Chester-St. Margaret's
Provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chester—St. Margaret's is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It is located on the South Shore.
 Nova Scotia electoral district | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Provincial electoral district | |||
| Legislature | Nova Scotia House of Assembly | ||
| MLA |
Progressive Conservative | ||
| District created | 1956 | ||
| Last contested | 2024 | ||
| Demographics | |||
| Population (2011) | 20,368 | ||
| Electors | 15,291 | ||
| Area (km²) | 1,661 | ||
| Pop. density (per km²) | 12.3 | ||
| Census division(s) | Halifax RM, Lunenburg County | ||
The constituency was created in 1956 as a division of Lunenburg County. It was called Lunenburg East from 1956 to 1993. In 1993, the district was renamed Chester—St. Margaret's and gained Tancook Islands from Lunenburg Centre and St. Margaret's Bay from Halifax St. Margarets. In 2003, it gained the communities of West Dover and Bayside. In 2012, the district lost the Upper Tantallon area north of Highway 103 to Hammonds Plains-Lucasville.[1]
The district includes the Municipality of Chester and the communities in the Halifax Regional Municipality along the coast of St. Margarets Bay including Peggys Cove. Major towns in the riding include Hubbards, Chester, Western Shore, Boutiliers Point and Head of St. Margarets Bay.
Geography
The land area of Chester-St. Margaret's is 1,661 km2 (641 sq mi).[2]
Statistics
Avg. Income: $27,440 (2003)
Population: 19,720 (2003)
Post-secondary education: 36% (2003)
Members of the Legislative Assembly
This riding has elected the following members of the Legislative Assembly:
| Legislature | Years | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunenburg East Riding created from Lunenburg |
||||
| 46th | 1956–1959 | R. Clifford Levy | Progressive Conservative | |
| 1959–1960 | Maurice L. Zinck | |||
| 47th | 1960–1963 | |||
| 48th | 1963–1967 | |||
| 49th | 1967–1970 | |||
| 50th | 1970–1974 | |||
| 51st | 1974–1978 | Ron Barkhouse | ||
| 52nd | 1978–1981 | |||
| 53rd | 1981–1984 | |||
| 54th | 1984–1988 | Jim Barkhouse | Liberal | |
| 55th | 1988–1993 | |||
| Chester-St. Margaret's | ||||
| 56th | 1993–1998 | Jim Barkhouse | Liberal | |
| 57th | 1998–1998 | Hinrich Bitter-Suermann | Progressive Conservative | |
| 1998–1999 | New Democratic | |||
| 58th | 1999–2003 | John Chataway | Progressive Conservative | |
| 59th | 2003–2005 | |||
| 2005–2006 | Judy Streatch | |||
| 60th | 2006–2009 | |||
| 61st | 2009–2013 | Denise Peterson-Rafuse | New Democratic | |
| 62nd | 2013–2017 | |||
| 63rd | 2017–2020 | Hugh MacKay | Liberal | |
| 2020–2021 | Independent | |||
| 64th | 2021–2024 | Danielle Barkhouse | Progressive Conservative | |
| 65th | 2024–present | |||
Election results
2024
| 2024 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Danielle Barkhouse | 4,806 | 58.21 | +18.15 | ||||
| Liberal | Laura Mulrooney | 2,160 | 26.16 | -11.45 | ||||
| New Democratic | Brendan Mosher | 1,290 | 15.63 | -1.57 | ||||
| Total | 8,256 | – | ||||||
| Total rejected / declined ballots | 62 | 2 | ||||||
| Turnout | 8,320 | 50.36 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 16,521 | |||||||
| Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | |||||||
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia[3] | ||||||||
2021
| 2021 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Danielle Barkhouse | 3,788 | 40.06 | +14.40 | $76,695.05 | |||
| Liberal | Jacob Killawee | 3,556 | 37.61 | +2.38 | $67,872.46 | |||
| New Democratic | Amy Reitsma | 1,626 | 17.20 | -17.23 | $50,011.78 | |||
| Green | Jessica Alexander | 417 | 4.41 | -0.27 | $10,917.97 | |||
| Atlantica | Steven Foster | 68 | 0.72 | – | $200.00 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 9,455 | 99.62 | -0.17 | $88,319.62 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 36 | 0.38 | +0.17 | |||||
| Turnout | 9,491 | 62.48 | +4.88 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 15,191 | |||||||
| Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +6.01 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia[4][5] | ||||||||
2017
| 2017 provincial election redistributed results[6] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Liberal | 2,934 | 35.23 | |
| New Democratic | 2,867 | 34.43 | |
| Progressive Conservative | 2,137 | 25.66 | |
| Green | 390 | 4.68 | |
| 2017 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Hugh MacKay | 3,112 | 35.46 | +4.40 | ||||
| New Democratic | Denise Peterson-Rafuse | 3,021 | 34.42 | -0.82 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Julie Chaisson | 2,230 | 25.41 | -8.29 | ||||
