The 2006 Nova Scotia general election was held on June 13, 2006 to elect members of the 60th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada.
Premier Rodney MacDonald, who led a Progressive Conservative minority government in the legislature, called for the election on May 13, 2006, hoping for a majority government to better advance his agenda and a clear mandate for himself as he had not yet fought an election as leader.
Ultimately, MacDonald was returned to power leading another, slightly smaller, minority government against a strengthened New Democratic Party sitting as the Official Opposition and a weakened Liberal Party. Liberal leader Francis MacKenzie was defeated in his riding of Bedford.
MacKenzie was an outspoken critic of the governing Tories and accused them of living in a "fantasy world" due to their promise to cut taxes and increase spending in the 2006-07 budget.
No single issue dominated the election campaign, with all parties offering up various promises for university students to seniors.
The Progressive Conservatives gained several points in the popular vote, but made a net loss of two seats, with losses to the NDP partially countered by the PCs doubling their representation on MacDonald's native Cape Breton Island at the expense of the Liberals. The gap between the Liberals and NDP also significantly increased, in both the popular vote and seat count; while the Liberals and NDP had previously been nearly even, the NDP gained a significant advantage on the Liberals and moved into position as the primary opposition to the governing PCs.
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 | |Blair Hannam<br>2,041<br>24.57% | |Calum MacKenzie<br>1,391<br>16.75% || |Stephen McNeil<br>4,668<br>56.20% | |Ken McGowan<br>206<br>2.48% | | || |Stephen McNeil |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Clare | |Arnold LeBlanc<br>1,622<br>28.08% | |Paul Comeau<br>1,269<br>21.97% || |Wayne Gaudet<br>2,803<br>48.53% | |Diane Doucet-Bean<br>82<br>1.42% | | || |Wayne Gaudet |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|DigbyâÂÂAnnapolis | |Jimmy MacAlpine<br>2,170<br>36.42% | |Andrew Oliver<br>663<br>11.13% || |Harold Theriault<br>3,034<br>50.91% | |Namron Bean<br>92<br>1.54% | | || |Harold Theriault |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Hants West || |Chuck Porter<br>2,969<br>34.60% | |Sean Bennett<br>2,486<br>28.97% | |Paula Lunn<br>2,924<br>34.08% | |Sam Schurman<br>201<br>2.34% | | || |Ron Russellâ |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings North || |Mark Parent<br>4,153<br>50.07% | |Jim Morton<br>2,190<br>26.40% | |Madonna Spinazola<br>1,757<br>21.18% | |Christopher Alders<br>195<br>2.35% | | || |Mark Parent |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings South || |David Morse<br>3,788<br>42.37% | |David Mangle<br>3,130<br>35.01% | |Ray Savage<br>1,797<br>20.10% | |Steven McGowan<br>226<br>2.53% | | || |David Morse |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kings West | |John Prall<br>2,801<br>33.18% | |Greg Hubbert<br>1,590<br>18.83% || |Leo Glavine<br>3,940<br>46.67% | |Nistal Prem de Boer<br>112<br>1.33% | | || |Leo Glavine
