Elections Nova Scotia has called a byelection in Pictou West for late May to fill the position left open by the retiring Speaker of the House. A sign marking a polling station is seen in Halifax on Nova Scotia's provincial election day, Tuesday, May 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS
In Halifax, the community of Pictou West in central Nova Scotia prepares for a byelection following the retirement of the Speaker of the House. Premier Tim Houston confirmed the vote will take place on May 21.
Karla MacFarlane, Nova Scotia's inaugural female Speaker of the House, announced her departure from politics on April 5. After 11 years in the legislature and a six-month tenure as Speaker, she decided to retire.
MacFarlane, who also briefly served as the interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives in 2018, secured the riding from the NDP, who held it from 2003 to 2013.
Covering a vast area from western Pictou County to River John in the central province, Pictou West holds significance in Nova Scotia's political landscape.
