Interim N.S. Liberal leader unsure if he wants job permanently as party releases leadership rules
Nova Scotia’s interim Liberal leader, Derek Mombourquette, stated on Monday that he hasn’t given much consideration to whether he wants to permanently hold the position, as the party unveiled the guidelines for next year’s leadership race.
The upcoming leader will be chosen at a convention on Nov. 28, 2026, marking two years since the party faced its worst election outcome ever and returned to Province House with only two MLAs.
Prospective candidates have until July 28, 2026, to submit their nomination package, although it remains unclear if interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette will be among the contenders.
“That decision is one that I would need to discuss with my family, which we haven’t really delved into extensively as of yet,” the MLA for Sydney-Membertou informed CBC News.
The voting process for the party’s next leader will take place from Nov. 21-28, 2026, through electronic and telephone methods utilizing a preferential ballot system.
Individuals vying for the leadership role must be at least 18 years old and a member of the Liberal Party exclusively, submitting a non-refundable nomination fee of $25,000 in three installments, along with a $5,000 compliance deposit. The compliance deposit is reimbursed to the candidate following the election once all financial filings are completed.
The nomination package is required to include a minimum of 100 signatures from active members, with at least 10 being young Liberals. Signatures must also come from at least 10 different electoral districts and 15 new members of the Angus L. Club, the party’s monthly contributor program.
All potential candidates must undergo a greenlighting process before being officially considered for the leadership race.
Campaigns are subject to an expense cap of $250,000, encompassing the value of donated goods and services, excluding the nomination fee, compliance deposit, or costs related to accessibility or family matters. The borrowing limit for each campaign is set at $30,000.
The election of the new leader will follow a one-member, one-vote system, weighted by provincial district. Each district holds a value of 100 points, totaling 5,500 points based on the existence of 55 electoral districts. A candidate must secure 2,751 points to clinch the leadership.
In the event that no candidate reaches the required total after the initial tabulation, the contender with the lowest score will be eliminated, reallocating their points to another candidate based on the subsequent choice on the ranked ballot. This process will persist until a candidate attains 2,751 points.
Former Liberal MLAs Patricia Arab and David Wilton are serving as co-chairs of the leadership committee.
Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that Mombourquette has been fulfilling the role of interim leader since last December, following Zach Churchill’s resignation after losing his seat in the provincial election.
The party’s bylaws dictate that the interim leader must commit in writing to remain impartial and abstain from running in the party leader election.
Mombourquette took on the interim leadership position with the understanding that it would eventually transition to Timberlea-Prospect MLA Iain Rankin, the party’s other representative in Province House. Rankin, who previously held the position of premier and party leader until the Progressive Conservatives overtook the Liberals in the 2021 provincial election, confirmed on Monday that he has no intention of pursuing the role once more.
