Nova Scotia’s Liberal leader has lost the seat he’s held for 14 years.
Zach Churchill lost by 14 votes to Progressive Conservative candidate Nick Hilton in Yarmouth.
The results were finalized Wednesday morning around 9 a.m.
Churchill says he’ll meet with the party to determine next steps.
“Certainly we’ll inform the public of that decision in the coming days. I’m really grateful for the time I’ve been able to serve Yarmouth as MLA for the last 14 years,” said Churchill.
Elections Nova Scotia says there has to be a vote difference of less than 10 votes to trigger an automatic recount.
The deadline for an application to a judge for a recount is on Monday.
Churchill’s party fell out of official opposition status.
He says there were some irregularities in the reporting of results in Yarmouth, but he’s assuming the final tally will stand.
Churchill says he’s looking forward to contributing to the area in a different way.
He congratulated Hilton on a well-run campaign.
The final result shows Hilton with 3,663 votes, and Churchill with 3,649.
Hilton not celebrating yet
Meanwhile, Nick Hilton is being cautious over his projected victory.
He says they’re waiting for confirmation on the official results.
“I want to thank the voters for placing their trust in me. This is all possible because of the support here in Yarmouth,” said Hilton.
Hilton thanks Zach Churchill for his time as MLA.
“Zach and I grew up together and I have a lot of respect for him, I know he’ll be celebrating his accomplishments with his family and friends.”
He says healthcare and the lobster fishery are just some of the items he’ll be advocating for.
Hilton is currently a councillor in the Municipality of Yarmouth.
He says if the results stand, there will be a by-election for his council seat.
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