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Argyle || |Chris d'Entremont<br>3,158<br>67.65% | |Charles Muise<br>531<br>11.38% | |Christian Surette<br>913<br>19.56% | |Patricia Saunders<br>66<br>1.41% | | || |Chris d'Entremont |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Chester-St. Margaret's || |Judy Streatch<br>3,950<br>42.67% | |Jane Matheson<br>2,833<br>30.60% | |Rick Fraughton<br>2,192<br>23.68% | |Joanne MacKinnon<br>282<br>3.05% | | || |Judy Streatch |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Lunenburg || |Michael Baker<br>3,969<br>49.40% | |Chris Heide<br>2,669<br>33.22% | |Rick Welsford<br>1,200<br>14.94% | |Stuart Simpson<br>196<br>2.44% | | || |Michael Baker |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Lunenburg West || |Carolyn Bolivar-Getson<br>3,637<br>43.21% | |Bill Smith<br>3,299<br>39.19% | |Martin Bell<br>1,324<br>15.73% | |Brendan MacNeill<br>157<br>1.87% | | || |Carolyn Bolivar-Getson |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Queens | |Kerry Morash<br>2,998<br>48.59% || |Vicki Conrad<br>3,053<br>49.48% | | | |Margaret Whitney<br>119<br>1.93% | | || |Kerry Morash |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Shelburne | |Eddie Nickerson<br>2,353<br>35.00% || |Sterling Belliveau<br>2,438<br>36.27% | |Kirk Cox<br>1,790<br>26.63% | |Derek Jones<br>141<br>2.10% | | || |Cecil O'Donnellâ |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Yarmouth || |Richard Hurlburt<br>5,170<br>64.30% | |John Deveau<br>1,667<br>20.73% | |Dolores Atwood<br>1,051<br>13.07% | |Matt Granger<br>152<br>1.89% | | || |Richard Hurlburt
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley || |Brooke Taylor<br>4,790<br>63.85% | |Gary Burrill<br>1,891<br>25.21% | |Carolyn Matthews<br>657<br>8.76% | |Leona MacLeod<br>164<br>2.19% | | || |Brooke Taylor |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Colchester North || |Karen Casey<br>3,809<br>50.96% | |Rob Assels<br>1,511<br>20.21% | |Bob Taylor<br>1,979<br>26.47% | |Judy Davis<Br>176<br>2.35% | | || |Bill Langille â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cumberland North || |Ernie Fage<br>4,640<br>62.64% | |Kim Cail<br>1,085<br>14.65% | |Bruce Alan Fage<br>1,480<br>19.98% | |Darryl Whetter<br>202<br>2.73% | | || |Ernie Fage |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cumberland South || |Murray Scott<br>5,082<br>76.76% | |Andrew Kernohan<br>753<br>11.37% | |Mary Dee MacPherson<br>681<br>10.29% | |James Dessart<br>92<br>1.39% | |David Raymond Amos<br>13<br>0.20% || |Murray Scott |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Hants East | |Wayne Fiander<br>2,715<br>30.62% || |John MacDonell<br>4,712<br>53.13% | |Malcolm A. MacKay<br>1,237<br>13.95% | |Michael Hartlan<br>204<br>2.30% | | || |John MacDonell |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Truro-Bible Hill || |Jamie Muir<br>3,711<br>47.27% | |Jim Harpell<br>2,248<br>28.64% | |Ron Chisholm<br>1,674<br>21.32% | |Barton Cutten<br>217<br>2.76% | | || |Jamie Muir
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Chebucto | |Sean Phillips<br>1,720<br>22.09% || |Howard Epstein<br>4,216<br>54.15% | |Peter Verner<br>1,481<br>19.02% | |Christopher Harborne<br>369<br>4.74% | | || |Howard Epstein |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Citadel | |Bill Black<br>2,724<br>37.45% || |Leonard Preyra<br>3,054<br>42.03% | |Devin Maxwell<br>1,181<br>16.25% | |Nick Wright<br>307<br>4.23% | | | |Vacant |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Clayton Park | |Mary Ann McGrath<br>2,450<br>26.86% | |Linda Power<br>3,040<br>33.33% || |Diana Whalen<br>3,404<br>37.32% | |Sheila Richardson<br>307<br>3.37% | | || |Diana Whalen |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Fairview | |Bruce MacCharles<br>1,649<br>23.13% || |Graham Steele<br>4,172<br>58.51% | |Cecil MacDougall<br>1,055<br>14.80% | |Kris MacLellan<br>254<br>3.56% | | || |Graham Steele |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Needham | |Andrew Black<br>1,330<br>18.17% || |Maureen MacDonald<br>4,438<br>60.62% | |Errol Gaum<br>1,220<br>16.66% | |Amanda Myers<br>333<br>4.55% | | || |Maureen MacDonald
