Following the federal election, the lone Nova Scotia Conservative victor attributed his party’s losses in the province to tariffs, concerns over Donald Trump, and the decline in NDP support.
Chris d’Entremont, securing his seat for Acadie-Annapolis, pointed out that the Conservative Party could have addressed electors’ worries about the U.S. president more promptly during their campaign outreach.
He also mentioned that an earlier appearance by party leader Pierre Poilievre might have influenced the election outcome.
Reflecting on the election results, d’Entremont stated, “Voters were seeking change, but there was a lack of consensus on what that change should entail.”
He noted that he and Liberal candidate Ronnie LeBlanc essentially divided the votes evenly.
In contrast, Conservative incumbents Rick Perkins and Stephen Ellis lost their seats to Liberal candidates in South Shore-St. Margarets and Cumberland-Colchester, respectively.
D’Entremont, who maintained his federal riding’s Conservative hold for three straight elections and previously served as a Progressive Conservative MLA, credited his victory to the focus on fishery-related concerns.
Chris d’Entremont holds the only Conservative seat in Nova Scotia after winning the riding of Acadie-Annapolis. He told As It Happens host Nil Köksal the party could have benefited from “better, easier messaging” on the trade war, and an earlier provincial visit from the Conservative leader.
“The primary concern was the fishery,” he emphasized.
One of d’Entremont’s constituents, Jack Wright, commended d’Entremont for effectively representing their riding.
“Even though he’s not in government, he still does his best,” Wright remarked. “His focus on the fishery, a crucial aspect for us, is commendable.”
D’Entremont suggested that the provincial Progressive Conservatives and the federal Conservatives should align more closely.
“There’s always this question of whether we share the same Conservative values,” d’Entremont noted.
“While we encompass a broader spectrum, we are united by common concerns and should collaborate more closely.”
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston declared that he would not endorse either the federal Conservative or Liberal leaders. In a statement last November, Houston asserted that there was no direct counterpart to the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party at the federal level.
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