Independent candidate Smith-McCrossin faces new challengers in Cumberland North

Independent incumbent Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin is back on the campaign trail in Cumberland North, but opponents say the riding would be better represented by an MLA from an official party.

Smith-McCrossin, first elected as an MLA in 2017, was booted from the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative caucus in 2021 over her involvement in a protest related to COVID-19 guidelines. Still, 53 per cent of voters supported her bid to represent Cumberland North as an Independent in the last election.

"When I'm knocking on doors this election, one of the differences that I see is I'm knocking on doors of people that I've helped over the last three years," Smith-McCrossin said in an interview."And that's very rewarding."

Smith-McCrossin said advocating for better health care in the area as well as expanding local agriculture are some of the top issues she would work on with otherparties if re-elected.

"We've gotten a lot of things accomplished together," she said. "I love that. My brand is Cumberland County. It's the people that I represent."

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The Liberals, second in the riding three years ago, have a new candidate this time around. Kurt Ditner, a retiree and newcomer to Amherst, said he has been a lifelong party member.

"I've worked inside the party," he said. "I've had my opinions heard."

Ditner said health care, the cost of living and improving rural roads are key issues in the riding.

"What I'm hearing is people feel the money doesn't come here," he said in an interview. "It never seems to get to our riding. So you need an elected official in an official party to move ahead and get services here."

Bill Dowe, the Progressive Conservative candidate, has some similar thoughts.

The owner of a trucking and excavatingcompany and a former chair of the Cumberland Chamber of Commerce echoed the key issues of theother candidates, but said the Houston government has taken positive strides.

"We've had some great improvements here in health care," he said. "Cumberland County has a fabulous team that are doing recruitment and they are bringing in more people than ever," Dowesaid.

"I'm not gonna say anything bad about the Independent. All I know is that I think as being a part of the team, I have a lot better chance of getting accomplishments here than somebody working on their own."

Labour rights advocate Tyson Boyd is running for the NDP. He wasn't available for an interview.

Alex Marland, a political scientist at Acadia University, said some parties may intentionally not run a strong campaign in a riding with an incumbent Independent. But he said the PCs are likely looking to oust their former party member.

"We could see that the Progressive Conservatives are really hungry to get that seat back," said Marland. "So if they think they can get it back and kind of lose a thorn in their side, they'd be happy to do that."

Marland said Independents often have to work harder and need name recognition. Smith-McCrossin has that on the streets of Amherst.

"[Smith-McCrossin's] been there through thick and thin," said Debbie Berry, who wasn't familiar with any of the other candidates. "I don't know a lot of the people that are running and I would hate to vote for the wrong person."

"[Smith-McCrossin] is for the people," said Bill Winters. "She does help people a lot and I hope she gets in."

Ian MacLean said he was undecided. "I've voted for just about everything at some point of my life or other."

MacLean said the environment, in particular the Chignecto Isthmus, is one of his top issues. The $650-million project to protect the land connection between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick remains at the centre of a federal-provincial dispute over who should pay the bills.

Smith-McCrossin and Dowe both highlighted the importance of the isthmus, not just for the border community, but the broader economy.

Marland said it is rare forIndependents to win multiple elections in Nova Scotia, but not unprecedented. Paul MacEwan represented a Cape Breton riding for 33 years under three party banners and as an independent.

"It becomes something that people almost think they couldn't vote for anybody else because anybody else almost seems like an outsider," Marland said.