Iain Rankin to step down as Liberal leader

Iain Rankin will be stepping down as leader of Nova Scotia's Liberal Party.

“Given the pace of 2021 and all the changes, this holiday season was my first chance to slow down, pause, and reflect. I had time to spend with my new child, my wife, and to think about what comes next for us,” he said. “I am grateful for the time we had and the memories we created during our first Christmas as a family.”

“After having that time to reflect, I have decided that the best path forward for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party is to step down and make room for a new leader.”

The former premier will stay on until a new leader is chosen.

He also plans remain the MLA for Timberlea-Prospect. He was elected to serve the district in 2013.

“I have done a lot of great local work, big projects, the outpatient centre in Bayers Lake, the community centre in BLT (Beechville, Lakeside, Timberlea), there's a lot of local projects I want to get up to speed on and continue to press for,” he told reporters Wednesday.

The 38-year-old became head of the party after winning a leadership race following Stephen McNeil's decision to leave the post.

Rankin was appointed the 29th premier of Nova Scotia in February of 2021.

Nova Scotians were then sent to the polls in August of that year for an election that saw Tim Houston's Progressive Conservatives win a majority government.