Nova Scotia politicians have wielded influence through Canadian elections

When it comes to national election campaigns, Nova Scotia's 11 seats do not loom particularly large, but that doesn't mean the province hasn't had its share of influence in Ottawa.

Nova Scotia has been home to some powerful political figures who have helped shape policy at the national level.

Robert Stanfield and Alexa McDonough have both led national political parties. He was PC party leader between 1967 and 1976. She led the NDP between 1995 and 2003.

• Canada election 2015: Nova Scotia's ridings, candidates and races

And the province also has had a string of political godfathers. They are cabinet ministers who have been Atlantic Canada's voice in Ottawa. Peter MacKay had the job, but announced hisretirement this past spring.

Before him, Dave Dingwall had the roleduring Jean Chretien's first majority mandate. And Allan MacEachen, who maintains near saint-like status amongNova Scotia Liberals, was a key advisor to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

It's also worth noting that prime ministers Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney have each briefly represented the province in Ottawa.

There's much to gain or lose

So the province has much to gain or lose come Monday night when the election results are announced.

The sudden departure of MacKay leaves a power vacuum, and means if the Conservatives form government again, someone else will get the job of regional Godfather.

That could be the man running to replace MacKay in Central Nova, Fred Delorey. As the Conservative Party's former director of communications, Delorey would have close ties to the prime minister. But Delorey would have to be elected first to get that job.

If the Liberals form government, look for long-time MP Scott Brison to take on that role. The two-time leadership hopeful, once for the PC's, once for the Liberals, is well respected and has held a number of key opposition portfolios.

In the event the NDP were to become government, deputy leader Megan Leslie would be the most likely to be tagged for the job.

When senators step in

Where things get dicey for the province is if the party that wins government fails to win a seat in Nova Scotia. That happened in 1997 when Jean Chretien won a second majority Liberal government but lost every seat in the province. Change to the employment insurance system cost the party dearly in Atlantic Canada.

In fact, the defeat of Dingwall by unknown New Democrat Michelle Dockrill marked one of Canada's largest ever vote reversals. Dingwall took 78 per cent of the vote to win Cape Breton-East Richmond in 1993. He lost in 1997 by 1,217 votes, a reversal of more than 25,000 votes.

If Nova Scotia, once again, finds itself with no one on the government benches, the province's interests will have to be championed by someone else.

In 1997, Senator Al Graham was given the job along with his role as Government Leader in the Senate. He handed it over to another senator from Nova Scotia, Bernie Boudreau, before the 2000 general election.

The Liberals hoped the high profile would increase Boudreau's chances of winning a seat in the House of Commons. It didn't.

Whatever happens, Nova Scotia will have a voice in the next government. Who that voice belongs to and how strong it is in Ottawa depends on how many seats the province delivers to the winning party.