Record-setting N.S. election win cost Progressive Conservatives about $1.4M
The recent provincial election in Nova Scotia saw the Progressive Conservatives emerge victorious with a resounding win, spending almost $1.4 million on their winning campaign. Their largest expenses included almost $850,000 for publicity and advertising, nearly $213,000 on polling research, and about $116,500 on travel. Premier Tim Houston and his team secured a record-setting 43 seats in November, taking advantage of the unpopularity of the federal Liberal brand at the time.
On the other hand, the Nova Scotia Liberal Party spent about three-quarters of the PC total, totaling almost $1.04 million on their campaign. Despite their efforts, the Liberals were reduced to just two seats in the legislature, slipping to third place. The party’s leader, Zach Churchill, lost his seat in Yarmouth. The Liberals recouped almost all of their campaign costs through charges to individual candidate campaigns, with only about $21,000 spent on polling research.
Independent candidate Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, who retained her seat in Cumberland North, spent $50,310.33 on her campaign, well below the district maximum. The Green Party of Nova Scotia, which did not elect an MLA, spent about $14,200 on its campaign, with the main expenses going towards worker remuneration, signs, and publicity and advertising.
The Nova Scotia NDP’s financial figures are not yet public, but a party spokesperson mentioned that they spent a similar amount to the Progressive Conservatives. The NDP won nine seats in the election and formed the Official Opposition.
The financial reports for all registered parties were due on Wednesday, with the NDP receiving a one-day extension. Elections Nova Scotia officials are currently reviewing the information before it is posted online. The results of the election show the diverse spending strategies of each party and their outcomes in terms of seat allocation in the legislature.
