News release

New Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay Riding

Justice

Legislation introduced today, February 26, will create a new exceptional riding called Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay out of the existing Inverness riding.

Amendments to the House of Assembly Act implement the recommendations of the 2025 Electoral Boundaries Commission, which released its final report January 30, 2026. The commission said the new riding will improve the effective representation of the Acadian region of Chéticamp and area.

“This is a historic day for the legislature and for Acadian Nova Scotians,” said Attorney General and Justice Minister Scott Armstrong. “Acadians were the first Europeans in Nova Scotia, and the Acadian people and their rich culture and traditions shaped Nova Scotia. This new riding honours that.”

The current electoral district of Inverness will divide in two:

  • Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay, having 3,889 electors; a byelection will be held to choose the MLA
  • Inverness, having 10,609 electors; to be represented by the current MLA for Inverness until the next general election.

Boundaries can be found in the commission’s final report: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/687953fc91d2d028b8b55a99/t/697ccfa829f00a120ba8cdfe/1769787304458/EBC+2025+Final+Report+EN_2026-01-30.pdf

The Nova Scotia legislature currently has protected seats to recognize the traditional Acadian districts of Argyle, Clare and Richmond and the historic African Nova Scotian district of Preston. With the new riding, the legislature will have 56 MLAs.

Quick Facts:

  • an exceptional riding is one where the estimated number of electors is more than 25 per cent above or below the estimated average number of electors per district provincewide
  • the appointment of the Electoral Boundaries Commission was prompted by a Nova Scotia Supreme Court decision in a case brought forward by the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse about a previous commission’s decision in 2019 not to include an exceptional riding for Chéticamp
  • the Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruled that the decision to not have an exceptional electoral district for Chéticamp contravened the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Additional Resources:

Bills tabled in the legislature are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-65-session-1

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