Preview:

“HALIFAX – As MP’s and Senators with the federal Conservative caucus meet in Halifax ahead of the fall sitting of Parliament, one political expert believes the party will have some tinkering to do to again appeal to Atlantic Canadians.

Kevin Deveaux is a political consultant, an expert on parliaments and political parties and also formerly served in the Nova Scotia Legislature as an NDP MLA.

He said while some changes will be needed to regain a foothold in the region after being shutout in last fall’s federal election, it’s far from impossible.

“I’m old enough to say, don’t forget 1997,” he said, referring to when the Liberals lost all 11 seats in Nova Scotia after sweeping to power in the previous 1993 election, only to be wiped out again when the NDP and then-Progressive Conservative’s won all the seats.

“What may now look like it’s the darkest before the dawn for the Conservatives and you could make the same argument for the NDP, I could see where in the next few years there is an opportunity,” he said.

Right now with the Liberals largely in power in Atlantic Canada in both provincial and federal governments, Deveaux said it also means a risk of complacency and no one to blame when things go wrong…”