Early turnout down as Nova Scotia voters head to polls on Tuesday

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday in Nova Scotia’s provincial election. (Rick Conrad)

UPDATED NOV. 26, 10:10 a.m.

Election Day is Tuesday in Nova Scotia, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

But many Nova Scotians have already voted, though early numbers are down from the 2021 election.

According to Elections Nova Scotia, 160,698 people have voted in early, advance and community polls at returning offices around the province. That also includes write-in ballots.

RELATED: Trying to beat Masland in Queens tough but rewarding, challengers say

In the 2021 provincial election, 176,793 votes were cast early. But in 2017, that number was 118,623.

As of Sunday, there were 788,427 registered voters in Nova Scotia.

According to Elections Nova Scotia, 1,950 of 9,270 eligible voters have cast ballots in early voting in Queens.

Election officials did not mail out individual voter information cards this year because of concerns about the impending Canada Post strike.

Naomi Shelton is the spokesperson for Elections Nova Scotia.

She said voter cards would have been mailed out beginning Nov. 14. Postal workers hit the picket lines on Nov. 15.

“So we wanted to make sure we had one clear path, one clear message for voters,” Shelton said in an interview. “So instead we put together a voter awareness campaign. So that is a multimedia campaign that has radio ads, a variety of traditional print mediums as well as social ads.”

Three people are running in the riding of Queens. Incumbent PC MLA Kim Masland is trying to win her third election in a row. She’s being challenged by Liberal Cathy De Rome and New Democrat Brian Skabar.

If you’re not sure where to vote in your community, you can use the Where Do I Vote tool on the Elections Nova Scotia homepage or call 1-800-565-1504. Or you can vote at the Queens returning office in the post office building on Market Street.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Trying to beat Masland in Queens tough but rewarding, challengers say

Liberal Cathy De Rome, PC incumbent Kim Masland and New Democrat Brian Skabar are running in Queens in the Nova Scotia election. (Rick Conrad, Nova Scotia NDP)

The two people hoping to unseat popular MLA Kim Masland in Queens admit it’s an uphill battle, but they say they’ve been hearing good things from voters.

Cathy De Rome is running for the Liberals and Brian Skabar is trying to take the seat back for the NDP in Tuesday’s provincial election.

Masland is trying for a repeat in a riding she captured in 2021 for the Progressive Conservatives with 70 per cent of the vote. Before that, the riding was Queens-Shelburne, which Masland won in 2017 with almost 44 per cent of the vote. 

Election Day is Tues., Nov. 26. But Queens County residents can vote early at the returning office on Market Street in Liverpool or at the North Queens Fire Hall in Caledonia.

When the election was called on Oct. 27, the Tories had 34 seats, the Liberals had 14, the NDP had 6 and there was one independent.

PARTY PLATFORMS:

De Rome lives in Beach Meadows and is a retired elementary school teacher. She’s also the president of the Queens Liberal association. Skabar is originally from Amherst, but now lives near Caledonia. He is a retired social worker and a former NDP MLA for Cumberland North.

De Rome and Skabar say that they know it’s going to be tough to defeat Masland. But they say it’s important to run.

“Our democracy is only as strong as the people who participate in it,” De Rome said in a recent interview. “And I want people to become involved and find out what the issues are and how they can work at participating and hopefully making things better.

“Kim is very popular and she has been doing it a long time. But just maybe it’s time for a change.”

Skabar says he’s knocked on 40 to 50 doors a day during the campaign. And even though he’s new to the area, he says he’s been getting positive feedback.

“To my surprise, only having been here for two years, either people in Queens County are really, really kind, 0r I might have half a chance,” he said in an interview.

“Three out of five doors that I knock one are supportive of New Democrats. Our incumbent here is quite popular individually but I don’t think people are really crazy about Tim Houston.”

Masland could not be reached for an interview. But in a video posted on her Facebook page, she said she’s knocked on more than 5,000 doors in the campaign.

