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HALIFAX 鈥� The Liberals' election win on Monday should prompt some 鈥渟oul searching鈥� by the national Conservative party, says Nova Scotia鈥檚 Progressive Conservative premier.

Tim Houston told reporters Wednesday the election results indicate that the federal Conservatives are 鈥済reat at pushing people away and not so good at pulling people in.鈥�

鈥淚 think they probably saw that in some of the results they had across the country,鈥� Houston said.

The Conservatives won just one of 11 seats in Nova Scotia and took only seven of Atlantic Canada鈥檚 32 seats in the vote, which returned the Liberals to power for a fourth consecutive mandate.

Pundits say Pierre Poilievre's aggressive, populist style of leadership was a tough sell in Atlantic Canada, where traditional Progressive Conservatives 鈥� including Houston 鈥� largely shunned the federal Conservative leader, who visited Nova Scotia only once during the campaign.

Houston said there should be some reflection on what it means to be Conservative, adding there are 鈥渕any shades of blue.鈥�

鈥淚t can be a big tent and it can be an effective big tent, and I think after four consecutive losses to the Liberal party I think it鈥檚 time for them to do some soul searching and I hope they do,鈥� Houston said.

As well, the premier confirmed that media reports about a rift between him and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are accurate, saying the tensions surfaced during November鈥檚 Nova Scotia election campaign.

At the time, Houston told reporters that he wasn't a member of any federal party and hadn't invited Poilievre to campaign with him. The premier also said there was 鈥渘o federal equivalent鈥� to the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a relationship with him (Poilievre),鈥� he said Wednesday. 鈥淥bviously during our (Nova Scotia) campaign there was a situation 鈥� it鈥檚 something that happened that probably had ramifications on both sides.鈥�

Houston also dismissed speculation that he鈥檚 interested in the federal Conservative leadership.

鈥淣o,鈥� he said when asked. 鈥淲ell, I鈥檓 focused on Nova Scotia. Moving forward there鈥檚 a lot we can do in this province, that鈥檚 my focus.鈥� Houston doesn鈥檛 speak French but replied 鈥渦n peu鈥� when asked whether he was taking any language lessons.

Leadership talk picked up steam last week when Ontario Premier Doug Ford joked about Houston鈥檚 intentions following the release of an online video that immediately went viral. The 鈥淢y Name is Tim鈥� video includes a speech by Houston that celebrates his home province.

Houston said the video is simply meant to promote Nova Scotia, adding it was 鈥減ure coincidence鈥� it was released on the day Poilievre held a rally just minutes from his provincial riding.

Meanwhile, Houston said he was looking forward to working with Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, adding that he was excited by Carney's ideas, including a national energy corridor and making Canada an energy superpower.

鈥淚鈥檓 a collaborative person, I work with the people I can work with,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 differentiate between political parties.鈥�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2025.

Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press