| Green | Harry Ward | 413 | 4.71 | – | ||||
| Total valid votes | 8,776 | 100 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 32 | 0.21 | ||||||
| Turnout | 8,808 | 57.60 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 15,291 | |||||||
| Liberal gain from New Democratic | Swing | +2.61 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia[7][8] | ||||||||
2013
| 2013 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Denise Peterson-Rafuse | 3,341 | 35.25% | -12.84% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Janet E. Irwin | 3,193 | 33.69% | 6.22% | ||||
| Liberal | Tim W. Harris | 2,943 | 31.05% | 9.95% | ||||
| Total | 9,477 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Chester-St. Margaret's" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2013). 39th Provincial General Election, October 8, 2013: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2026. | ||||||||
2009
| 2009 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Denise Peterson-Rafuse | 4,835 | 48.09% | 17.45% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Judy Streatch | 2,762 | 27.47% | -15.18% | ||||
| Liberal | Jo-Ann Grant | 2,122 | 21.11% | -2.56% | ||||
| Green | Ryan Cameron | 335 | 3.33% | 0.29% | ||||
| Total | 10,054 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Chester-St. Margaret's" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. | ||||||||
2006
| 2006 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Judy Streatch | 3,950 | 42.65% | 6.38% | ||||
| New Democratic | Jane Matheson | 2,838 | 30.64% | 0.77% | ||||
| Liberal | Rick Fraughton | 2,192 | 23.67% | -7.61% | ||||
| Green | Joanne MacKinnon | 282 | 3.04% | 0.47% | ||||
| Total | 9,262 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Chester-St. Margaret's" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. | ||||||||
2005 by-election
| Nova Scotia provincial by-election, June 21, 2005 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Judy Streatch | 2,955 | 36.27% | -1.02% | ||||
| Liberal | Rick Fraughton | 2,548 | 31.28% | 6.97% | ||||
| New Democratic | Hinrich Bitter-Suermann | 2,434 | 29.88% | -7.00% | ||||
| Green | Michael Oddy | 210 | 2.58% | – | ||||
| Total | 8,147 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Chester-St. Margaret's" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. | ||||||||
2003
| 2003 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | John Chataway | 3,451 | 37.30% | -7.97% | ||||
| New Democratic | Hinrich Bitter-Suermann | 3,412 | 36.87% | 3.43% | ||||
| Liberal | Milt Larsen | 2,249 | 24.31% | 3.03% | ||||
| Nova Scotia Party | Sue Gault | 141 | 1.52% | – | ||||
| Total | 9,253 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Chester-St. Margaret's" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. | ||||||||
1999
| 1999 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | John Chataway | 4,193 | 45.27% | 10.06% | ||||
| New Democratic | Hinrich Bitter-Suermann | 3,098 | 33.45% | 2.76% | ||||
| Liberal | Karen Willis Duerdin | 1,971 | 21.28% | -12.82% | ||||
| Total | 9,262 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Chester-St. Margaret's" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-Fifth General Election (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. | ||||||||
1998
| 1998 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Hinrich Bitter-Suermann | 3,256 | 35.22% | 5.72% | ||||
| Liberal | Jim Barkhouse | 3,153 | 34.10% | -17.59% | ||||
| New Democratic | Doris Maley | 2,837 | 30.68% | 13.77% | ||||
| Total | 9,246 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Chester-St. Margaret's" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. | ||||||||
1993
| 1993 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Jim Barkhouse | 5,025 | 51.69% | 1.67% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Aileen Heisler | 2,867 | 29.49% | -9.42% | ||||
| New Democratic | Jack Ross | 1,644 | 16.91% | 6.61% | ||||
| Independent | Malcolm Callaway | 185 | 1.90% | 1.14% | ||||
| Total | 9,721 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Chester-St. Margaret's" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1993). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-Third General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2018. | ||||||||
1988
| 1988 Nova Scotia general election: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Jim Barkhouse | 3,024 | 50.02% | 0.96% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Richard P. Eldridge | 2,352 | 38.91% | 6.81% | ||||
