Nova Scotia Conservatives are facing stiff opposition in this election campaign; some of it is coming from lifelong friends.

The province is home to many so-called "red Tories," Conservative supporters who claim to be fiscally responsible and socially conscious.

However, in this election some of those people are publicly backing Liberal candidates rather than Conservatives.

"My roots go back to when I was 16 years old," former provincial PC cabinet minister Tim Olive said.

"I've been working for the Progressive Conservative Party in Nova Scotia since I was 16. I'll be 69 this year, so it's been a long time."

Olive has been quietly critical of Prime Minister Stephen Harper for years but decided to become vocal in this election.

Two weeks ago he attended a barbecue for Darren Fisher, the Liberal candidate in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour.

He put on a red golf shirt especially for the event as a signal of his personal endorsement.

"For me to don a red shirt; my poor mother and father are rolling in their graves, I'm sure," Olive said, musing that some of his friends may not want to be his friends anymore.

Red Tories

On Monday, Olive tweeted a picture of himself standing beside Fisher wearing that red shirt. He said it was his way to try to influence other red Tories to vote for the Liberal in his home riding.

He said it was as much an anti-NDP move, as it was an anti-Harper message.

"If this election is that close, one [riding] could make a difference between a minority Liberal or a minority NDP or a minority Tory government," he said.

"Then I think we owe it to Canada to support the candidate that can best defeat the NDP in a riding where the Tories are not a factor."

Olive doesn't want to see a majority government, but said he'd be willing to live with a minority Liberal or Conservative government. That's because either way, he believes it would force the resignation of Harper.

Olive won't go as far as working for the Liberals, but lifelong PC supporter Rob Smith has done just that.

Son of G.I. Smith

The son of former Tory premier G.I. Smith has been canvassing for his local Liberal candidate, Geoff Regan.

Smith shares Olive's concerns about the way Harper has been running the country.

He points to the number of omnibus bills the Conservatives have introduced, the limited debate in the House of Commons and what he calls the "far right" agenda of Harper as reasons why he left the party.

"I couldn't support these people any more," he said. "I haven't worked for them for awhile."

"And not only could I not support them, it's necessary to dispense with them for the good of the country."

He and Olive aren't the only Progressive Conservatives dismayed with the federal party, according to Smith, who said many are "waiting for a better day" when Harper no longer leads the Conservative Party.

"I know that a lot of Nova Scotia Tories do not care for Mr. Harper, but for tribal reasons find it hard to oppose him."