Iain Rankin Will Be The Next Nova Scotia Premier
HALIFAX — Iain Rankin will be the next premier of Nova Scotia after winning the Liberal leadership in a close vote Saturday.
The 37-year-old former environment minister squeaked by Labi Kousoulis in the second round of a ranked ballot election.
The election took place at a mostly virtual Liberal leadership convention that capped an uneventful leadership race between Rankin, Kousoulis, and Randy Delorey.
Rankin, the youngest of the three candidates, ran on a promise to pursue more ambitious climate policies and build a low-carbon economy in the province.
In his victory speech, Rankin said Nova Scotia has an opportunity to “seize this moment” as the world changes to become more environmentally conscious.
He promised to invest in local entrepreneurs pursuing “world-changing research” while ensuring the sustainability of “traditional sectors of our economy.”
Rankin said the challenge of Covid-19 and vaccine distribution will be his primary focus in the near future, but that “while we manage those challenges, the opportunity of shaping an inclusive, low-carbon economy can be planned at the same time.”
With his successful Liberal leadership bid, Rankin will now become premier-designate. Stephen McNeil will remain premier of the province until Rankin is officially sworn in later this month.
Rankin will serve as premier at least until the next provincial election, which is expected to take place sometime this year.
Approximately 8,100 delegates took part in the Liberal leadership election contest that used a ranked ballot system that awarded candidates points based on the share of votes they received in each of 55 electoral districts.
Rankin topped the first round of vote counting, earning what amounted to just over 40 percent support. Kousoulis, in second, netted 36.7 percent support.
Randy Delorey, meanwhile, garnered just over 23 percent.
Because no candidate earned at least 50 percent of first-choice votes, the election went to a second ballot between the top two vote earners: Rankin and Kousoulis.
That contest saw Rankin come out on top with a little more than 52 percent support.
Along with electing a new leader, the Liberal party’s February 6 convention also served as a send-off to outgoing premier Stephen McNeil.
McNeil, who announced his retirement last year, was first elected leader of the provincial Liberal party in 2007 and became premier in 2013.
His tenure was marked by several controversial decisions. While many applauded McNeil’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, he received both strong criticism and strong praise for passing the Boat Harbour Act and his battles with organized labour groups.
In a farewell speech before the results of the leadership contest were announced, McNeil, at times his voice wavering, thanked his family and party for their support.
“I know many of you defended many of the decisions we made as a government to your community, and I know particularly early on it was hard,” he said.
“I’m sure that when I called each and every one of you … if I had told you how many protests we were going to have, how many late nights we were going to have at the legislature, I’m sure many of you would have given me a different answer. But your loyalty to me over the last seven years has been extraordinary. And in this business, nothing matters more than loyalty.”
McNeil also urged his colleagues to rally behind their new leader.
“I, without a doubt, wholeheartedly believe there’s a third term for our government … but it will be determined in the next 48 hours, it will be determined in how we respond to the outcome,” he said.
“While Randy, Ian, and Labi might have slightly different views on how they’re going to move the province forward, they’re thinking of it through the lens of liberalism. And they will need your help. Right before us is a third majority, and we can tell our grandchildren we were part of that, to delivering a third consecutive majority government tor Nova Scotia.”