Central Nova

Central Nova covers the northern mainland of Nova Scotia, centred on Pictou County and extending into parts of Antigonish and Guysborough Counties as well as a portion of Halifax Regional Municipality. Major communities include New Glasgow, Stellarton, Pictou, Trenton, Westville, and the university town of Antigonish. The riding had a population of approximately 73,200 in the 2021 census, spanning about 9,200 square kilometres with a population density of roughly 7.9 persons per square kilometre.

Candidates

Sean Fraser (Liberal) was the incumbent, first elected in 2015. Raised in Merigomish, Pictou County, Fraser earned a Bachelor of Science from St. Francis Xavier University, a law degree from Dalhousie University, and a master’s degree in public international law from Leiden University in the Netherlands. Before entering politics, he practised commercial litigation and international dispute resolution at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in Calgary and worked as a human rights lawyer in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Steven Cotter (Conservative) carried the Conservative banner in Central Nova. He campaigned primarily on healthcare, pledging that a Conservative government would double the annual growth rate of federal health transfers to provinces from three percent to six percent while balancing the budget over ten years.

Betsy MacDonald (NDP) was a 36-year-old community organizer, mother, and musician from Antigonish. She graduated from St. Francis Xavier University and earned a Master’s degree from Brock University. MacDonald had spent 15 years working on projects aimed at community development, youth leadership, and social enterprise while combating poverty, gender-based violence, and food insecurity. She also served as a communications and outreach officer for the Nova Scotia NDP caucus. This was her second consecutive federal campaign in the riding.

Al Muir (PPC) ran as the People’s Party of Canada candidate.

Katerina Nikas (Green Party) represented the Green Party in the riding.

Harvey Henderson (Independent) ran as an independent candidate.

About the Riding

Central Nova is a largely rural riding whose economy has historically depended on manufacturing, resource extraction, and public-sector employment. Stellarton is the headquarters of Sobeys, one of Canada’s largest grocery chains, making it a significant corporate presence. A Michelin tire plant in Granton has been a major employer in the region for decades. However, the riding has endured painful economic losses: the Northern Pulp mill in Abercrombie, which employed roughly 300 workers, closed after the provincial government refused to extend the deadline for its wastewater treatment facility at Boat Harbour. Other closures including Maritime Steel, Trenton Works, and Scotsburn Dairy have further eroded the industrial base.

New Glasgow serves as the commercial centre of Pictou County and northeastern Nova Scotia. Antigonish, home to St. Francis Xavier University (enrollment of roughly 5,000), contributes significantly to the riding’s education and healthcare sectors; the Aberdeen Hospital and St. Martha’s Regional Hospital serve the broader region. Healthcare access—particularly physician shortages and emergency-room closures—was the issue most frequently raised by voters during the 2021 campaign. The riding also faces challenges related to rural broadband access, affordable housing, and youth out-migration. Pictou Landing First Nation, located near the former Northern Pulp effluent site at Boat Harbour, has long advocated for environmental remediation of the area.