Nova Scotia Liberal member Angela Simmonds first to declare for party leadership

Liberal member of the Nova Scotia legislature Angela Simmonds poses for a photo at the provincial legislature, in Halifax, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. KEITH DOUCETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's two main opposition parties are seeking new leaders, and a member of the Liberal caucus has become the first of either party to officially announce a leadership bid.

Angela Simmonds, who was first elected to represent the riding of Preston in the Aug. 17 provincial election, said Friday she is running to bring "a new energy and direction" to the province and Liberal party.

"I need to do this because I believe it's the right thing to do," she said in an interview. "We (Liberals) need someone with life experience and a diverse lens."

If successful, the former lawyer and small business owner would become the first female leader of the party and the first Black leader of any of Nova Scotia's main political parties.

Simmonds said the Liberals need to break down barriers so that more people of diversity feel they can run for positions such as leader. "It's really emotional when I think of what this could mean for so many that look like me."

She said part of her message will be that the party needs to be in touch with "everyday Nova Scotians."

"We need to be able to engage with individuals and their life and understand their struggles so that we are able to build this economy for everybody in Nova Scotia."

Her announcement came a week after the Liberal party released early details for the process of replacing Iain Rankin, who announced last month he would step down as leader in the wake of the party's defeat in the August election. Rankin was chosen last February to succeed former two-term premier Stephen McNeil.

The provincial NDP is also choosing a new leader, and last weekend released the rules that will govern the race to replace Gary Burrill, who announced in November he would step down after a new leader is chosen.

The Liberals have set a deadline of March 21 for candidates to register and will hold a leadership convention via electronic and phone voting on July 9. The vote will be by preferential ballot using a weighted, one member, one vote model. The party has set a candidate registration fee of $25,000.

Aside from Simmonds, former cabinet minister Zach Churchill and fellow caucus member Fred Tilley have expressed interest in the leadership but haven't officially declared yet.

Churchill said in an interview Thursday he didn't see anything in the party's rules so far that would prevent him from running. "I'm not going to wait too long to let my intentions be known officially," he said.

Meanwhile, the NDP has set a registration deadline of May 21 for candidates, who will have to pay a $5,000 fee when they register and another $5,000 by the May deadline. Voting for the new leader will begin June 20 and end on June 25.

Claudia Chender, the NDP's house leader, is so far the only one to express interest in succeeding Burrill, and she is considered the front-runner. Chender said she expects to announce her plans around Feb. 14.

Political observers say both parties have a lot at stake in selecting a new leader, as Progressive Conservative Premier Tim Houston is popular and off to a reasonably good start in office.

Cape Breton University political scientist Tom Urbaniak says the Liberals have an existential problem because the Tories largely managed to run left of the Liberals on many issues during the last election.

"Are they going to be a progressive party? Are they going to insist on strict fiscal management?" Urbaniak said. "All of those issues will be confronted during the leadership race."

He said he also wonders whether the Liberals have given themselves enough time to attract a number of diverse candidates. He said a tight deadline last year didn't serve the party well when only three men, including Rankin, stepped forward.

Lori Turnbull, director of the school of public administration at Dalhousie University, said the potential candidacy of Chender is a "great" thing for the NDP, but she cautioned that the party would benefit if more people jump in the race and create a "buzz."

Turnbull said the New Democrats have been able to touch on issues that are top of mind to voters, such as affordable housing, and the leadership race should build on that in order to help grow the party's base outside its Halifax stronghold.

"I think they need to build the brand and the party's presence in rural ridings and not spend their time splitting the vote with the Liberals in Halifax," she said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 4, 2022.