Helen MacDonald had served as leader of the Nova Scotia NDP since July 2000. She was elected as party leader, despite having lost her seat of Cape Breton-The Lakes in the 1999 Nova Scotia provincial election. As a result, one of her first priorities was to obtain a seat in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. MacDonald decided to contest the March 6, 2001 by-election in Cape Breton North, which was caused by the resignation of Liberal MLA and former Premier Russell MacLellan.[1][2] Ultimately, MacDonald placed third in the by-election.[3] She initially continued as leader following the defeat; but after facing a caucus revolt that included at least six of the party's eleven MLAs, she opted to resign on April 24, 2001.[4][5][6][7]
