Liberals projected to win in 9 N.S. ridings, Tories to win 1

The Liberals are putting up a strong showing in Nova Scotia, with CBC News projecting that the party has won nine of the province's 11 seats while the Conservatives have taken one.

The victories came as CBC projected the Liberals would form its fourth consecutive federal government, a remarkable win given the party was trailing in the polls mere months ago. It was not clear yet whether it would be a minority or majority government.

Liberal incumbent Darren Fisher, first elected to Ottawa in the 2015 election, was one of CBC's earliest projected winners, retaining the seat of Dartmouth-Cole Harbour.

A Halifax municipal councillor from 2009 to 2015, Fisher said he's happy to serve the people of his riding, but if he is tapped for Mark Carney's cabinet again, his pick would be for veterans affairs. He served a short few months as the veterans affairs minister before Carney shuffled him out in March.

Fisher became emotional when discussing the efforts people put into helping him to a projected fourth federal election win and being able to share the moment with his wife, children and mother.

"It never stops being overwhelming," he said at Colleen's Pub in Dartmouth, where about 50 people gathered to celebrate his victory.

Meanwhile, Conservative incumbent Chris d'Entremont was projected to win in Acadie-Annapolis.

Speaking to supporters at a seafood restaurant in Digby, d'Entremont thanked his family, campaign team and volunteers for supporting him and helping to return him to Ottawa.

"We've put thousands of kilometres from one end of Acadie-Annapolis to the other," he said.

D'Entremont said no two issues were bigger than cost of living and the fishery, where concerns have persisted about organized crime infiltrating the lobster fishery and some commercial fishermen have worried about Mi'kmaw fishers exercising their treaty rights to catch lobster outside the commercial season.

"I think we still have a lot of work to do to reel in illegal and unreported fisheries that continue to go on on our shores," he said.

Liberal Shannon Miedema, a first-time candidate, was projected to win in Halifax. Miedema's seat had been vacated by former Liberal MP Andy Fillmore after he announced his bid for the Halifax mayoralty last fall.

A former municipal staffer in the department of environment and climate change, Miedema said voters on the doorstep expressed fear and anxiety over the country's relationship with the U.S., and it's clear they have confidence in Carney to take on President Donald Trump.

"People have been watching the Liberal Party's response to the threats and the tariffs and the negotiations with Trump and have been liking that strong response," said Miedema.

In South Shore-St. Margarets, Liberal Jessica Fancy-Landry — another political newcomer — was projected to win, unseating Conservative incumbent Rick Perkins.

Fancy-Landry, who has worked as a teacher and principal, won the nomination before Carney took over as Liberal leader at a time when the Conservatives appeared poised to hold on to the seat.

Her win was likely aided by the fact that the NDP did not have a candidate on the ballot in the riding.

Speaking to CBC News, Fancy-Landy said the issues on the doorstep that were top of mind for voters included the cost of living and the fishery.

The Liberals lost this seat in 2021, in large part because of the way the government was perceived as ignoring concerns about illegal fishing. Fancy-Landry said she's committed to working toward rebuilding trust between the sector and her party.

She said she's willing to be "that staunch advocate" on the issue, but she said there's something else she's committed to doing for the constituency.

"The thing that we were hearing the most on the phone and on the doors were people were wanting positivity and they were wanting someone to help unite a very divisive riding," she said.

Liberal Sean Fraser suffered a scare early in the night as he trailed Conservative Brycen Jenkins, but as advanced polling numbers started rolling in, the former cabinet minister surged ahead to a projected fourth consecutive victory.

Fraser announced late last year he would not re-offer, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. But Carney personally called him earlier this year and convinced him to throw his hat back in the ring, promising better work-life balance.

Liberal incumbent Lena Metlege Diab was projected to win in Halifax West.

Liberal Braedon Clark, a former MLA who lost his seat in November's provincial election, was projected to win in Sackville-Bedford-Preston. That riding was previously held by Liberal Darrell Samson, who did not re-offer.

Liberal incumbent Kody Blois was projected to win the riding of Kings-Hants, a primarily rural riding.

Meanwhile, in Cape Breton, Liberal Mike Kelloway was projected to win in Sydney-Glace Bay, while fellow Liberal Jaime Battiste was projected to win Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish.

A member of the Eskasoni First Nation, Battiste was the first Mi'kmaw MP in Canada.

Conservative incumbent Stephen Ellis and Liberal Alana Hirtle were still in a tight race just before 1 a.m. AT Tuesday.

Following the last election in 2021, the Liberals held eight seats and the Conservatives held three.

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