John Patrick (Pat) Nowlan

Pat Nowlan, a veteran Progressive Conservative MP for Annapolis Valley—Hants who had served since 1965, left the Conservative caucus in June 1990 over deep disagreements with Brian Mulroney's leadership. Nowlan was a Red Tory from the Stanfield wing of the party who had grown increasingly disillusioned with Mulroney's governing style, the GST, and the Meech Lake crisis. Unlike his Quebec colleagues who left over sovereignty, Nowlan left from the right-of-centre Maritime perspective, believing Mulroney had betrayed core Conservative principles. His father, George Nowlan, had also been a prominent Conservative cabinet minister under Diefenbaker.

Nowlan sat as an Independent Conservative from November 1990 until the end of the session. He did not seek re-election in 1993. His departure was a signal that Mulroney was losing support not just from Quebec nationalists going to the BQ, but also from the party's traditional Maritime base. Nowlan's riding eventually fell to the Liberals in the 1993 wipeout. He remained active in Nova Scotia community affairs until his death in 2003.