2016 Nova Scotia New Democratic Party leadership election

Timeline

• October 8, 2013: The 2013 general election is held, reducing the NS NDP to seven seats. Darrell Dexter, the party's leader since 2001, defeated in the seat he contested by 21 votes.
• November 16, 2013: Darrell Dexter formally submits his resignation to the party's executive at an executive meeting in Halifax.
• November 23, 2013: Maureen MacDonald, MLA for Halifax Needham and Finance Minister in Dexter's final cabinet, is appointed Interim Leader by the party's Provincial Council.
• April 11, 2015: Rules for the Leadership Election approved by the party's Provincial Council at its meeting in Hatchet Lake.
• June 7, 2015: Dave Wilson, MLA for Sackville-Cobequid since 2003 and a former Health Minister, launches his leadership campaign at an event in Lower Sackville.
• June 11, 2015: Gary Burrill, MLA for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley from 2009 to 2013, launches his leadership campaign at an event in Halifax.
• June 12, 2015: Lenore Zann, MLA for Truro-Bible Hill since 2009, launches her leadership campaign at an event in Halifax.
• June 13, 2015: Leadership Election official begins at the conclusion of the party's AGM in Dartmouth. Three provincial by-elections are also called by Premier Stephen McNeil for July 14 that same day.
• July 14, 2015: Three provincial by-elections occur, with Dartmouth South NDP Candidate Marian Mancini winning by less than 100 votes.
• October 19, 2015: A federal election occurs, wiping out the party's three Members of Parliament in the province.
• November 28, 2015: first leadership forum is held in Whitney Pier.
• December 5, 2015: second leadership forum is held in Bible Hill.

  Candidates

[Gary Burrill]

• MLAs:
• Former MLAs: Howard Epstein ; Jim Morton ; Clarrie MacKinnon ; Moe Smith ;
• Federal politicians: None at present
• Municipal politicians: Wendy Robinson, Mayor of Stewiacke
• Labour organizations: None at present
• Other prominent individuals: None at present

  Dave Wilson">Dave Wilson (Nova Scotia politician)">Dave Wilson

• MLAs:
• Former MLAs: Pam Birdsall ; Frank Corbett ; Bill Estabrooks ; Gordie Gosse ; Becky Kent ; John MacDonnell ; Charlie Parker
• Federal politicians: None at present
• Labour organizations: None at present
• Other prominent individuals: None at present

  [Lenore Zann]

• MLAs: Denise Peterson-Rafuse ;
• Former MLAs: Peter Delefes ; Helen MacDonald ; Alexa McDonough ;
• Federal politicians: Gordon Earle ;
• Labour organizations: None at present
• Other prominent individuals: None at present

  Results

First ballot

• Gary Burrill: 921 - 40.59%
• Lenore Zann: 705 - 31.07%
• Dave Wilson: 645 - 28.34%

  Second ballot

• Gary Burrill: 1343 - 59.19%
• Lenore Zann: 926 - 40.81%