Pictou East

Pictou East
Nova Scotia electoral district
Provincial electoral district
Legislature	Nova Scotia House of Assembly
MLA	Tim Houston; Progressive Conservative
;
District created	1949
First contested	1949
Last contested	2024
Demographics
Population (2011)	15,155
Electors	11,803
Area (km²)	1,644
Pop. density (per km²)	9.2
Census division	Pictou County

Pictou East is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

Its Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) since the 2013 election is Tim Houston of the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia who replaced Clarrie MacKinnon of the New Democratic Party of Nova Scotia.

Geography

Pictou East covers 1,644 km² (635 sq mi) of land area.^[1]

Members of the Legislative Assembly

This riding has elected the following members of the Legislative Assembly:

Pictou East
Legislature	Years	Member		Party
44th	1949–1953		John W. MacDonald	Liberal
45th	1953–1956		John W. MacDonald	Liberal
46th	1956–1960		William A. MacLeod	Progressive Conservative
47th	1960–1963		John W. MacDonald	Liberal
48th	1963–1967		A. Lloyd MacDonald	Liberal
49th	1967–1970		Thomas MacQueen	Progressive Conservative
50th	1970–1974		A. Lloyd MacDonald	Liberal
51st	1974–1978		Donald Cameron	Progressive Conservative
52nd	1978–1981
53rd	1981–1984
54th	1984–1988
55th	1988–1993
56th	1993–1993
56th	1993–1998		Wayne Fraser	Liberal
57th	1998–1999		James DeWolfe	Progressive Conservative
58th	1999–2003
59th	2003–2006
60th	2006–2009		Clarrie MacKinnon	New Democratic
61st	2009–2013		Clarrie MacKinnon	New Democratic
62nd	2013–2017		Tim Houston	Progressive Conservative
63rd	2017–2021
64th	2021–2024
65th	2024–present

Election results

2024

2024 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Tim Houston	4,424	78.89	+9.21
	New Democratic	Vernon Theriault	656	11.70	+4.61
	Liberal	Stephanie Quinn	528	9.42	-13.04
Total valid votes			5,608
Total rejected ballots			39
Turnout			5,647	46.40
Eligible voters			12,170
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing
Source: Elections Nova Scotia^[2]

2021

2021 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Tim Houston	4,918	69.68	-4.20	$36,667.66
	Liberal	Joe MacDonald	1,585	22.46	+4.24	$24,555.29
	New Democratic	Joy Polley	500	7.08	-0.82	$18,372.66
	Atlantica	Jonathan Geoffrey Dean	55	0.78		$200.00
Total valid votes/expense limit			7,058	99.62	–	$70,149.96
Total rejected ballots			27	0.38
Turnout			7,085	61.44
Eligible voters			11,532
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		-4.22
Source: Elections Nova Scotia^[3]^[4]

2017

2017 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Tim Houston	5,275	73.88	+25.83
	Liberal	John Fraser	1,301	18.22	+2.33
	New Democratic	Deborah Stiles	564	7.90	-28.17
Total valid votes			7,140	100
Total rejected ballots			34	0.47
Turnout			7,174	59.9
Eligible voters			11,976
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		+11.75
Source: Elections Nova Scotia^[5]^[6]

2013

2013 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Tim Houston	3,714	48.05	22.11
	New Democratic	Clarrie MacKinnon	2,788	36.07	-27.91
	Liberal	François (Frank) M. Rochon	1,228	15.89	7.49
Total			7,730	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2013). 39th Provincial General Election, October 8, 2013: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2026.

2009

2009 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic	Clarrie MacKinnon	4,893	63.98	27.25
	Progressive Conservative	J. Ed MacDonald	1,984	25.94	-9.37
	Liberal	François (Frank) M. Rochon	642	8.39	-18.21
	Green	Robbie Loftus White	129	1.69	0.33
Total			7,648	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca.

2006

2006 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic	Clarrie MacKinnon	2,761	36.73	10.88
	Progressive Conservative	Sue Uhren	2,654	35.31	-8.84
	Liberal	Danny Walsh	2,000	26.61	-3.39
	Green	John A. Clark	102	1.36	–
Total			7,517	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca.

2003

2003 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	James DeWolfe	3,295	44.15	-10.79
	Liberal	John Fraser	2,239	30.00	14.24
	New Democratic	Bob Matheson	1,929	25.85	-3.45
Total			7,463	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca.

1999

1999 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	James DeWolfe	4,478	54.94	9.11
	New Democratic	Andy Thompson	2,388	29.30	1.65
	Liberal	Lynn MacDonald	1,285	15.76	-10.75
Total			8,151	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-Fifth General Election (Report). Elections Nova Scotia.

1998

1998 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	James DeWolfe	3,816	45.83	–
	New Democratic	David MacKenzie	2,302	27.65	–
	Liberal	Wayne Fraser	2,208	26.52	–
Total			8,326	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca.

1993 by-election

Nova Scotia provincial by-election, 1993-08-03
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Wayne Fraser	4,417	59.60	20.14
	Progressive Conservative	Mel MacLean	1,902	25.66	-21.38
	New Democratic	Dave Peters	935	12.62	-0.88
	Independent	Alexander James MacKenzie	111	1.50	–
	Natural Law	Peter H. Cameron	46	0.62	–
Total			7,411	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1993). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-Third General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2018.