She also posted that the Houston government has hired more doctors, helped build more affordable housing, and made record investments in road and bridge infrastructure.

De Rome says that while many voters say they’re not happy with the state of health care, housing and affordability, they haven’t asked her much about she or the Liberals plan to address it.

“People will complain. When the other day I said to a man, ‘Do you have any questions?’ He said no. And so I said, ‘Are you happy with things?’ ‘Not really’. So it just didn’t quite make sense.”

De Rome points to the Liberal plan to build more homes using the co-operative housing model, open more collaborative care clinics around the province, and to forgive part of certain health-care workers’ student loans for up to five years.

“We are getting more doctors, it seems, but people are still having long waits in emergency. … To sit in emergency for nine-plus hours to have a prescription renewed is ridiculous.”

The NDP had been a force in the traditionally Conservative riding of Queens from 2006 to 2013. Sterling Belliveau hung on to the seat for the party in 2013 when it was changed to Queens-Shelburne. 

But the NDP haven’t had much of a presence since Belliveau retired before the 2017 election.

Skabar says he’s hearing from voters who are upset about Premier Tim Houston’s early election call. He says voters have told him they like some parts of the PC plan. But they wonder why the party needed an election to do that.

Skabar adds that Masland has done a good job getting roadwork done in Queens County. 

“I only just met Kim last week at the community dinner here in Caledonia. And really, what’s not to like? Actually, she’s a good member. But the government that she represents is not doing a good job for Nova Scotia.”

The Liberals’ De Rome says that no matter which party people support, she hopes they get out and vote.

“I would consider it an honour if they chose to elect me. I’ve never thought of doing this, but I am enjoying it. People have been very receptive when I’ve talked to them. … I hope people take the chance to get out and vote. It’s important. Go out and vote, put your X in the spot where you think would do the most good.”

You can vote early at the returning office in your area until 8 p.m. on Friday or until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Monday.

If you don’t know where your Election Day voting location is, you can use the Where do I Vote tool on the Elections Nova Scotia website at electionsnovascotia.ca or call 1-800-565-1504. Polls will be open on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Elections Nova Scotia extends early voting hours

Queens County residents can vote early at the Queens returning office on Market Street in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad)

Elections Nova Scotia is reminding voters about extended early voting hours on Thursday and Friday.

In Queens County, the early voting location is at the Queens returning office in the Canada Post building on Market Street in Liverpool.

You can also vote early at the North Queens Fire Hall in Caledonia.

Those voting places are open until 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Advance polls are closed on Sunday, but will be open again on Monday. 

On election day on Tuesday, voters can go to their assigned voting location or to the returning office.

You can find out where to vote by using the Where do I vote tool on the Elections Nova Scotia website or by calling 1-800-565-1504.

And CTV Atlantic is hosting a leaders’ debate on Thursday evening at 6:30.

Top health officials coming to Liverpool to hear from residents

A path through a garden leads to the entrance of a hospital

Queens General Hospital. Photo Ed Halverson

Residents of Queens will have the chance to bring their healthcare concerns to those directly responsible when the department of Health and Wellness listening tour stops at the Best Western in Liverpool this month.

Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson, Deputy Minister Jeannine Lagassé and Nova Scotia Health interim CEO Karen Oldfield are holding conversations in communities across Nova Scotia about the work underway to improve the healthcare system.

In a release announcing the events the department of health and wellness says participants will be able to ask questions and hear directly from those responsible for making change happen.

The health department issued a release Tuesday announcing the Emergency Department at Queens General Hospital will be closed for most of the week leading up to the event.

The ED will close Tuesday and Wednesday night, February 7 and 8. It will close again for the weekend beginning Friday at 1:30pm reopening Sunday morning at 8am then closing again at 1:30pm Sunday until 8am Monday morning.

The department will close again Tuesday afternoon until the morning of Wednesday the 15th.

Anyone wishing to attend the community engagement session will need to register in advance.

Those who can’t be there in person can forward questions that will be discussed at the event by submitting them through the online registration link.

