"The ND will attract large numbers only if Canada suffers a prolonged depression."

That surely does not hold true for why the NDP did so well in Quebec? Nor does it explain why they were elected in many provinces in previous years (there is a much closer relationship among NDP provincial and national parties,then there is with other major parties).

In Nova Scotia the main reason for the election of a NDP majority was severe citizen discontent with the poor economic performance of the Conservative Party (in power for many years), that, through poor management, sunk the province into deep debt.