The 1998 Nova Scotia general election was held on March 24, 1998, to elect members of the 57th House of Assembly of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Liberal party and the New Democratic Party tied in the seat count, with 19 each, while the Progressive Conservatives won 14 seats. The Liberals went on to form a minority government with the support of the Progressive Conservatives.
Liberal Premier John Savage was elected in a landslide in 1993. The Liberals inherited a $471-million deficit, and launched an austerity program which cut the province's health and education systems. On April 1, 1997, the provincial government imposed a 15% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) which merged the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). This shift angered some Nova Scotians who now had to pay taxes on things that had previously been exempted, such as home heating fuel. Savage also implemented an unpopular highway toll. Liberal party infighting eventually resulted in Savage's resignation in July 1997. Russell MacLellan became Premier of Nova Scotia on July 18, 1997.
The governing Liberals were desperate to distance themselves from the Savage government which was viewed as deeply unpopular. New leader, Russell MacLellan, was made the focus of the campaign with all Liberal candidates signs displaying the phrase, "the MacLellan Liberals."
During a televised debate on March 5, 1998, MacLellan stumbled badly when Progressive Conservative Leader John Hamm asked if he would resign if he failed to bring in a balanced budget. Instead of responding, MacLellan stared straight ahead and did not speak for seven seconds. MacLellan blamed the pause on rigid debate rules. This moment marked a turning point in a race that saw the Liberals barely retain power.
Legend<br> bold denotes party leader<br> â denotes an incumbent who is not running for re-election or was defeated in nomination contest
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Annapolis || |Laurie Montgomery<br/>3,448<br/>36.96% | |Basil Stewart <br/>3,198<br/>34.28% | |John Kinsella<br/>2,468<br/>26.46% | |Bob Mann <br/>215<br/>2.30% || |Earle Rafuse â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Clare || |Wayne Gaudet<br/>2,950<br/>47.28% | |Guy LeBlanc<br/>2,578<br/>41.32% | |Vanessa Paddock<br/>711<br/>11.40% | | || |Wayne Gaudet |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|DigbyâÂÂAnnapolis | |John Drish <br/>2,232<br/>33.71% || |Gordon Balser<br/>2,465<br/>37.22% | |Steve Downes<br/>1,925<br/>29.07% | | || |Joseph H. Caseyâ |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Hants West | |Debbi Bowes <br/>2,596<br/>27.35% || |Ron Russell<br/>4,507<br/>47.48% | |Dana Harvey <br/>2,390<br/>25.18% | | || |Ron Russell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings North | |Jennifer Foster<br/>2,457<br/>27.09% || |George Archibald<br/>3,760<br/>41.45% | |Neil H. McNeil <br/>2,854<br/>31.46% | | || |George Archibald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings South || |Robbie Harrison<br/>3,650<br/>36.46% | |David Morse<br/>3,069<br/>30.65% | |Mary DeWolfe<br/>3,293<br/>32.89% | | || |Robbie Harrison |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings West | |Baden Thurber<br/>1,684<br/>20.60% || |George Moody<br/>5,075<br/>62.09% | |Jacquie DeMestral<br/>1,414<br/>17.30% | | || |George Moody
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Argyle | |Allister Surette<br/>1,891<br/>33.47% || |Neil LeBlanc<br/>3,028<br/>53.59% | |Diane E. Cromwell<br/>651<br/>11.52% | |Oscar Harris <br/>80<br/>1.42% || |Allister Surette |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|ChesterâÂÂSt. Margaret's | |Jim Barkhouse<br/>3,153<br/>34.10% || |Hinrich Bitter-Suermann<br/>3,256<br/>35.22% | |Doris Maley<br/>2,837<br/>30.68% | | || |Jim Barkhouse |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Lunenburg | |Lila O'Connor<br/>3,099<br/>34.62% || |Michael Baker<br/>3,231<br/>36.10% | |Marilyn B. Crook<br/>2,621<br/>29.28% | | || |Lila O'Connor |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Lunenburg West || |Don Downe<br/>4,364<br/>47.95% | |Lou Centa<br/>2,027<br/>22.27% | |Eric Hustvedt<br/>2,711<br/>29.78% | | || |Don Downe |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Queens | |Tery Doucette <br/>2,072<br/>31.42% || |John Leefe<br/>3,582<br/>54.32% | |Basil L. Giffin<br/>940<br/>14.26% | | || |John Leefe |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Shelburne || |Clifford Huskilson<br/>3,144<br/>38.57% | |Cecil O'Donnell<br/>2,835<br/>34.78% | |Derek Jones<br/>2,173<br/>26.66% | | || |Clifford Huskilson |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Yarmouth | |Richie Hubbard<br/>2,212<br/>25.22% | |Alex McIntosh<br/>2,629<br/>29.97% || |John Deveau<br/>3,931<br/>44.81% | | || |Richie Hubbard
