Election Anticipation ramps up in Nova Scotia
According to Naomi Shelton with Elections Nova Scotia, because Nova Scotia does not have a fixed date election cycle, the province set an election readiness date for April 1.
“We worked towards that date,” said Shelton. "We planned all of our election readiness planning for that actual date."
Now, they wait for when the government calls an election. A warehouse filled with Covid-19 PPE and election materials is on standby. Elections Nova Scotia is also lining up short-term office space leases throughout the province.
"Because of Covid planning, we are trying to do that process a bit early this time," said Shelton.
Political science professor Jeff MacLeod says federal politics will influence a possible provincial election date.
“The federal Liberals want an election even though they are only two years into the mandate," said Macleod.
Macleod said the Trudeau government might drop the writ in the fall.
"And if you are the provincial liberals,” said MacLeod. “Do you want to go as a federal election is taking place or just after a federal action? I think no. You could see a summer election."
A recent poll shows a lead for the Nova Scotia Liberals and a high government satisfaction rating.
An official with the Nova Scotia PC party told CTV their internal polling data shows the race is much closer.
Margaret Brigley said poll numbers by Narrative Research support the notion that an election is not far off.
"It would suggest that the governing party is in a very comfortable position," said Brigley.
Shelton said whenever the election happens she expects more voters will vote from home.
"Using the write in ballot, and returning that write in ballot in the mail," said Shelton.
Elections Nova Scotia anticipates an increase in voting by mail because of Covid-19 safety concerns.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.