Focus forward
Reaction, analysis and what lies ahead for local MLAs
Larry Harrison, the Progressive Conservative MLA re-elected in Colchester Musquodoboit Valley, is hoping the Liberal government is ready to cooperate.
“I heard all the speeches last night; I heard Stephen McNeil speak and I hope he means what he says. I’m willing – and he knows I’m willing – to work with the Liberals in whatever way. If we all work together … we can really make a difference, if we concentrate on the issues and solutions,” said Harrison the day following the election.
Harrison’s campaign was a mix of old-fashioned door knocking and some high tech social media and videos.
“I did what I did the last time: I didn’t knock on every door but we got to every district. We were very deliberate about that.”
Harrison’s victory was evident soon after polls closed and in the end he won by more than 1,400 votes over his nearest rival.
Voter turnout in the riding was 51.65 per cent.
Harrison, a United Church minister, believes it was the personal attention he gave every constituent that earned him so many votes.
“I have a policy, when I get a call at the constituency office, whether it is about roads or help getting social assistance, I don’t talk to people on the phone,” says Harrison.
“I go see them at home. I talk to them eye to eye, I see their environment, that way I can
better understand what they need.”
Harrison says the PC party’s improved position in the Legislature should mean more say for the opposition party.
He would like to see a push to improve health care by hiring more doctors and he’d also like to see a change of tone in the government’s dealings with Nova Scotia teachers.
“And roads, that’s always going to be priority,” said Harrison. “We are so far behind.”
Liberal candidate Matthew Rushton, speaking to the Daily News on election night, was determined to run again.
“First I want to say congratulations to Larry,” said Rushton. “We did okay. We improved from third to second in this riding. We’ll be back again. We’re starting tomorrow and next time we will win Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley.”
Rushton pointed to the Conservative stranglehold on the riding as his biggest challenge.
“The riding has gone (PC) every election since 1997 except
one,” he said. “So it is going to be a hard riding to take, but we will.”
How?
“We’re going to have to get out and meet more people; we met 3,100 voters this time and we got 1,700 votes. Next time we’ll meet 7,000 votes and we’ll get 4,000 votes.”
NDP candidate Janet Moulton was just 300 votes behind Rushton.
“I’m feeling pretty good, for my first time around I think I got a pretty good number of votes,” she said. “I’m pretty proud of what we achieved.”
Moulton said the large geographic
size of the riding made for an exhausting campaign.
“Campaigning was very grueling and very exhilarating,” she said. “I had a fantastic time, a wonderful time exploring the area and meeting new people.”
Moulton thinks the NDP could win the riding if they do more prep work, getting younger people and people new to the community out to vote.
She also thinks the NDP numbers will improve thanks to having a leader in the House of Assembly.
“I think we will do better as time goes on with Gary (Burrill) as the leader,” she said. “A lot of people like his calm nature, his civilized politics – for many voters he is a breath of fresh air. I believe he is the leader to bring us to power some day.”
Will Moulton be a part of that run?
“I will be thinking about that over the next little while,” she said.
“One thing I do know, if I’m going to run again, then I have to start as soon as I can.”
TRURO DAILY NEWS COVER PHOTOS
TOP: A ‘Thank You’ has been added to Larry Harrison campaign signs. Harrison won the riding of Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley in the provincial election on Tuesday. BOTTOM: Harrison thanks two young campaign volunteers during his victory speech at the Brookfield Golf Club.