66th Nova Scotia general election

In accordance with Section 4 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the next election must be held within five years of the previous election.^[1] The general assembly may be dissolved earlier by order of the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia on the advice of the premier. Premier Tim Houston introduced a bill to repeal the 4-year fixed election date legislation on February 18, 2025.^[2] The bill then received royal assent on March 26, 2025, reverting the province’s electoral cycle into 5 years.^[3]

The last review of the province’s electoral boundaries took place in 2018-19. Reviews normally take place at least every 10 years. The review in 2025, however, was conducted as a result of an order by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, which ruled that the previous commission’s decision not to create an exceptional electoral district for Chéticamp violated Section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In its interim report, submitted in August 2025 after public consultation, the commission presented three alternatives: keeping the status quo, with 55 electoral districts, and two other proposed scenarios, each with 56 electoral districts. After deliberations following a second round of public consultation, the commission is unanimously recommending in January 2026 a House of Assembly of 56 seats. The current district of Inverness would be divided into two new electoral districts: Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay and Inverness-We’koqma’q.^[4]

• November 26, 2024 Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia wins a majority government in the 2024 Nova Scotia general election. The New Democratic Party replaces the Liberal Party as the official opposition.^[5]
• December 10, 2024 Zach Churchill steps down as Nova Scotia Liberal Party leader. Derek Mombourquette becomes interim Liberal leader.^[6]

• December 8, 2025 Iain Rankin becomes interim leader of the Liberal Party.^[7]