Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston is calling an early election in what will end up being a pre-holiday season vote.

Election day will be November 26 as campaigns need to be at least 30 days and voting day is always on Tuesday.

Houston met with the lieutenant governor over the noon hour on Sunday to formally ask to dissolve the legislature and send us to the polls.

“There are two urgent reasons why we are asking Nova Scotians to entrust us with government once again,” explained Houston. “People are facing financial pressures. It will take long-term vision, policy changes and investments to support them and second, our province risks becoming a political football in a federal election that could be held simultaneously with the current scheduled fixed election date. That is not in the province’s best interest.”

The election call comes after weeks of speculation and big spending commitments from the governing Progressive Conservatives.

Houston is looking for a second term and has consistently polled well since his party won a majority in 2021 which was a successful campaign built on a promise to fix health care.

NDP and Liberals launch campaigns 

Liberal Leader Zach Churchill did not wait to criticize the decision to call an early election and a taxpayer funded 21-page booklet on health care that arrived in many mailboxes on Friday.

“We are requesting that the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia use their own funds to pay for the advertising as an election expense.”

Photo of the 21-page brochure sent out highlighting improvements in health care.

“The brochure sent out by PCs in the days before the election call clearly violates a section of the Elections Act,” said Churchill. “There is no guarantee that this will not be delivered during the writ, and in fact, it is likely that it will be.”

The Liberals have filed a complaint with Elections Nova Scotia and are requesting that the PCs disclose an accounting of how much money was spent.

Meantime, the New Democrats launched their own campaign in Dartmouth.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender went straight on the offensive and pointed to existing challenges around health care, the cost of living and housing.

“Nova Scotians continue to experience a failing health-care system, unsustainable housing prices, and the rapidly rising cost of living – but instead of addressing these issues for the people they were elected to serve, the Houston government is focused on trying to hold onto power,” said Chender.

NDP launch campaign in Dartmouth

“This is more of the same from an out premier who consistently says one thing and does another. He is timing this election for his own benefit rather than doing what’s best for Nova Scotians. The people of this province will see through his plan.” She added.

Heading into this election, the PCs have 34 seats, Liberals 14 and NDP six. There is one independent and 55 seats up for grabs.