Nova Scotia's NDP prepares for leadership race and showdown

Members of Nova Scotia's New Democratic Party have started the voting for their new leader.

The balloting is taking place online and will continue until the end of the month when the results will be announced at a leadership convention in Halifax on Feb. 27.

Gary Burrill, Dave Wilson and Lenore Zann are vying to replace Maureen MacDonald, who has served as interim leader of the provincial NDP since Darrell Dexter resigned as leader in November 2013.

Gary Burrill

The United Church minister is no stranger to a challenge. He has just completed the merger of two congregations one United and the other Baptist, in Sydney.

A process he originally thought would take six months actually took two years, but people are now attending the new United Heritage Church.

Burrill is back living in the Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley riding he represented from 2009 to 2013.

He was one of the 24 sitting New Democrats, including Premier Darrell Dexter, to lose their seats in the Liberal landslide victory of 2013.

WhatBurrill would do if he becomes thepremier:

• Lower the voting age to 16.
• Free tuition for university and college education.
• Add dental coverage to MSI.

Dave Wilson

The paramedic-turned-politician has been the MLA for Sackville-Cobequid for 12 years.

The one-time Minister of Health became a cabinet minister about halfway through the New Democratic Party's first mandate.

A paramedics' strike in 2009 was his first taste of politics.

Before walking off the job and being forced back by the Progressive Conservative government, Wilson spent hours in the public gallery watching the debate over the back-to-work bill that cut short the strike.

The seat he currently holds has been represented by a New Democrat for more than three decades John Holm held the riding for 19 years before Wilson.

WhatWilsonwould do if he becomes thepremier:

• Establish mental health emergency rooms.
• Cap the size of math and science classes in high schools.
• Create a $15 minimum wage.

Lenore Zann

The longtime actor and world traveler has represented the riding of Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River since 2009.

She was one of the only New Democrat backbenchers to survive the 2013 election.

Zann was arguably the most high profile non-cabinet minister in the previous legislature. According to the Internet Movie Database, IMDb, she has more than 100 film and TV credits to her name, including voice work on several animated series.

Not surprisingly, she has been one of her party's most vocal critics when it comes to cuts to arts groups or organizations, including the elimination of the film tax credit.

What Zannwould do if shebecomes thepremier:

• Create provincial school breakfast, lunch program.
• Full reinstatement of the film tax credit.
• Environmental bill of rights.