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Canada Votes 2008

Results, Ridings and Candidates

Halifax

2008 Results

Halifax
Party Candidate Votes Status
Updated: Nov. 7, 2008 5:00 PM EST 241/241 polls
NDP Megan Leslie 19,242 Elected
LIB Catherine Meade 12,413
CON Ted Larsen 9,278
GRN Darryl Whetter 3,891
ML Tony Seed 182

Unofficial results were updated at the time shown following judicial recounts in six ridings. For more recent results, visit Elections Canada. The CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. External links will open in a new window.

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This riding is on the shores of Halifax Harbour and Bedford Basin. It includes the part of the City of Halifax west of the harbour to Bicentennial Drive and Pennant River in the west and the Bedford Basin in the north.

Halifax has a diverse mix of industries. As the province's capital, one of its largest employers is the provincial government. It is also the Atlantic regional headquarters for many national financial institutions. The service industry is important, as are health, social and educational services.

According to the 2006 census, more than 55 per cent of residents rent their dwellings. Almost 90 per cent of the population cites English as their mother tongue. The immigrant population is slightly more than 10 per cent.

Almost 38 per cent of the population over age 25 have university certificates or degrees. The average family income is $79,849 and the unemployment rate is 7.2 per cent.

In 2004, the northwest part of the riding, which formerly extended to Dunbrack Street, moved into Halifax West, but 25 per cent of Halifax West riding was added in the south.

The riding was established in 1867 as a two-member seat. In the 1966 redistribution, it was divided into the ridings of Halifax, Dartmouth-Halifax East, and Halifax-East Hants. In 1996, 70 per cent of the Halifax riding was combined with 19 per cent of Halifax West.

Population: 89,448 (2006 census; an increase of 0.6% since 2001)

Political History

Former NDP leader Alexa McDonough has held this riding since 1997.

McDonough maintained her spot as MP in 2006, winning over Liberal Martin MacKinnon by 7,983 votes.

In 2004, she defeated Liberal Sheila Fougere. McDonough stepped down as leader of the NDP in January 2003. PC Leader Robert Stanfield was elected in the 1967 byelection in Colchester-Hants after becoming party head. He was re-elected in Halifax in 1968, 1972 and 1974. He stepped down as leader in 1976. In 1979, PC George Cooper defeated Liberal Brian Flemming by a mere 15 votes.

In 1980, former Nova Scotia premier Gerald Regan, a Liberal, was elected as MP. He served as minister of labour and minister responsible for fitness and amateur sport, secretary of state, minister of state for trade, minister of international trade and minister of energy. In 1984, Regan was defeated by PC Stewart McInnes, who served as minister of supply and services and minister of public works under Brian Mulroney.

Liberal Mary Clancy won in 1988 and 1993.

  • 1968-79 inclusive - PC
  • 1980 - LIB
  • 1984 - PC
  • 1988, 1993 - LIB
  • 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 - NDP