| New Democratic | Wanda Broome | 623 | 10.31% | -8.53% | ||||
| Independent | Malcolm Callaway | 46 | 0.76% | – | ||||
| Total | 6,045 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1988). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-Second General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2018. | ||||||||
1984
| 1984 Nova Scotia general election: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Jim Barkhouse | 2,696 | 49.06% | 25.70% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | David Hatt | 1,764 | 32.10% | -23.38% | ||||
| New Democratic | Janet Mooney | 1,035 | 18.84% | -2.31% | ||||
| Total | 5,495 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1984). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-First General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2017. | ||||||||
1981
| 1981 Nova Scotia general election: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Ron Barkhouse | 2,802 | 55.49% | -11.45% | ||||
| Liberal | Dave Cook | 1,180 | 23.37% | -4.64% | ||||
| New Democratic | Janet Mooney | 1,068 | 21.15% | 16.09% | ||||
| Total | 5,050 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1981). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirtieth General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2017. | ||||||||
1978
| 1978 Nova Scotia general election: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Ron Barkhouse | 3,386 | 66.93% | 13.89% | ||||
| Liberal | Wally MacDonald | 1,417 | 28.01% | -13.05% | ||||
| New Democratic | Robert Whiting, Sr. | 256 | 5.06% | -0.84% | ||||
| Total | 5,059 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1978). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Twenty-Ninth General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2018. | ||||||||
1974
| 1974 Nova Scotia general election: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Ron Barkhouse | 2,536 | 53.04% | 1.73% | ||||
| Liberal | Joseph Saunders | 1,963 | 41.06% | -7.63% | ||||
| New Democratic | Anthony W. E. Zinck | 282 | 5.90% | – | ||||
| Total | 4,781 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1974). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Twenty-Eighth General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2018. | ||||||||
1970
| 1970 Nova Scotia general election: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Maurice L. Zinck | 2,092 | 51.31% | -4.55% | ||||
| Liberal | Eric Hagen | 1,985 | 48.69% | 4.55% | ||||
| Total | 4,077 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Legislative Assembly (1970). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, 1970 (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2018. | ||||||||
1967
| 1967 Nova Scotia general election: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Maurice L. Zinck | 2,100 | 55.87% | -7.30% | ||||
| Liberal | Fred Porter, Jr. | 1,659 | 44.13% | 7.30% | ||||
| Total | 3,759 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1967). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2018. | ||||||||
1963
| 1963 Nova Scotia general election: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Maurice L. Zinck | 2,267 | 63.17% | 4.79% | ||||
| Liberal | Charles E. Harris | 1,322 | 36.83% | -1.49% | ||||
| Total | 3,589 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1963). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2018. | ||||||||
1960
| 1960 Nova Scotia general election: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Maurice L. Zinck | 2,140 | 58.37% | -1.43% | ||||
| Liberal | Kirk S. Hennigar | 1,405 | 38.33% | -1.87% | ||||
| Co-operative Commonwealth | Albro Boehner | 121 | 3.30% | – | ||||
| Total | 3,666 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1960). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2018. | ||||||||
1959 by-election
| Nova Scotia provincial by-election, October 15, 1959: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Maurice L. Zinck | 2,186 | 59.81% | 5.37% | ||||
| Liberal | Kirk S. Hennigar | 1,469 | 40.19% | -5.37% | ||||
| Total | 3,655 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. | ||||||||
1956
| 1956 Nova Scotia general election: Lunenburg East | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | R. Clifford Levy | 1,887 | 54.44% | – | ||||
| Liberal | Kirk S. Hennigar | 1,579 | 45.56% | – | ||||
| Total | 3,466 | – | ||||||
Source(s)
Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Lunenburg East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1956). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2018. | ||||||||