on top. The next week, favouring Andy Fillmore and the Liberals as the most likely to win.

In the end, Fillmore, an urban planner, was elected in the Halifax riding with 51 percent of the vote.

READ MORE: Andy Fillmore promises to be ‘champion of Halifax’ after beating Megan Leslie

Leslie told supporters she ran a strong campaign and is proud of her record, but “things happen.” She said she was getting positive feedback on the doorstep, but that didn’t translate into votes.

“Sometimes its not about the individual candidates, sometimes its about parties and about leaders. I suspect once all the dust is settled, that’s what happened here,” she said to supporters on Monday night.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Sometimes its not about the individual candidates, sometimes its about parties and about leaders. I suspect once all the dust is settled, that's what happened here," she said to supporters on Monday night.

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Leslie was one of the youngest MP’s to be selected as a deputy leader of the Official Opposition. She also served as the NDP’s critic for the environment. As for what’s next, Leslie says she isn’t sure, but did rule out getting involved in provincial politics.

“I am not seeking the leadership of the provincial NDP,” she told reporters after thanking her supporters. “It’s not something I am interested in doing.”

The Halifax riding has been represented by the NDP since 1997. Before Leslie was elected, it was represented by Alexa McDonough, the former leader of the federal NDP.

McDonough was on hand at Leslie’s post-election gathering and said she was disappointed with the results, but that the “people are never wrong.”

“I’m devastated. The loss of several terrific members of parliament and the NDP caucus right here in Halifax – Megan Leslie, Peter Stoffer, Robert Chisholm…..so many good candidates,” McDonough said Monday night.

Losing the Halifax riding to a Liberal is something that McDonough wasn’t expecting during this election. ”

READ MORE: Federal Election 2015: Liberals dominate in Atlantic Canada

It had never been NDP before I won it, so of course it was going to, at some point or other, probably go to another party. But not this soon, and not on Megan Leslie’s watch,” McDonough told Global News, while praising Leslie for her work.

“One thing is clear. There has never been a better member of Parliament from this riding, there has never been a better member of the NDP caucus in Ottawa with Megan Leslie, so tonight I am kind of heartbroken that the community isn’t going to have the benefit of Megan continuing as the Member of Parliament this time.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "One thing is clear. There has never been a better member of Parliament from this riding, there has never been a better member of the NDP caucus in Ottawa with Megan Leslie, so tonight I am kind of heartbroken that the community isn't going to have the benefit of Megan continuing as the Member of Parliament this time."

Dartmouth-Cole Harbour incumbent Robert Chisholm was also uprooted this election. He served as the NDP’s critic for Fisheries and Oceans.

“This was not the result we were looking for, there’s no question about it,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This was not the result we were looking for, there's no question about it," he said.

Prior to winning his seat in the 2011 election, Chisholm represented the Halifax riding from 1991 to 2003. He was also the leader of the NDP in Nova Scotia, serving as the official opposition in the late nineties.

“I’ve been a politician for a long time and you just do what it is you think is right and then you see what happens at the end,” Chisholm said following his defeat. “Not a problem. I’ll continue on.”

Maureen MacDonald, the interim leader of the provincial NDP, said it’s difficult to conquer the momentum of the Liberals this election.

READ MORE: Global News declares a Liberal majority government

“When there’s a tide its very, very, difficult to overcome that, and I think nobody knows that better than I do, given that two years ago in the province we had a Liberal tide and a lot of my colleagues lost their seats,” said MacDonald.