The listening tour will be held at the Best Western in Liverpool on Friday February 17 from 1:00 until 3:00pm.

To register for the Community Health Conversations event follow this link.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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Green Party announces clean harbour advocate as Queens candidate

A man smiles in front of a white wall

Green Party Candidate for Queens Brian Muldoon. Photo submitted by Brian Muldoon

With the addition of a Green Party candidate, Queens now has a full roster of candidates in the upcoming provincial election.

Beach Meadows resident Brian Muldoon has stepped forward to carry the banner for the Greens.

Muldoon has been active for the past several years opposing the expansion of fish farms in Liverpool Bay.

He says it’s that work that inspired him to stand for the Greens.

“The easy thing is to do nothing, the difficult thing is to run and you know, I can’t sit back.”

Muldoon sees himself as the underdog in a race against better funded and better staffed campaigns.

“I don’t have a team of 18 people in my back pocket out there knocking on every door possible. I know that and I won’t be able to hit major doors in Queens County.”

Muldoon intends to reach as many people as he can in person but hopes social media can help get his message to a wider audience.

As the name indicates, the environment is the top issue for the Green party however Muldoon says they have a fully considered platform to address a range of hot-button

When asked for his 30-second elevator pitch, this is what Muldoon had to say.

“You know what, I’m a very passionate and enthusiastic individual that will make sure your voice is heard in this community and in this province. I will go to bat for you and I want to make sure that any government that is in provincially, will be held accountable. And our environment means so much to us. We have the most beautiful beach, I live in Beach Meadows, and we don’t want our treasur es, I mean, that’s a treasure, Beach Meadows Beach, along with other parts and we’d better keep that pristine, the way it is.”

Expect to see Muldoon and the other candidates vying to represent Queens, Mary Dahr for the NDP, the Liberals’ Susan MacLeod and incumbent PC candidate Kim Masland step up their campaign efforts as the August 17 election day approaches.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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NDP leader in Queens to tout affordable housing, rent control

A man and a woman stand under an umbrella in the rain

NDP leader Gary Burrill and candidate for Queens Mary Dahr in Liverpool August 2. Photo Ed Halverson

The leader of the Nova Scotia NDP Gary Burrill was in Queens Monday bringing a promise of affordable housing.

Burrill says the issue comes up repeatedly as local candidate Mary Dahr meets people on their doorstep.

“They hear over and over and over from people about the real serious problem of the availability of a place to live, about the numbers of people that are living in out buildings and are living in tents on the South Shore because of this unavailability,” said Burrill.

Dahr says rental options are particularly dire.

“I went to somebody’s house the other night, they were paying $800 and it was such a bad place,” said Dahr. “They have to hold on to that because there’s nothing else.”

Burrill says if NDP wins the election ensuring all Nova Scotians can access housing will be a core priority.

“We are committed to institute permanent rent control within a month of being sworn in as government, if we are able to form government in the election,” said Burrill.

The NDP leader says his is the only one of the three major parties who are on board with rent controls.

“Our view is, that a majority of Canadians, today, live in jurisdictions where they have protection from sudden, dramatic, unsubstantiated rent increases and people of Nova Scotia should have it too.”

Burrill suggests tying annual rent increases to the Consumer Price Index.

The PCs and Liberals argue the only way to provide more affordable housing is to increase the amount of available units and should be done, for the most part, by private sector developers.

Burrill agrees more housing stock needs to open up and there is a role for government in that process.

He says the Liberals have largely abdicated their responsibility to provide social housing by open fewer than 200 new units over eight years in power.

“We are committed, in the NDP, to doing much better than that,” said Burrill. “To getting the government back into the housing business in the way that it used to be, particularly with the opening up of options in co-op housing, various kinds of non-profit housing, social housing.”

Burrill also sees the need to provide stricter regulations on short-term housing rentals, like AirBnb, to ensure more of those units will be available to people wanting to live full-time in their communities.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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