Date set for Pictou West by-election following retirement of Karla MacFarlane
Global News
N.S. Premier Tim Houston announced that a by-election will be held in the Pictou-West constituency on May 21. The announcement comes after the resignation of MLA Karla MacFarlane.
A by-election has been called in the Nova Scotia electoral district of Pictou West after the constituency’s long-time MLA Karla MacFarlane announced her retirement from politics earlier this month.
A release from Elections Nova Scotia on Sunday said the agency’s Chief Electoral Officer Dorothy Rice had issued a writ of election for Pictou West with an election date scheduled for May 21.
Shortly after, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announced that a by-election would be held in the area on that date.
On April 5, MacFarlane, who became the first female speaker of the Nova Scotia legislature last fall, announced she would be leaving politics after 11 years of service.
She also served as interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives in 2018 and minister of community services before becoming speaker in October 2023.
In the social media post announcing her departure, MacFarlane said the time has come for her to begin another chapter.
“To my constituents, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for allowing me the privilege to work on your behalf,” the statement read. She added that she would continue to support Houston and his Progressive Conservative government moving forward.