Get to know: Halifax Chebucto 

The riding of Halifax Chebucto is located in Halifax’s West End and straddles the Halifax and Chebucto peninsulas.  

It is an urban and mixed-commercial riding, with an active business district on Quinpool Road, and residential apartments and houses spread throughout the riding. 

The riding had 12,796 eligible voters in the 2021 election. Voters cast 7,739 ballots in the previous election, representing a 60.5 per cent turnout. Halifax Chebucto is also four square kilometres in area. 

Since Halifax Chebucto was first contested in 1967, it has voted for the NDP 11 times out of the 17 previous elections.  

The current MLA for Halifax Chebucto, Gary Burrill, is not running for re-election, meaning this riding will elect a new MLA on Nov. 26.  

The four candidates running in the riding include Jonathan Bradet-Legris of the Green Party, Gerard Bray of the Liberal Party, Krista Gallagher of the New Democratic Party and Tonya Malay of the Progressive Conservative Party.  

Jonathan Bradet-Legris (Green Party)

Jonathan Bradet-Legris has had an interest in politics for years. 

“I’ve been a long-time Green Party voter,” Bradet-Legris said.  

He moved to Halifax in 2018 to attend university and is now pursuing a PhD in statistics at Dalhousie University.  

He also has experience working for the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness as a data scientist. Bradet-Legris said he provided “analysis to help inform decision-making and policy.”  

Bradet-Legris said his knowledge of how both the elected and unelected sides of government operate would be of great use if elected.  

He said he is running to be the MLA for Halifax Chebucto because “I believe in the message and the values of the Green Party, and I believe it’s the best party to give Nova Scotians what they need.”  

Bradet-Legris said the largest issues in Halifax Chebucto include the cost of rent, housing and health care. He said he would like to see measures introduced that would create “a guaranteed livable income.” He also said, “we want to proclaim the Coastal Protection Act that’s been installed.”  

The Costal Protection Act was passed by the Nova Scotia government in April 2019 with the purpose of protecting Nova Scotia’s coastline by preventing development and activity along the coast that would be harmful to coastal residents and the coastline itself. In February 2024, the Costal Protection Act was controversially shelved in February 2024. 

Gerard Bray (Liberal Party)

Gerard Bray is new to politics and said this is his first time running for public office.  

He has lived in Halifax Chebucto for his entire life and is currently a teacher. Bray has years of experience working in his community and facilitated the skate drive program, which was “designed to collect ice skates for use at the Canada Games Speed Skating Oval on the Halifax Commons.” 

Bray said he loves that Halifax Chebucto has an abundance of parks and playgrounds. 

“The schoolyards and the playgrounds have become such community hubs for people for so long,” he said.  

Bray said he wants to run for political office because he saw as a teacher how issues such as food insecurity and affordability affect students. He said his experience teaching would be a strength as an MLA, as it allowed him to see first-hand the key issues in Halifax Chebucto. 

“I think it’s what motivated me to bring my voice forward and address some of these big concerns.”  

He said that while campaigning, he heard a variety of concerns from voters. The most pressing issues were health care, affordability and housing.  

“I hear (the issue of affordability) at the doors when we’re talking about grocery bills, when you’re talking about paying for kids’ soccer and other activities.”  

Bray said he would like to see the Coastal Protection Act be reinstated. 

“It was a Liberal bill that was given all-party support and the coast, we know, is incredibly important. We understand what climate change is doing.” 

He also would like to see free transit be introduced for everyone. Bray said this would “not only address an affordability measure but also signal the importance of public transportation.”  

Krista Gallagher (New Democratic Party)  

Krista Gallagher is new to provincial politics and is running with the support of the current Halifax Chebucto MLA, Gary Burrill.  

Originally from the Annapolis Valley, Gallagher is an entrepreneur who owns two Local Source markets on Windsor and Agricola streets. Her business website states her stores encourage “participation in the local food economy by purveying fresh seasonal farm goods.” 

In an address to supporters on Nov. 13 at the Local Source Market on Windsor Street, she said she and her partner have spent the past decade contributing to the Nova Scotia school food movement which, “strengthens our economy, protects our environment and supports our farmers and our growers in this province.” 

She said she believes the largest issues that the riding faces include health-care improvements, the high cost of rent and the environment.  

“I don’t think taxpayer dollars should be spent in backroom deals, as the Liberals and Conservatives have done far too often. And I believe that everything government does should be about making people’s lives better,” Gallagher said.  

Gallagher said in a statement to The Signal her experience as a business owner improved her ability to multitask. She said, “I am really used to juggling multiple different things at once as a small business owner.” She said that this skill would also be helpful if elected.  

Tonya Malay (Progressive Conservative Party)

Tonya Malay ran in the 2024 Halifax Regional Municipal election for the 9^th district and was defeated by incumbent councillor, Shawn Cleary.  

She has lived in Halifax Chebucto for more than 20 years and has worked in a variety of fields including positions such as educational program assistant, account executive and pharmaceutical assistant.  

Malay has volunteered with local organizations such as Daily Bread, which aids those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. She said, “all those experiences really gave me a great perspective on the everyday person.”   

She said her favourite thing about Halifax Chebucto is that the residents are friendly. “Being a West Ender, I love walking everywhere and talking to people.”   

Malay said the reason she ran in this election was because the premier contacted her. She said that Houston told her, “you could do a lot of good in your community.”  

She said some of the largest issues in the riding include housing and affordability. 

“I’ve been to over 4,500 doors, I know the concerns, I know the people,” Malay said. 

Malay said environmental issues and improvements to school infrastructure are important to voters in her riding. She also said that she would need to get more information from her constituents to get a better understanding of what she would introduce to the legislature.