darrell elvin dexter (born september 10, 1957) is a canadian lawyer, journalist and former naval officer who served as the 27th premier of nova scotia from 2009 to 2013. a member of the nova scotia new democratic party, he served as party leader from 2001 to 2013. he became premier in 2009 after his party defeated the governing progressive conservative party, leading the first ndp government in atlantic canada and the second east of manitoba. his government was defeated in the 2013 election, becoming the first nova scotia government in 131 years to be denied a second mandate; dexter himself was defeated in his constituency by 21 votes. dexter now serves as a lobbyist for the cannabis industry.