The Liberals have confirmed their majority with the final judicial recount on Monday declaring Liberal candidate Hugh MacKay as the MLA-elect for Chester-St. Margaret’s.
The riding was one of five that kept the final result of the election — whether the Liberals would maintain their majority or have a minority — in doubt until the early hours of the morning. The NDP filed for a recount after MacKay won against NDP incumbent Denise Peterson-Rafuse by 90 votes.
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According to Elections Nova Scotia, the recount saw Peterson-Rafuse lose one vote, bringing the total votes separating the two to 91.
MacKay, the founder and director of Doors Open Halifax, caused a surprise upset on election night when he unseated the two-term NDP MLA and former cabinet minister. Peterson-Rafuse served as community services minister under the NDP government and was re-elected in 2013, though lost her cabinet post when the Liberals formed government.
Peterson-Rafuse was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2016 and took a leave from the legislature, but returned that fall.
Global News reached out for comment from Peterson-Rafuse but did not receive a response by end of day.
Asked what was next with his election confirmed, MacKay jokingly said he’d “read the manual on how to be an effective MLA” to represent his riding.
He also said he looked forward to getting to work in the legislature.
Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice James L. Chipman certified the statement of polls summaries and declared MacKay to be elected.
Last Friday, two other recounts in Guysborough-Eastern Shore-Tracadie and Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank declared Liberal incumbents Lloyd Hines and Bill Horne, respectively, as elected in their ridings. Both also won on election night by slim margins against the Progressive Conservatives, who then filed for recounts.
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With the recounts confirming all three Liberal wins, the party has 27 seats in the legislature. Twenty-six were needed for a majority.
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