Summary: This northern Nova Scotia riding is now up for grabs after long-time Conservative MP and Justice Minister Peter MacKay decided not to run again. On the same day MacKay announced his decision, the nominated Liberal candidate also withdrew his nomination, forcing the party to find a new candidate. The new slate of candidates includes the Conservative Party’s director of political operations, and a former provincial NDP cabinet minister. The independent candidate is Nova Scotia’s “ballot box bandit,” Alexander MacKenzie, who has stolen or attempted to steal ballot boxes in this riding in the past four federal elections.
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Boundaries: Central Nova sees a substantial boundary adjustment with this election, losing a small portion of Antigonish County, but gaining a large part of Halifax County, including all of the Musquodoboit Valley and part of the Eastern Shore.
Last Election: Conservative MP Peter MacKay won his sixth straight election in 2011, defeating the NDP candidate by more than 12,000 votes, or 32 per cent.
History: MacKay has represented this area since 1997. In federal elections, this area has historically had strong support for the Conservative and previously the Progressive Conservative parties. The exception was 1993 and the one-term election of Liberal Roseanne Skoke.
Candidates
Conservative: Fred Delorey, political staffer
NDP: Ross Landry, former MLA and Justice Minister (2009-2013)
Liberal: Sean Fraser, Lawyer
Green: David Hachey, farmer from Meadowville
Independent: Alexander J. MacKenzie
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