N.S. election: The broken promise and a call to action against Ottawa [Video]

A gamble by incumbent Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston to discard the first law his government passed and swap a July election for a snap poll at the end of November has paid off.

After months of telegraphing his early election plan, Houston made the call on Oct. 27, triggering a short one-month campaign period he said was necessary to get more from the federal government.

Advance polling showed a drop in the number of people turning out to vote in the election — something Liberal Party Leader Zach Churchill said was likely due to “election fatigue” after the U.S. presidential election.

The Progressive Conservatives’ gamble, however, has rewarded him with a sizeable win across the province.

By late Tuesday night, the Progressive Conservatives remained in the 40-seat range, with 10 going to the NDP. The Liberals were between two and four seats, with one Independent.

At dissolution, the PCs held 34 seats in the 55-seat legislature. The Liberals …