Get to know: Dartmouth South

For the first time, candidates in the provincial riding of Dartmouth South are all women.

Barb Henderson is running for the Liberal Party, Bea MacGregor is the Progressive Conservative candidate and Claudia Chender, leader of the Nova Scotia NDP, is running to retain her position as the riding’s MLA.

Dartmouth South, like other metro Nova Scotia ridings – think Halifax Needham or Halifax Citadel-Sable Island – has voted NDP in recent elections.

The NDP has held Dartmouth South since 2003, except in 2013 when the riding voted for Liberal Allan Rowe.

The riding had 13,863 eligible voters in the 2021 election. Voters cast 7,267 ballots in the previous election, representing a 52 per cent turnout.

Dartmouth South includes downtown Dartmouth, Penhorn and Woodside. It includes both ferry terminals and is bordered on the north by the Circumferential Highway and on the west by Lake Banook and Thistle Street.

Claudia Chender — NDP party leader

This election, Chender is running for her third term as Dartmouth South’s MLA. Chender first took office in 2017. In 2021 she received 4,209 votes, 58 per cent of the vote.

In an email, the Nova Scotia NDP stated “the most important issues facing Dartmouth South are the need for truly affordable housing, the lack of primary health care people can rely on, and the out of control increases on essentials like power, groceries and everyday bills.”

Chender promises to cut allowable rent increases to 2.5 per cent, half of the current 5 per cent. Her party also plans to ban fixed-term leases, opening more family doctor clinics, and lower the small business tax rate.

Chender holds a law degree from the University of Victoria. Before running for office, she worked in business and publishing. She served as House leader for the NDP and caucus spokesperson for education, justice, status of women, economic development, and natural resources and renewables before becoming leader.

Barb Henderson — Liberal Party

Barb Henderson is the Liberal candidate for Dartmouth South. The Liberal platform includes building more homes, expanding collaborative care clinics and slowing population growth through immigration cuts.

Henderson’s profile on the party’s website says she supports the Liberals’ plan to cut the provincial component of the HST by two per cent and provide free transit. The party pledges to “cut community times considerably for all people.”

Henderson has lived in Dartmouth South since 1977 and volunteers with Cole Harbour Parks and Trails Association.

Henderson did not respond to a request for comment.

Bea MacGregor — Progressive Conservative Party

Bea MacGregor is running for the PCs in Dartmouth South. The PCs want to hire more doctors, lower HST and raise the minimum wage.

MacGregor has a bachelor of design and environment planning from Dalhousie University. In 1999, she became the executive director of Alderney Landing. She’s now the CEO.

MacGregor declined to comment. 

Dartmouth South’s boundaries

Dartmouth South’s boundaries were changed in a provincial review following the 2013 election. That’s when the riding lost the area south of Russell Lake and Highway 111 to Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage, and when the name changed from Dartmouth South-Portland Valley to Dartmouth South.