Nova Scotia New Democratic Party leadership elections

This page lists the results of leadership elections held by the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. Though the party came into existence in 1961 with the merger of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Canadian Labour Congress, the position of party leader was not officially created until the 1966 convention. Outgoing CCF leader Michael James MacDonald led the party in the legislature until 1963. The party was led into the 1963 provincial election by party president 1963 until 1966 James H. Aitchison who served as de facto leader until 1966 when he was officially elected to the position of leader.

1963 leadership convention

(Held in November 1963)

(Held on November 9, 1968)

(Held on November 16, 1980)

(Held on March 30, 1996)

(Held on July 15, 2000)

First Ballot:

Second Ballot (Bitter-Suermann eliminated. Peters withdrew):

Third Ballot (Maureen MacDonald eliminated):

MacDonald was unable to gain election to the House of Assembly and resigned on April 30, 2001. Darrell Dexter was chosen interim leader.

(Held on June 2, 2002)

Was held on February 27, 2016 following the resignation of Darrell Dexter on November 16, 2013.^[1]

Candidates:

First ballot:

Second ballot:

(To be held June 25, 2022)

The election will be conducted on a One Member One Vote basis.

Beck, J. Murray, Politics of Nova Scotia, vol.2. Four East Publications, 1988.
Carty, Kenneth R et al., Leaders and Parties in Canadian Politics: Experiences of the Provinces. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Canada, 1992.
Stewart,Ian and Stewart, David K. "Conventional choices : Maritime leadership politics" University of British Columbia Press, 2007.