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Bedford || |Len Goucher<br>4,090<br>42.22% | |John Buckland<br>2,019<br>20.84% | |Francis MacKenzie<br>3,286<br>33.92% | |Mary McLaughlan<br>292<br>3.01% | | || |Peter G. Christie â |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Halifax Atlantic | |Bruce Cooke<br>2,690<br>32.08% || |Michèle Raymond<br>4,151<br>49.51% | |Jim Hoskins<br>1,281<br>15.28% | |Rebecca Mosher<br>262<br>3.13% | | || |Michele Raymond |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville || |Barry Barnet<br>3,704<br>42.02% | |Mat Whynott<br>3,178<br>36.05% | |Pam Streeter<br>1,766<br>20.03% | |Scott Cleghorn<br>167<br>1.89% | | || |Barry Barnet |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Sackville-Cobequid | |Steve Craig<br>2,499<br>30.42% || |Dave Wilson<br>4,477<br>54.50% | |David Major<br>1,051<br>12.80% | |Elizabeth Nicolson<br>187<br>2.28% | | || |Dave Wilson |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Timberlea-Prospect | |Jaunita Cirtwell<br>2,034<br>24.16% || |Bill Estabrooks<br>5,317<br>63.15% | |Lisa Mullin<br>851<br>10.11% | |Thomas Trappenberg<br>217<br>2.58% | | || |Bill Estabrooks |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank | |Gary Hines<br>3,275<br>40.17% || |Percy Paris<br>3,782<br>46.39% | |Thomas Deal<br>909<br>11.15% | |William Lang<br>186<br>2.28% | | || |Gary Hines
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cole Harbour | |Sheila McKeand<br>1,788<br>20.63% || |Darrell Dexter<br>5,327<br>61.46% | |Stephen Beehan<br>1,347<br>15.54% | |Michael McFadden<br>206<br>2.38% | | || |Darrell Dexter |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage | |Don McIver<br>1,201<br>18.93% || |Kevin Deveaux<br>4,086<br>64.40% | |Brian Churchill<br>903<br>14.23% | |Beverly Woodfield<br>155<br>2.44% | | || |Kevin Deveaux |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth East | |Jim Cormier<br>2,942<br>33.27% || |Joan Massey<br>3,822<br>43.22% | |Tracey Devereaux<br>1,842<br>20.83% | |Elizabeth Perry<br>238<br>2.69% | | || |Joan Massey |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth North | |Troy Myers<br>1,895<br>27.46% || |Trevor Zinck<br>3,414<br>49.47% | |Ian Murray<br>1,365<br>19.78% | |Alex Donaldson<br>227<br>3.29% | | || |Jerry Pyeâ |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Dartmouth South-Portland Valley | |Tim Olive<br>3,041<br>32.52% || |Marilyn More<br>4,493<br>48.05% | |Brian Hiltz<br>1,509<br>16.14% | |Daniel Melvin<br>308<br>3.29% | | || |Marilyn More |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Eastern Shore || |Bill Dooks<br>3,232<br>45.93% | |Sid Prest<br>2,871<br>40.80% | |Judith Cabrita<br>746<br>10.60% | |Elizabeth van Dreunen<br>188<br>2.67% | | || |Bill Dooks |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Preston | |Dwayne Provo<br>1,620<br>36.83% | |Douglas Sparks<br>843<br>19.17% || |Keith Colwell<br>1,853<br>42.13% | |David Farrell<br>82<br>1.86% | | || |Keith Colwell
