Dave Ritcey

Dave Ritcey
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River
Assumed office
March 10, 2020
Preceded byLenore Zann
Personal details
BornDavid Mark Ritcey
(1971-10-10) October 10, 1971
PartyProgressive Conservative
Spouse
Amber Ball Ritcey
(m. 2003)

David Mark Ritcey (born October 10, 1971)[1] is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in a by-election on March 10, 2020.[2][3] A member of the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, he represents the electoral district of Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River. He has had many years of hockey coaching experience and is a former interim president of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.[4][5] His grandfather, Gerald Ritcey,[6] had been a MLA for Colchester, parts of which became the current riding, from 1968 to 1974.

On December 12, 2024, Ritcey was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.[7]

On February 20, 2026 Ritcey oversaw $130 million dollars in cuts to cultural programs including cuts to scholarships, arts and publishing grants and programs for Mi'kmaw, Black and Gaelic communities, climate change, health, seniors and youth. He also made unprecedented reductions to the Nova Scotia Museum closing 12 of the 28 sites of the museum system, focusing on closing museums in rural Nova Scotia. He told reporters the cuts were needed to focus on resources that make the most difference.[8]

Electoral record

2024 general election

2024 Nova Scotia general election: Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Dave Ritcey 4,034 67.76 +19.92
New Democratic Cailen Pygott 1,067 17.92 +1.30
Liberal Frank Johnston 852 14.31 -15.89
Total valid votes 5,953
Total rejected ballots 38
Turnout 5,994 35.27
Eligible voters 16,996
Progressive Conservative hold Swing
Source: Elections Nova Scotia[9]

2021 general election

2021 Nova Scotia general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Dave Ritcey 4,025 47.85 -3.55
Liberal Tamara Tynes Powell 2,541 30.21 +5.85
New Democratic Darlene DeAdder 1,398 16.62 +0.35
Green Shaun Trainor 448 5.33 -1.67
Total valid votes 8,412 99.68
Total rejected ballots 27 0.32
Turnout 8,439 51.11
Eligible voters 16,510
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -4.70
Source: Elections Nova Scotia[10]

2020 by-election results

Nova Scotia provincial by-election, March 10, 2020
Upon the resignation of Lenore Zann
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Dave Ritcey 2,922 51.40 +19.44
Liberal Allan Kennedy 1,385 24.36 +0.27
New Democratic Kathleen Kevany 925 16.27 -27.68
Green Ivan Drouin 398 7.00
Atlantica Matthew Rushton 55 0.97
Total valid votes 5,685 99.61
Total rejected ballots 22 0.39 -0.35
Turnout 5,707 35.72 -12.71
Eligible voters 15,975
Progressive Conservative gain from New Democratic Swing +23.56

References

  1. ^ The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia: a biographical directory from 1984 to the Present: Ritcey, David, page 245 Nova Scotia Legislature
  2. ^ Michael Gorman, "Opposition parties split Nova Scotia byelections". CBC News Nova Scotia, March 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Lynn Curwin, "VIDEO: Dave Ritcey wins Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River byelection"The Chronicle Herald March 10th, 2020.
  4. ^ Saltwire Network, "Dykeman named new president of MHL" June 3, 2019
  5. ^ "Dave Ritcey Named Interim MHL President" January 12, 2019
  6. ^ James Faulkner, "Dave Ritcey Secures PC Nomination for Truro-Bible Hill-Milbrook-Salmon River". CKTO-FM July 22, 2019
  7. ^ "Nova Scotia's new 21-member cabinet sworn in at Halifax ceremony". CBC News. December 12, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  8. ^ Frances Willick, "Hundreds of programs to see provincial funding cut as part of $130M grant reductions" CBC News, February 26, 2026
  9. ^ Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2025). 42nd Provincial General Election, November 26, 2024: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  10. ^ "Provincial General Election 2021-08-17- Official Results". Elections Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on 2021-10-07. Retrieved October 7, 2021.