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The Nova Scotia PC Party has nominated local business owner Claude Bourgeois to run in the upcoming Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay byelection.
In a news release, the party noted Bourgeois’s company, C. Bourgeois Diesel Services Ltd., is celebrating 30 years in business.
Premier Tim Houston said he needs Bourgeois, a longtime resident of the area, “at the decision-making table in government.”
“As our PC Government works to defend Nova Scotia’s economy against President Trump’s trade war, Claude’s experience will be valuable,” Houston said in a PC Party news release Monday night.
Bourgeois said he’d be an advocate “for all the communities in our constituency and ensure they are well represented at the government’s decision-making table.”
As of Monday night, there was no date yet for the byelection in the new riding.
Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay will be the 56th seat in the legislature. It was created following a report issued earlier this year by the independent Electoral Boundaries Commission that called for dedicated representation to reflect the area’s historic Acadian culture.
It followed a 2024 decision by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia that found the commission had previously failed to justify why it had not created a new seat for Chéticamp during an earlier review.
Chéticamp is considered an exceptional district, intended to preserve representation for a significant cultural community. As such, it’s smaller than most districts; in fact, with about 3,900 voters, the Chéticamp riding will be the smallest in the province.
Other exceptional districts include Argyle and Clare, which also have significant francophone populations, and Preston, which covers several historic Black communities.
A bill to create the new district passed unanimously during the recent winter session of the legislature. Premier Tim Houston has said he would not wait long to call the byelection.
Last week, the Liberals announced Denis Cormier as their nominee.
Earlier on Monday, the NDP announced Trevor Poirier as their candidate.
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