The premier of Nova Scotia is the
first minister
A first minister is any of a variety of leaders of government cabinets. The term literally has the same meaning as "prime minister" but is typically chosen to distinguish the office-holder from a superior prime minister. Currently the title of ' ...
to the
lieutenant governor of the
Canadian province of
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
and presides over the
Executive Council of Nova Scotia
The Executive Council of Nova Scotia (informally and more commonly, the Cabinet of Nova Scotia) is the cabinet of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
Almost always made up of members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, the Cabinet is sim ...
. Following the
Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia House of Assembly (french: Assemblée législative de la Nouvelle-Écosse; gd, Taigh Seanaidh Alba Nuadh), or Legislative Assembly, is the deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia of the province of Nova Scotia ...
who is called upon by the lieutenant governor to form a government. As the province's
head of government
The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, ...
, the premier exercises considerable power.
The current premier of Nova Scotia is
Tim Houston
Timothy Jerome Houston (born April 10, 1970) is a Canadian politician who is the 30th and current premier of Nova Scotia since 2021. He was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election. A member of the ...
, who was sworn in on August 31, 2021. His party, the
Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia
The Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia (formerly Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia), is a moderate political party in Nova Scotia, Canada. Like most conservative parties in Atlantic Canada, it has been historically as ...
, was elected in August 2021.
Responsibilities
The premier serves as president of the
Executive Council (Cabinet).
They choose the other members of the Cabinet, who are then appointed by the
lieutenant governor.
As president of the Executive Council, the premier forms the government.
They lead the Executive Council’s decision-making process as the Council develops and implements the government's priorities and policies.
The premier establishes the Executive Council’s methods of operation and organization and that of its committees.
Former premiers of Nova Scotia
The first premier of the
Colony of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Engl ...
in 1848 was
James Boyle Uniacke
James Boyle Uniacke (1799 – 26 March 1858) led the first responsible government in Canada as it is today or any colony of the British Empire. He was the first Premier of the colony of Nova Scotia from 1848 to 1854 serving concurrently as ...
.
He was the leader of the first
responsible government in the overseas British Empire.
Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe (December 13, 1804 – June 1, 1873) was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, public servant, and poet. Howe is often ranked as one of Nova Scotia's most admired politicians and his considerable skills as a journalist and writer ha ...
was Nova Scotia’s third premier and is known for the landmark trial that established freedom of the press in Nova Scotia.
The first premier of the
Province of Nova Scotia
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outsi ...
, after Canada’s
confederation
A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign groups or states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...
in 1867, was
Hiram Blanchard
Hiram Blanchard (January 17, 1820 – December 17, 1874) was a Nova Scotia lawyer, politician, and the first premier of Nova Scotia. Blanchard won election to the Nova Scotia legislative assembly in Inverness in 1859 as a Liberal.
Early l ...
. He served as premier for only 88 days.
served the shortest term as a Nova Scotia premier, only 54 days, in 1882.
However, 10 years later he became Prime Minister of Canada.
George Henry Murray
George Henry Murray (June 7, 1861 – January 6, 1929) was a Nova Scotia politician who served as the eighth premier of Nova Scotia for 26 years and 188 days, the longest unbroken tenure for a head of government in Canadian history.
Early life ...
was Nova Scotia’s longest serving premier. He served for 26 years and 188 days from July 20, 1896 until he voluntarily resigned on January 24, 1923.
A bridge between
Halifax and
Dartmouth is named after former premier,
Angus L. Macdonald who served terms before and after the Second World War.
He was respected for leading Nova Scotia out of the Great Depression and through the post-war years.
He was instrumental in having the
Angus L. Macdonald bridge built, which significantly shortened travel time between Halifax and Dartmouth.
See also
*
List of premiers of Nova Scotia
References
External links
Premier of Nova Scotia Official Site
{{Nova Scotia politics
*