Nova Scotia Tory leader Houston strives to balance combative and personable sides – Halifax [Video]

Tim Houston was on his way to his big, blue campaign bus outside a Halifax hotel earlier this week when he spotted a small group of construction workers passing by on the sidewalk.

“How are things going,” Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative leader said with an easy smile as he walked over to shake hands with the hard-hatted workers.

“Oh, just busy building Nova Scotia, Tim,” one of the group replied with a chuckle.

The relaxed campaign encounter demonstrated one side of the man who is seeking a second term in office as Nova Scotia’s premier — a side that even he concedes might not be that well known to the public.

“It’s interesting that when I meet people, there’s a couple of things they generally say,” he said in an interview Monday as he sat back on the bus ahead of a day of knocking on doors in the nearby …