| The Honourable Darrell Dexter MLA BJ BEd LL.B |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 19, 2009 |
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| Lieutenant Governor | Mayann E. Francis |
| Preceded by | Rodney MacDonald |
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MLA for Cole Harbour
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1998 |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 19, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Rodney MacDonald |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 19, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Jamie Muir |
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| Born | 1957 (age 51–52) Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Political party | NDP |
| Spouse(s) | Kelly Dexter |
Darrell Dexter (born 1957) is a Canadian politician, currently the Premier of Nova Scotia. He is the leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party, and represents the riding of Cole Harbour in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.
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Early life and electoral history
Dexter was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[1] He grew up in the rural community of Milton, Nova Scotia as the son of a sheet metal worker. He attended the University of King's College where he received a Bachelor of Journalism degree. He also earned Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Dalhousie University. After service in the Canadian Navy, he worked as a lawyer in Dartmouth. He was elected to the city council of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994. He is married with one son named Harris.
He was first elected to the provincial House of Assembly in the 1998 election serving in the critic portfolios of Economic Development and Health. He was re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2009. In 2001, Dexter was elected leader of the Nova Scotia NDP, replacing Helen MacDonald.
Nova Scotia general election, 2003
Dexter led the Nova Scotia NDP through its first campaign trailing in third place in many polls and in danger of losing seats. The NDP looked to consolidate its strong support in the Metro Halifax area, and make gains in the conservative rural mainland and their former stronghold of Cape Breton, which had been ceded to the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.
Dexter campaigned on a seven-point platform:
- A provincial Crown corporation for car insurance to lower rates by 50 per cent
- 100 per cent health coverage for seniors in nursing homes
- Reduce waiting lists for surgery and diagnostic tests
- Remove HST for home heating oil and children's prescription drugs in Year 3
- More resources in the classroom
- Freeze tuition fees for one year, introduce a student debt relief plan
- Balance the budget
Conversely, he was criticized by Liberals for supporting a tax cut introduced by the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party government.
On election night, Dexter and the NDP did make small gains in the popular vote and won four more seats, including two in Dexter's hometown of Dartmouth, one in Cape Breton and one in Pictou County.
Nova Scotia general election, 2006
The MacDonald Government called an election for June 13, 2006, and Dexter was once again the NDP's candidate for Premier. At the outset, most pollsters had the NDP at the same level of support it had in 2003, roughly 30% and behind the Tories in second place. Dexter campaigned on a platform to improve services for seniors, lowering the cost of heating oil for homes, a 10% cut in post-secondary education tuition, subsidized child care and public auto insurance.
Dexter performance in the leaders' debate was improved in the eyes of many pundits. The NDP did not win government, but did make major gains on election day. The party gained five seats for a total of 20, the party's best performance in its history. Dexter also was easily re-elected in his own seat of Cole Harbour with 59.5%. The NDP gained roughly 4% of the popular vote to 34.5%. The NDP also won seats in the South Shore region of Nova Scotia, an area where it had not performed well previously, specifically Shelburne and Queens.
After the 2006 election
Dexter said he would continue to co-operate with the Progressive Conservative government. He rejected overtures from Liberal Leader Francis MacKenzie to form a coalition government.
Within a few months of the election, the NDP took a lead in the opinion polls, and has held it consistently since.
Nova Scotia general election, 2009
On June 9, 2009 Darrell Dexter was elected the first NDP premier of Nova Scotia, in a race against Conservative Rodney MacDonald and Liberal Stephen McNeil. Dexter was elected with a majority of the seats in the Nova Scotia legislature.[2]
He was officially sworn in as Premier of Nova Scotia on June 19, 2009.[3]
References
- ^ Who is Darrell Dexter?, The Coast, June 4, 2009
- ^ "N.S. voters elect 1st NDP government". CBC.ca. June 9, 2009. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nsvotes2009/story/2009/06/09/nsvotes-main.html. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
- ^ "Atlantic Canada's 1st NDP government takes office in Nova Scotia". CBC.ca. June 19, 2009. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/06/19/ns-dexter-cabinet.html. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
External links
- Office of the Premier
- Members of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly
- Cabinet of the Province of Nova Scotia Biography
- Darrell Dexter NDP caucus biography
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