Tim Houston leads PCs to second majority 

Tim Houston claimed victory at his party headquarters in Pictou East as his party won a second majority government on Tuesday evening.

In his speech, Houston thanked his supporters, 54 fellow PC candidates and “the good people of Pictou East.” 

“Thank you for continuing to believe in me and my family,” Houston said to supporters. “It’s the greatest honour of my life to take this stage and represent Nova Scotians. So much is possible for this province, and I promise you I will do everything I can to make it happen,” he said.  

As of 11 p.m., news networks were reporting the PC party was leading in 42 seats, with the NDP having 10 and the Liberals having two. In Pictou East, Houston had 4,056 votes with 33 of 34 polls having reported. 

Houston promised to give the province “everything he had.”  

“This is just obviously the start of the next phase of the Nova Scotia journey. Make it happen was never meant just to be about winning another mandate.” 

Houston also thanked Liberal Leader Zach Churchill and NDP Leader Claudia Chender for their spirited campaigns. 

The environment inside the Pictou Wellness Centre, where Houston held his election night watch party, was jubilant.   

Stacey Davidson-Murphy was excited with news of the PC victory.  

 “To know once again that the province is going to be protected the way it has been for the past four years and moving ahead with all of the important things like health care, housing,” said Davidson-Murphy. “I mean, you cannot find a better human being than Tim Houston.”  

Brenda Wilson, a friend of Houston’s, couldn’t stand still as the results were rolling in on the TVs. She was thrilled every time a new result was shown.  

“I’m not surprised, and I’m overjoyed,” she said.  

When asked about her plans after tonight, she responded that she would “bask in the glow of this win.” 

Houston’s campaign focused largely on health care, housing and affordability. 

Two of his major party platform promises was building a new medical school in Cape Breton that would train 30 new doctors every year and eliminating tolls from the two Halifax Harbour bridges.