The premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister to the

lieutenant governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

of the

Canadian province Within the geographical areas of Canada, the ten provinces and three territories are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British North ...

of Nova Scotia and presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. 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 who is called upon by the lieutenant governor to form a government. As the province's head of government, the premier exercises considerable power. The current premier of Nova Scotia is Tim Houston, who was sworn in on August 31, 2021. His party, the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, was elected in August 2021.

Responsibilities

The premier serves as president of the

Executive Council Executive Council may refer to: Government * Executive Council (Commonwealth countries), a constitutional organ that exercises executive power and advises the governor * Executive Council of Bern, the government of the Swiss canton of Bern * Ex ...

(Cabinet). They choose the other members of the Cabinet, who are then appointed by the

. 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 in 1848 was James Boyle Uniacke. He was the leader of the first

responsible government Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive bran ...

in the overseas British Empire. Joseph Howe 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, after Canada’s confederation in 1867, was Hiram Blanchard. He served as premier for only 88 days.

Sir John Sparrow David Thompson Sir John Sparrow David Thompson (November 10, 1845 – December 12, 1894) was a Canadian lawyer, judge and politician who served as the fourth prime minister of Canada from 1892 until his death. He had previously been fifth premier of Nova Sco ...

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 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 Dartmouth may refer to: Places * Dartmouth, Devon, England ** Dartmouth Harbour * Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States * Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada * Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia Institutions * Dartmouth College, Ivy League university i ...

is named after former premier,

Angus L. Macdonald Angus Lewis Macdonald (August 10, 1890 – April 13, 1954), popularly known as 'Angus L.', was a Canadian lawyer, law professor and politician from Nova Scotia. He served as the Liberal premier of Nova Scotia from 1933 to 1940, when he became ...

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 The Angus L. Macdonald Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia, Canada; it opened on April 2, 1955. The bridge is one of two suspension bridges linking the Halifax Peninsula to Dartmouth in the Halifax Regional Mu ...

built, which significantly shortened travel time between Halifax and Dartmouth.

References

External links

Premier of Nova Scotia Official Site
{{Nova Scotia politics *

Responsibilities

Former premiers of Nova Scotia

See also

References

External links