Claudia Chender

Canadian politician

Claudia Chender

MLA

Chender in 2023

Leader of the Opposition in Nova Scotia

Incumbent

Assumed office
December 10, 2024
Preceded by| Zach Churchill
Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party

Incumbent

Assumed office
June 25, 2022
Preceded by| Gary Burrill
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Dartmouth South

Incumbent

Assumed office
May 30, 2017
Preceded by| Marian Mancini
Personal details
Born|  (1976-07-29) July 29, 1976 (age 48)
New York City, U.S.[1]
Political party| New Democratic Party
Spouse| Jamie MacLellan
Children| 3
Residence(s)| Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Occupation| Lawyer

Claudia Chender (born July 29, 1976)[2] is a Canadian politician and lawyer who has served as the leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party since June 25, 2022. She was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2017 general election, representing the electoral district of Dartmouth South.[3] She became Nova Scotia's first female leader of the Opposition on a permanent basis, after her party won the second most seats in the 2024 general election.[4]

## Early life and education

[edit]

Chender attended Dalhousie University in Halifax, where she graduated with a bachelor of arts in 1999. She went on to earn a bachelor of laws from the University of Victoria in 2004. Prior to entering politics, she worked with the Nova Scotia Barrister's Society as a legal educator, as well as holding a position as an associate producer with a non-profit media company.[5] Three of Chender's grandparents were Holocaust survivors and she was taught about the Holocaust by her Polish-Jewish grandmother. Many of her relatives died in the Holocaust, including some at Auschwitz.[6][7]

## Leader of the NSNDP

[edit]

After the 2021 Nova Scotia general election, provincial NDP leader Gary Burrill re-appointed Chender as the party's House Leader,[8] a role she had held since 2018.[9] She returned to her role as the spokesperson for Justice and Status of Women as well as the critic for Economic Development and Natural Resources and Renewables.[8]

On November 9, 2021, Burrill announced that he would resign as leader once a successor was chosen at a future convention.[10] On February 14, 2022, Chender declared her candidacy to replace Burrill as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party (NSNDP).[11] On May 21, 2022 registration closed for the leadership race, with Chender being the sole candidate.[12]

Chender was elected leader of the Nova Scotia NDP after a general membership vote on June 25, 2022.[13][14] She is the third female leader of the NSNDP, following Alexa McDonough and Helen MacDonald; fourth leader, if interim leader Maureen MacDonald is included.[15] Aside from her responsibilities as leader of the third party, Chender also serves as the NDP caucus spokesperson for Intergovernmental Relations (as of September 22, 2024).[16]

In October 2023, Chender was removed from the legislature after challenging Education Minister Becky Druhan's statement that every student in Nova Scotia had access to food in schools.[17] The government later launched a "pay-what-you-can" school food program.[18]

On September 12, 2024, the legislature passed Chender's bill declaring domestic violence an epidemic with all-party support.[19] The bill legislated a recommendation from the Mass Casualty Commission, which investigated the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks.[20]

## Electoral record

[edit]

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2024 Nova Scotia general election: Dartmouth South

Party  | Candidate  | Votes | % | ±%
| New Democratic | Claudia Chender | 4,415 | 68.46 | +10.33
| Progressive Conservative | Bea MacGregor | 1,449 | 22.47 | +5.04
| Liberal | Barb Henderson | 585 | 9.07 | –13.07
Total valid votes  | 6,449 | 99.40
Total rejected ballots  | 39 | 0.60 | +0.24
Turnout  | 6,488 | 47.68 | –5.28
Eligible voters  | 13,607
| New Democratic hold | Swing |
Source: Elections Nova Scotia[21]

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2021 Nova Scotia general election: Dartmouth South

Party  | Candidate  | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures
| New Democratic | Claudia Chender | 4,209 | 58.13 | +18.48 | $56,622.56
| Liberal | Lesley MacKay | 1,603 | 22.14 | -15.31 | $18,386.71
| Progressive Conservative | Chris Curtis | 1,262 | 17.43 | +1.57 | $31,677.39
| Green | Skylar Martini | 167 | 2.31 | -3.35 | $200.00
Total valid votes/expense limit  | 7,241 | 99.64 | – | $80,768.46
Total rejected ballots  | 26 | 0.36
Turnout  | 7,267 | 52.96
Eligible voters  | 13,721
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +16.90
Source: Elections Nova Scotia[22]