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|ColchesterâÂÂMusquodoboit Valley | |Dick Steeves<br/>1,587<br/>18.31% || |Brooke Taylor<br/>5,122<br/>59.08% | |Jim Harpell<br/>1,960<br/>22.61% | | || |Brooke Taylor |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Colchester North || |Ed Lorraine<br/>3,301<br/>39.13% | |Andy Williamson <br/>2,511<br/>29.77% | |Janet Maybee<br/>2,623<br/>31.10% | | || |Ed Lorraine |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cumberland North | |Russell Scott<br/>2,438<br/>27.89% || |Ernie Fage<br/>5,451<br/>62.35% | |Peter Stewart<br/>854<br/>9.77% | | || |Ernie Fage |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cumberland South | |Mike Uberoi<br/>2,153<br/>26.81% || |Murray Scott<br/>4,714<br/>58.69% | |Sandy Graham <br/>1,089<br/>13.56% | |James MacLeod<br/>76<br/>0.95% || |Guy Brown â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Hants East | |Jim W. Smith<br/>3,377<br/>35.32% | |Lawrin Armstrong<br/>2,010<br/>21.02% || |John MacDonell<br/>4,175<br/>43.66% | | || |Bob Carruthers â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|TruroâÂÂBible Hill | |Eleanor Norrie<br/>2,560<br/>27.94% || |Jamie Muir<br/>3,852<br/>42.03% | |Ibel Scammell<br/>2,752<br/>30.03% | | || |Eleanor Norrie
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Bedford Basin || |Gerry Fogarty<br/>4,246<br/>40.10% | |Michael Maddalena <br/>2,530<br/>23.89% | |Errol Gaum<br/>3,813<br/>36.01% | | || |Gerry Fogarty |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Chebucto | |Kenzie MacKinnon<br/>3,165<br/>35.51% | |Sean Phillips<br/>1,590<br/>17.84% || |Howard Epstein<br/>4,158<br/>46.65% | | || |Jay Abbass â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Citadel | |Ed Kinley<br/>4,377<br/>39.53% | |Tara Erskine<br/>2,175<br/>19.64% || |Peter Delefes<br/>4,414<br/>39.87% | |Art Canning<br/>106<br/>0.96% || |Ed Kinley |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Fairview | |Bob Britton<br/>2,597<br/>30.03% | |Brian Nash <br/>1,402<br/>16.21% || |Eileen O'Connell<br/>4,649<br/>53.76% | | || |Eileen O'Connell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Needham | |Gerry O'Malley<br/>2,506<br/>30.31% | |Artho Kartsaklis<br/>924<br/>11.18% || |Maureen MacDonald<br/>4,837<br/>58.51% | | || |Gerry O'Malley
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|BedfordâÂÂFall River || |Francene Cosman<br/>4,205<br/>37.58% | |Peter Christie<br/>3,892<br/>34.79% | |Marvin Silver <br/>3,091<br/>27.63% | | || |Francene Cosman |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Atlantic | |Darren Watts <br/>2,818<br/>29.31% | |Jeff Campbell<br/>1,340<br/>13.94% || |Robert Chisholm<br/>5,364<br/>55.79% | |Golda M. Redden<br/>93<br/>0.97% || |Robert Chisholm |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|SackvilleâÂÂBeaver Bank | |Bill MacDonald<br/>3,128<br/>33.16% | |Stephen Taylor<br/>2,485<br/>26.34% || |Rosemary Godin<br/>3,821<br/>40.50% | | || |Bill MacDonald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|SackvilleâÂÂCobequid | |Jack Brill<br/>2,131<br/>22.61% | |Rob Batherson<br/>1,383<br/>14.68% || |John Holm<br/>5,909<br/>62.71% | | || |John Holm |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|TimberleaâÂÂProspect | |Bruce Holland<br/>3,308<br/>33.34% | |Tom Robertson<br/>1,852<br/>18.67% || |Bill Estabrooks<br/>4,762<br/>47.99% | | || |Bruce Holland |-
