Showdown in Central Nova: How this N.S. riding could impact federal election

The Central Nova riding is one of the more hotly contested races in the Maritimes.

Atlantic Canada will set the tone for the federal election, with results from the region to be counted first.

One riding that will be closely watched is the newly redrawn Central Nova riding, including Pictou County, the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s and parts of the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The longtime Conservative turf of the MacKays – Elmer and Peter – turned Liberal under Sean Fraser in 2015. After announcing his resignation from the Trudeau government in December, he put his hat in the ring again – after another Liberal candidate was already nominated.

It was a call with Mark Carney that changed his course.

“Knowing that I can put a focus on my community, a focus on my family and a focus on the job, makes it possible for me to do this again,” he told CTV News Monday morning. “I’m feeling really good about the decision to get back into it.”

Fraser says he hasn’t heard criticism about that decision on the campaign trail. Instead, he says he’s heard concerns about the threat posed by the United States, given the ongoing trade war.

Fraser’s Conservative rival, Brycen Jenkins, says affordability and housing were top of mind on the doorstep for people he spoke to.

“That’s kind of what motivated me to kind of put my hat in the ring,” he said. “We’re looking to change that. But it’s all about change now, too. The Liberals have had nine years.”

With a steady stream of people heading in to cast their ballots Monday, there’s no doubt it will be a critical election for the country’s future.

“It’s very important and it’s hard to decide who to go with,” says Regina McNeil.

Jenkins, a realtor, has been backed by former MP Peter MacKay, who held Central Nova for years.

That was before Fraser, a lawyer, stamped the Liberal banner on the riding in 2015, eventually gaining some key – and controversial – ministerial portfolios, like immigration and housing.

“I would not jump to the conclusion that a local riding is going to punish its MP for the ministerial side of that person’s work,” says Lori Turnbull, a political science professor at Dalhousie University. “Sometimes it can happen like that. I think it’s more likely to happen when there’s a broader sense of ‘Throw them out.’”

Janice Alcorn, a Central Nova resident, says she’s basing her vote on “the sovereignty issue” and broader community supports.

Bernie Richard says creating local jobs is important “so our kids aren’t (going) out west.”

McNeil says support for seniors and improved health care access “are the main things for me.”

Six candidates are running in Central Nova, but it appears to be a showdown between Jenkins and Fraser, both hoping to bring the region’s voice to Ottawa.

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