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2017 Nova Scotia general election: Dartmouth South

Party  | Candidate  | Votes | % | ±%
| New Democratic | Claudia Chender | 3,545 | 39.65% | +4.40
| Liberal | Vishal Bhardwaj | 3,348 | 37.45% | +3.46
| Progressive Conservative | Jad Crnogorac | 1,418 | 15.86% | -7.30
| Green | June Trenholm | 506 | 5.66% |
| Atlantica | Jim Murray | 123 | 1.38% |
Total valid votes  | 9,007 | 99.26
Total rejected ballots  | 67 | 0.74
Turnout  | 9,074 | 51.56
Eligible voters  | 17,598
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +0.47
Source: Elections Nova Scotia[23][24]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "MacPolitics: In Conversation with NDP's Claudia Chender". The MacDonald Notebook. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
2. ^ "A look at Claudia Chender, leader of the Nova Scotia New Democrats". The Canadian Press. Prince George Citizen. October 27, 2024. Archived from the original on January 27, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
3. ^ "Nova Scotia election: NDP Claudia Chender elected in Dartmouth South riding". Global News, May 30, 2017.
4. ^ "Speaker of House of Assembly Chosen". News Releases. Government of Nova Scotia, House of Assembly. December 10, 2024. Archived from the original on January 11, 2025.
5. ^ "A look at Claudia Chender, leader of the Nova Scotia New Democrats". The Canadian Press. Prince George Citizen. October 27, 2024. Archived from the original on January 27, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
6. ^ "Nova Scotia MLA whose grandparents fled Holocaust condemns Nazi graffiti". The Canadian Press. Canadian Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on January 11, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
7. ^ "Tweets". Twitter. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
8. ^ a b Cooke, Alex (September 8, 2021). "Nova Scotia NDP leader Gary Burrill announces new caucus roles". Global News. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
9. ^ "Claudia Chender". Nova Scotia Legislature. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
10. ^ Doucette, Keith (November 9, 2021). "Nova Scotia NDP Leader Gary Burrill to step down once party chooses successor". CTV News. Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
11. ^ Renić, Karla (February 14, 2022). "Claudia Chender announces her bid for leadership of Nova Scotia NDP Party". Global News. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
12. ^ The Canadian Press (May 21, 2022). "Claudia Chender sole candidate running as leader of Nova Scotia's NDP". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
13. ^ Ramesar, Vernon (May 21, 2022). "Claudia Chender unopposed in run for Nova Scotia NDP leadership". CBC News. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
14. ^ Fairclough, Ian (June 25, 2022). "Chender comes out swinging in first speech as Nova Scotia's NDP leader". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
15. ^ Doucette, Keith (June 25, 2022). "Nova Scotia NDP officially confirms Claudia Chender as new party leader". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
16. ^ "Claudia Chender". Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. Archived from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
17. ^ Munro, Nicole (October 13, 2023). "N.S. NDP Leader Claudia Chender kicked out of legislature after school food remarks". Saltwire. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
18. ^ Jerrett, Andrea (September 20, 2024). "Some N.S. families can now order school lunches under new pay-what-you-can program". CTV News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
19. ^ Doucette, Keith (September 12, 2024). "Nova Scotia adopts bill declaring domestic violence in the province an epidemic". The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
20. ^ "Final Report of the Mass Casualty Commission" (PDF). Mass Casualty Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
21. ^ "Nova Scotia election 2024 results: Dartmouth South". Global News. November 26, 2024. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
22. ^ "Provincial General Election 2021-08-17- Official Results". Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
23. ^ "Statement of Votes & Statistics, Volume I" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
24. ^ "May 30th, 2017 - 40th Nova Scotia Provincial General Election". Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved July 17, 2021.

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