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cole HarbourâÂÂEastern Passage | |Randy Anstey<br/>3,303<br/>34.25% | |Linda DeGrace<br/>1,931<br/>20.02% || |Kevin Deveaux<br/>4,411<br/>45.73% | | || |Dennis Richards â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|DartmouthâÂÂCole Harbour | |Alan Mitchell<br/>2,986<br/>33.98% | |Michael L. MacDonald<br/>2,084<br/>23.72% || |Darrell Dexter<br/>3,717<br/>42.30% | | || |Alan Mitchell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth East || |Jim Smith <br/>3,326<br/>40.92% | |Ralph Hawley<br/>1,849<br/>22.75% | |Viola Huntington<br/>2,954<br/>36.34% | | || |Jim Smith |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth North | |Gloria McClusky<br/>2,575<br/>33.87% | |Mike Brownlow <br/>2,003<br/>26.35% || |Jerry Pye<br/>3,024<br/>39.78% | | || |Vacant |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth South | |Bruce Hetherington<br/>3,164<br/>35.40% | |Allan Billard <br/>2,099<br/>23.48% || |Don Chard<br/>3,676<br/>41.12% | | || |John Savage â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Eastern Shore || |Keith Colwell<br/>3,299<br/>38.49% | |Greg Brown<br/>2,472<br/>28.84% | |Darren Richard<br/>2,801<br/>32.68% | | || |Keith Colwell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Preston | |Wayne Adams<br/>1,548<br/>37.45% | |Ross D. Isenor <br/>809<br/>19.57% || |Yvonne Atwell<br/>1,777<br/>42.99% | | || |Wayne Adams
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Antigonish || |Hyland Fraser <br/>4,649<br/>41.55% | |Andrew MacNeil<br/>3,554<br/>31.76% | |Maurice Smith<br/>2,986<br/>26.69% | | || |Bill Gillis â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|GuysboroughâÂÂPort Hawkesbury || |Ray White<br/>3,438<br/>42.81% | |Ron Chisholm<br/>2,717<br/>33.83% | |Wendy Panagopoulos<br/>1,876<br/>23.36% | | || |Ray White |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou Centre | |Roseanne Skoke<br/>2,114<br/>23.68% || |John Hamm<br/>5,037<br/>56.42% | |Judy Hughes<br/>1,776<br/>19.89% | | || |John Hamm |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou East | |Wayne Fraser<br/>2,208<br/>26.52% || |James DeWolfe<br/>3,816<br/>45.83% | |David MacKenzie<br/>2,302<br/>27.65% | | || |Wayne Fraser |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou West | |Rob McDowell<br/>1,633<br/>19.89% | |Luke Young<br/>3,273<br/>39.86% || |Charlie Parker<br/>3,306<br/>40.26% | | || |Donald P. McInnesâÂÂ
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton Centre | |Steve Drake<br/>2,435<br/>28.61% | |Julien Frison<br/>576<br/>6.77% || |Frank Corbett<br/>5,499<br/>64.62% | | || |Russell MacNeil â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton East | |Clarence Routledge<br/>2,859<br/>30.06% | |Henry Boutillier<br/>1,651<br/>17.36% || |Reeves Matheson<br/>5,002<br/>52.59% | | || |John MacEachern â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton North || |Russell MacLellan <br/>4,666<br/>50.13% | |Murray Johnston<br/>1,853<br/>19.91% | |Archie MacKinnon<br/>2,789<br/>29.96% | | || |Russell MacLellan |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton Nova || |Paul MacEwan<br/>3,944<br/>53.98% | |Walter Hagen<br/>312<br/>4.27% | |Lou Surette<br/>3,050<br/>41.75% | | || |Paul MacEwan |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton South || |Manning MacDonald<br/>5,118<br/>60.30% | |Anna Steele<br/>861<br/>10.14% | |Ed Murphy<br/>2,508<br/>29.55% | | || |Manning MacDonald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape BretonâÂÂThe Lakes | |Allan Henderson<br/>3,707<br/>42.29% | |Rollie Clarke<br/>485<br/>5.53% || |Helen MacDonald<br/>4,573<br/>52.17% | | || |Helen MacDonald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton West || |Russell MacKinnon<br/>4,528<br/>44.05% | |Alfie MacLeod<br/>2,818<br/>27.42% | |Brian Slaney<br/>2,933<br/>28.53% | | || |Alfie MacLeod |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Inverness || |Charlie MacDonald<br/>4,396<br/>47.83% | |Randy MacDonald<br/>1,951<br/>21.23% | |Maria Coady<br/>2,274<br/>24.74% | |Ed MacDonald<br/>569<br/>6.19% || |Charles MacArthur â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Richmond || |Michel Samson<br/>3,230<br/>48.40% | |Frank Sutherland<br/>1,392<br/>20.86% | |Wilma Conrod<br/>2,051<br/>30.74% | | || |Vacant |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Victoria || |Kennie MacAskill<br/>2,405<br/>48.08% | |Dan Chiasson<br/>1,524<br/>30.47% | |Ruth Schneider<br/>887<br/>17.73% | |Stemer MacLeod <br/>186<br/>3.72% || |Kennie MacAskill