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MacMaster finally gets mandate as Nova Scotia goes Tory blue

Allan MacMaster celebrates with his supporters on Tuesday night after learning that Inverness County voters returned him to the legislature for a fourth term as the riding’s MLA.


August 18, 2021

-by Bill Dunphy
and April MacDonald

    After 12 years and three terms of sitting in opposition, Allan MacMaster will be heading to Halifax to sit on the government side of the legislature.
    As of 11 p.m. on Tuesday night, MacMaster was projected to win the riding of Inverness, leading Liberal candidate Damian MacInnis by 3,285-1,848, with NDP candidate Joanna Clark in third with 485 votes.
    MacMaster was reached at the Whycocomagh Waterfront Centre where he was awaiting the news with his supporters. When asked what his electoral secret was, he replied, “Well,” he paused. “Now, I can’t tell you that, can I?” he roared.
    On a serious note, MacMaster said, “I approached it with optimism, I worked hard and it was close but at the end of the day I was sincere and optimistic. I reached out to people and I listened. I believe that from that first campaign (in 2009) that I left people with enough faith that I could be counted on.”


    Asked what was the downfall of the Liberals he said that the PCs put ideas on the table and that after two terms of a Liberal government, every government has an expiration date.
    “I know Iain very well; he is a great guy who was put in a tough position, especially coming in after a leader [Stephen McNeil] who ran the province. It is statistically difficult.
    Damian MacInnis, when reached at home, said, “I’m very appreciative to have the opportunity to represent the region. My volunteers and family sacrificed so much throughout this campaign and I can’t thank them enough. I ran a great campaign and worked harder than anyone and I can leave this knowing I gave it my all. Thank you to my supporters and I look forward to the future in our region.”
    And also at home, Joanna Clark said, “I did the best I could. I set a personal goal of 10 per cent and if I can reach that it will be fantastic — right now, that’s all I can hope for and in four more years I will come back for the win.”
    While voting PC might be the norm for Inverness, for the first time since MacMaster was elected in 2009, the Nova Scotia electoral map was a sea of blue.
    As of writing this, with 73 per cent of all polls reporting, the Tories were poised to form a majority government with 30 seats. The Liberals were about to become the official opposition with 15 votes. The NDP had nine seats and there was one independent elected.
    Other notable results from Tuesday’s election included the defeat of two Liberal cabinet ministers.
    In Guysborough-Tracadie, PC candiate Greg Morrow was poised to defeat Transportation and Active Transit Minister Lloyd Hines. As of 11 p.m. Morrow was leading  3,177 to 1,517 with 26 of 27 polls reporting.
    And in Antigonish, Michelle Thompson of the Progressive Conservatives had a lead of 2,664 to 1,356 over Attorney General and Justice Minister Randy Delorey, with 30 of 36 polls reporting.
    In Richmond, former Port Hawkesbury town councillor Trevor Boudreau, running on the PC ticket, had a 1,853 to 1,338 lead over Liberal Matt Haley, with 24 of 28 polls in.
    And next door in the riding of Victoria-The Lakes, incumbent MLA Keith Bain was leading Liberal candidate Nadine Bernard 3,223-2,001.
    Among the party leaders, Tim Huston of the PCs had a huge lead in the riding of Pictou East, leading Liberal candidate Joe MacDonald 1,942-632.
    Liberal leader Iain Rankin was poised to win his seat in Timberlea-Prospect, leading with 2,692 votes while the PC and NDP candidates, Bill Healy and Raymond Theriault, were battling it out for second place.
    And NDP leader Gary Burrill, the incumbent MLA for Halifax-Chebucto, had a comfortable lead of 1,449-795 over Liberal candidate Jackie Kinley.
    The Inverness Oran will provide poll-by-poll results for the riding of Inverness next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       


Oran Dan - The Inverness Oran - www.invernessoran.ca

The Inverness Oran
15767 Central Avenue. P.O. Box 100
Inverness, Nova Scotia. B0E 1N0
Tel.: 1 (902) 258-2253. Fax: 1 (902) 258-2632
Email: [email protected]