HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil says he will not apologize for remarks his rivals insist demeaned women in politics.

But, McNeil says he may have lacked “eloquence” in his original explanation of comments he made suggesting other parties choose female candidates to contest ridings they’re unlikely to win.

Only 12 of the Liberal’s 51 candidates for the May 30 election are women.

NDP Leader Gary Burrill says 24 of his party’s 51 candidates are female, while women make up a third of the Progressive Conservative candidates.

Two of the leaders are heading to opposite ends of the province today, with McNeil is starting his day at a resource centre in Halifax before heading to Shelburne, Liverpool and Chester.

Baillie heads to Musquodoboit Harbour and Sheet Harbour and Burrill is slated to make a policy announcement in Dartmouth about emergency rooms.

The Canadian Press