05/11/2026
Welcome Becky!
Over the past months I have been reflecting carefully on what comes next.
I want to start by sharing my deep gratitude to everyone who took the time to call, send messages, emails, cards, and to speak with me in person. Your advice, encouragement, candour, and care mean a great deal to me.
Many people expressed appreciation for the way I have continued to represent Lunenburg West, and encouraged me to trust my judgment, stay grounded in my values, and choose the path where I believe I can serve most effectively.
I received a range of thoughtful views about independence, party affiliation, and how our community can best be represented. No single decision could reflect every perspective shared with me. But every opinion shared has helped me reflect more carefully on how I can best serve Lunenburg West and Nova Scotia.
Our conversations have strengthened my belief that democracy works best when people are engaged, when they feel heard, and when representatives take that engagement seriously.
Today, I am sharing that I am joining the Nova Scotia Liberal caucus and the Liberal Party.
I am making this decision after listening carefully to people in Lunenburg West and reflecting on where I can serve most effectively. I believe the Liberal Party is a place where my values and approach to public service can contribute meaningfully to the work of rebuilding, while continuing to represent the priorities I have heard from the community: accountable government, stronger public services, collaboration, and a focus on the future.
Through the spring sitting, I saw those priorities reflected in the work of the Liberal caucus, and I want to be part of strengthening that work.
This decision is not about changing who I am or what I stand for. I entered politics to use my skills and experience to serve our community and our province. You have placed your trust in me twice to do that, and I have done so as MLA and Minister; as a PC and as an Independent. I am proud of the work I have done in all those capacities.
Serving as an Independent gave me the opportunity to work closely and collaboratively with other opposition MLAs. I am grateful for the welcome, generosity, and collaboration I experienced from both the Liberal and NDP teams, and for the guidance and example of Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin as an effective Independent MLA.
We need a healthier democratic culture, where representatives work together when there is shared purpose, where disagreement is respectful, and where collaboration is treated as a strength rather than a weakness. Independent voices have an important role in our democracy, and they should be encouraged and supported.
I will also continue to work to make democracy and government more accessible. That means helping people understand how decisions are made, how to engage with government, how to hold elected representatives accountable, and how to make their voices heard.
The priorities that have always guided my work have not changed: responsible and accountable leadership, strong public services, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and a focus on the future.
Many people from Lunenburg West and across the province have also encouraged me to consider putting my name forward for the Liberal leadership. I do intend to run, and I will have more to say about that in the near future. But today is about this step: joining the Liberal caucus and the Liberal Party and beginning that work as part of this team.
My commitment to Lunenburg West remains the same. I will keep showing up for this community, advocating on local issues, helping constituents navigate government services, and working to ensure everyone feels heard and represented.
Thank you again to everyone who has been part of this conversation. I am grateful for your trust, your advice, and your continued engagement.
Becky