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Antigonish || |Angus MacIsaac<br>4,629<br>48.28% | |Andrew MacDonald<br>1,827<br>19.06% | |Danny MacIsaac<br>2,953<br>30.80% | |Judy Dowden<br>179<br>1.87% | | || |Angus MacIsaac |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Guysborough-Sheet Harbour || |Ron Chisholm<br>2,765<br>40.83% | |Jim Boudreau<br>2,540<br>37.51% | |David Horton<br>1,379<br>20.36% | |Marike Finlay-de Monchy<br>88<br>1.30% | | || |Ron Chisholm |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou Centre || |Pat Dunn<br>3,901<br>52.54% | |Danny MacGillivray<br>2,354<br>31.70% | |Troy MacCulloch<br>1,057<br>14.24% | |Samuel M. Clark<br>93<br>1.25% | |Dennis Tate<br>20<br>0.27% || |John Hammâ |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou East | |Sue Uhren<br>2,654<br>35.31% || |Clarrie MacKinnon<br>2,761<br>36.73% | |Danny Walsh<br>2,000<br>26.61% | |John A. Clark<br>102<br>1.36% | | || |Jim DeWolfeâ |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pictou West | |Ronald Baillie<br>2,584<br>33.99% || |Charlie Parker<br>4,173<br>54.89% | |Sandy MacKay<br>698<br>9.18% | |Douglas Corbett<br>147<br>1.93% | | || |Charlie Parker
|- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton Centre | |Darren Bruckschwaiger<br>2,274<br>28.44% || |Frank Corbett<br>3,490<br>43.65% | |Laura Lee MacDonald<br>2,152<br>26.92% | |Frances Oomen<br>79<br>0.99% | | || |Frank Corbett |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton North || |Cecil Clarke<br>4,310<br>50.71% | |Russell MacDonald<br>2,195<br>25.83% | |Fred Tilley<br>1,869<br>21.99% | |Mark Doucet<br>125<br>1.47% | | || |Cecil Clarke |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton Nova | |Todd Marsman<br>855<br>12.07% || |Gordie Gosse<br>4,315<br>60.92% | |Mel Crowe<br>1,794<br>25.33% | |Chris Milburn<br>119<br>1.68% | | || |Gordie Gosse |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton South | |Scott Boyd<br>3,261<br>32.36% | |Jamie Crane<br>2,160<br>21.43% || |Manning MacDonald<br>4,383<br>43.50% | |Stephen Doucet<br>273<br>2.71% | | || |Manning MacDonald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cape Breton West || |Alfie MacLeod<br>4,729<br>53.76% | |Terry Crawley<br>1,344<br>15.28% | |Dave LeBlanc<br>2,488<br>28.28% | |Michael Milburn<br>236<br>2.68% | | || |Russell MacKinnonâ |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Glace Bay | |Mark Bettens<br>2,074<br>26.85% | |Myrtle Campbell<br>2,234<br>28.93% || |David Wilson<br>3,327<br>43.08% | |Todd Pettigrew<br>88<br>1.14% | | || |Dave Wilson |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Inverness || |Rodney MacDonald<br>7,404<br>70.47% | |Tim Murphy<br>1,342<br>12.77% | |Mary MacLennan<br>1,627<br>15.49% | |John Gibson<br>133<br>1.27% | | || |Rodney MacDonald |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Richmond | |John Greene<br>2,268<br>40.45% | |Mary Pat Cude<br>529<br>9.43% || |Michel Samson<br>2,722<br>48.55% | |Noreen Hartlen<br>88<br>1.57% | | || |Michel Samson |- |bgcolor=whitesmoke|Victoria-The Lakes || |Keith Bain<br>3,001<br>47.48% | |Joan O'Liari<br>755<br>11.94% | |Gerald Sampson<br>2,272<br>35.94% | |Michelle Smith<br>173<br>2.74% | |Stemer MacLeod<br>120<br>1.90% || |Gerald Sampson
A March 2006 poll by Corporate Research Associates asked voters who they would prefer as premier, 36 per cent of respondents picked Premier Rodney MacDonald, compared to 23 per cent for Darrell Dexter and 16 per cent for Francis MacKenzie. The same poll showed the Progressive Conservatives in the lead with 36 percent of voters compared to 29 percent for the New Democrats and 27 percent for the Liberals.