Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish

Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish is a sprawling riding that covers much of rural Cape Breton Island and extends across the Strait of Canso to the mainland communities of Antigonish and Guysborough. Following the 2022 redistribution, the riding absorbed all of Antigonish County from Central Nova and exchanged territory with Sydney—Victoria, gaining Victoria County, the remainder of Inverness County, and rural portions of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. The result is a vast district of roughly 9,400 square kilometres.

The riding encompasses a diverse array of communities including Port Hawkesbury, Inverness, Cheticamp, Antigonish, St. Peters, Canso, and Guysborough. It is home to several Mi'kmaw communities, including Paqtnkek, Waycobah, and Whycocomagh First Nations, and the university town of Antigonish, home to St. Francis Xavier University.

Candidates

Jaime Battiste (Liberal) is a member of Eskasoni First Nation and the first Mi'kmaw member of Parliament, initially elected in Sydney—Victoria in 2019. A lawyer with degrees from Cape Breton University and Dalhousie's Schulich School of Law, Battiste served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. He briefly entered the 2025 Liberal leadership race before withdrawing to endorse Mark Carney.

Allan MacMaster (Conservative) is a former Nova Scotia MLA for Inverness who served from 2009 to 2024, including time as Deputy Premier and Finance Minister under Premier Tim Houston. A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University with a background in investment advising, MacMaster resigned from provincial cabinet in October 2024 to seek the federal Conservative nomination.

Joanna Clark (NDP) is a schoolteacher from Little Judique and a mother of two who has run twice for the NDP in provincial elections. She is a vocal advocate for rural service access, women's healthcare, and affordable housing.

Ryan Smyth (People's Party) ran as the PPC candidate in the riding.

Rebecca Wall (Independent) ran as an independent candidate.

About the Riding

The economy of Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish relies on a mix of fishing, forestry, tourism, and post-secondary education. The lobster fishery and snow crab industry are vital along the coast, while Antigonish's St. Francis Xavier University and the broader education sector provide stable employment on the mainland portion. Tourism, anchored by the Cabot Trail, the Fortress of Louisbourg, and the Celtic and Acadian cultural heritage of Inverness County, is a seasonal economic pillar.

The threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian seafood exports was one of the defining issues of the 2025 campaign in this riding. Port Hawkesbury, a key hub for the seafood processing industry, faced particular anxiety as lobster season and the federal election collided. China had already imposed tariffs on Canadian seafood, and a looming 25 percent U.S. duty compounded the uncertainty for workers and exporters dependent on cross-border trade.

Healthcare access remains a persistent challenge across the riding, with physician shortages and long emergency room wait times affecting communities from Cheticamp to Guysborough. Rural depopulation and an aging demographic continue to shape the economic outlook, even as Antigonish has experienced modest growth tied to its university and immigration programs.