No party demonstrated that it deserved a majority

It was an historic night for Nova Scotia - in several directions. The John Hamm Conservatives became only the third majority government in provincial history to fail to win a second majority. The Liberals placed third for the first time since Confederation. And the NDP cemented its standing in metro, and spread out from there. National history was made, too. Nova Scotia is now experiencing the tightest three-party era in Canadian history. Never before, in any province, have three parties shared the vote and seats so tightly in three straight elections.

There is justice in the results. This Tory government did not deserve a majority. Too many times it has acted arrogantly and without careful thought. Bill 68 attempted to make cabinet more powerful than the courts. Women's shelter funding was attacked. The arts council became a political tool. And then came almost $1 billion in new spending promises, and $155 cheques for all.

A majority would only have encouraged them.

Metro punished the Tories by dropping their vote by more than six per cent. And two seats that the Tories needed to win a majority were lost in metro. Natural Resources Minister Tim Olive, who saw value in trees only when they were dead, was soundly defeated in Dartmouth South, and unimpressive backbencher Mary Ann McGrath lost in Clayton Park.

The NDP did not deserve to win. It has yet to provide a full policy platform to voters, and has yet to truly believe it can govern. Its support has also been too centred in metro, but last night the party finished second on the Eastern Shore, South Shore, Annapolis Valley, and northern mainland.

The NDP earned second place because it provided solid opposition, forcing the government to react to issues including health care for seniors, problems in schools, and the rising costs of insurance.

The Liberals deserved to come third. They barely showed up as opposition these past four years, preferring instead to find a new leader (Danny Graham), hide him for a year, and then try to sell him and a new platform in an election. Nova Scotians weren't buying.

Graham did win his own seat, and there's some justice in this, too. Graham will now have the opportunity to reveal to Nova Scotians who he is, and what he believes in.

As for the cabinet minister he defeated, perhaps smart and frank Jane Purves should consider a new job. Peter Kelly, look out!

The most disappointing number in yesterday's election: the report that only 65 per cent of Nova Scotians voted. This would be our lowest turnout so far. Yes, it was raining, but John Hamm deserves most of the blame - for calling the vote on the sleepiest day in summer.

And so we head into minority government.

Bring it on. The people have decreed it should be so, so the three parties owe it to us to make it work.

They might even have to get used to it - if this tight three-party era continues.

dswick@hfxnews.ca