1993

1993 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Donald Cameron	4,446	47.05	-2.80
	Liberal	Wayne Fraser	3,729	39.46	-0.99
	New Democratic	Dave Peters	1,275	13.49	3.79
Total			9,450	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1993). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-Third General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2018.

1988

1988 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Donald Cameron	3,996	49.84	-13.91
	Liberal	Wayne Fraser	3,243	40.45	14.85
	New Democratic	Cecil MacNeil	778	9.70	-0.94
Total			8,017	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1988). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-Second General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2018.

1984

1984 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Donald Cameron	4,367	63.75	2.87
	Liberal	Scott Johnston	1,754	25.61	-0.07
	New Democratic	Larry Duchesne	729	10.64	-2.80
Total			6,850	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1984). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirty-First General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2017.

1981

1981 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Donald Cameron	4,347	60.88	1.92
	Liberal	Harold Lowe	1,833	25.67	-6.63
	New Democratic	Hasse Lindblad	960	13.45	4.71
Total			7,140	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1981). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Thirtieth General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2017.

1978

1978 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Donald Cameron	4,315	58.96	12.99
	Liberal	W. G. (Bill) Munro	2,364	32.30	-9.79
	New Democratic	Bill Mitton	639	8.73	-3.20
Total			7,318	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1978). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Twenty-Ninth General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2018.

1974

1974 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Donald Cameron	3,217	45.98	-1.20
	Liberal	J. Lester MacLellan	2,945	42.09	-5.39
	New Democratic	Joanne E. Kohout	835	11.93	6.58
Total			6,997	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (1974). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, Twenty-Eighth General Election (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2018.

1970

1970 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	A. Lloyd MacDonald	3,000	47.48	-1.39
	Progressive Conservative	Thomas MacQueen	2,981	47.18	-3.96
	New Democratic	Charles E. Arbuckle	338	5.35	–
Total			6,319	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia, Legislative Assembly (1970). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly, 1970 (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2018.

1967

1967 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Thomas MacQueen	2,876	51.14	1.24
	Liberal	A. Lloyd MacDonald	2,748	48.86	-1.24
Total			5,624	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1967). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2018.

1963

1963 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	A. Lloyd MacDonald	2,660	50.10	2.91
	Progressive Conservative	John Andrew MacLean	2,649	49.90	5.35
Total			5,309	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1963). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2018.

1960

1960 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John W. MacDonald	2,568	47.20	-2.76
	Progressive Conservative	William A. MacLeod	2,424	44.55	-5.49
	Co-operative Commonwealth	Barrie M. Hould	449	8.25	–
Total			5,441	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1960). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2018.

1956

1956 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	William A. MacLeod	2,754	50.05	2.88
	Liberal	John W. MacDonald	2,749	49.95	1.17
Total			5,503	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1956). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2018.

1953

1953 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John W. MacDonald	2,681	48.78	2.23
	Progressive Conservative	William A. MacLeod	2,592	47.16	5.14
	Co-operative Commonwealth	Joseph D. Ryan	223	4.06	-7.38
Total			5,496	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1953). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2018.

1949

1949 Nova Scotia general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John W. MacDonald	2,455	46.55	–
	Progressive Conservative	William A. MacLeod	2,216	42.02	–
	Co-operative Commonwealth	Collie G. Ross	603	11.43	–
Total			5,274	–
Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2024). "Electoral History for Pictou East" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1949). Returns of the General Election for the House of Assembly (PDF) (Report). Queen's Printer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2018.

References

↑ "Find Your Electoral District for the 41st Provincial General Election". enstools.electionsnovascotia.ca. Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
↑ Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2025). 42nd Provincial General Election, November 26, 2024: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
↑ Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2022). 41st Provincial General Election, August 17, 2021: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
↑ Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2022). 41st Provincial General Election, August 17, 2021: Volume 3 – Financial Information & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
↑ Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2017). 40th Provincial General Election, May 30, 2017: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
↑ Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2018). 40th Provincial General Election, May 30, 2017: Volume 3 – Financial Information & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 1 February 2026.

External links

riding profile

[1] "Find Your Electoral District for the 41st Provincial General Election". enstools.electionsnovascotia.ca. Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 22 July 2021.

[2] Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2025). 42nd Provincial General Election, November 26, 2024: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 1 February 2026.

[3] Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2022). 41st Provincial General Election, August 17, 2021: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 1 February 2026.

[4] Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2022). 41st Provincial General Election, August 17, 2021: Volume 3 – Financial Information & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 1 February 2026.

[5] Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2017). 40th Provincial General Election, May 30, 2017: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.

[6] Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2018). 40th Provincial General Election, May 30, 2017: Volume 3 – Financial Information & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 1 February 2026.

[1]

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[3]

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[5]

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Geography

Members of the Legislative Assembly

Election results

2024

2021

2017

2013

2009

2006

2003

1999

1998

1993 by-election

1993

1988

1984

1981

1978

1974

1970

1967

1963

1960

1956

1953

1949

See also

References

External links