Nova Scotia premier says byelection win sign of approval for Tory health care efforts

CITYnews halifax \ By The Canadian Press

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s premier says the Progressive Conservative victory in Tuesday’s provincial byelection is a sign of approval for his government’s attempts to bolster health care.

Tim Houston says voters in the Preston riding were also unhappy over federal carbon pricing, which saw gasoline prices in the province increase about 18 cents a litre last month.

Houston says the overall message is that voters know his government is with them on issues that matter most to them.

But Liberal Leader Zach Churchill says the only reason the Tories won was because they successfully turned the vote into a plebiscite on the federal carbon tax, which the provincial Liberal party had no hand in.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender says her party didn’t hear any approval of the Tory record on the doorsteps in Preston and she believes voters were more concerned about the cost of living.

Progressive Conservative candidate Twila Grosse posted a comfortable victory in a riding that had been held by the Liberals for the last 20 years, while the NDP finished second and the Liberals fell to third place.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2023.

The Canadian Press