2015 Prince Edward Island general election

2015 Prince Edward Island general election
All 27 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island; 14 seats needed for a majority
	Opinion polls
Turnout	82.10%
	Popular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via plurality results by each riding.
Premier before election; Wade MacLauchlan; Liberal	Premier after election ; Wade MacLauchlan; Liberal

The 2015 Prince Edward Island general election was held May 4, 2015, to elect members of the 65th General Assembly of Prince Edward Island.^[2] Under amendments passed by the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in 2008, Prince Edward Island elections are usually held on the first Monday of October in the fourth calendar year, unless it is dissolved earlier by the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island due to a motion of no confidence. The current government had hinted that an election would be held "before Mother's Day" 2015, and such a dissolution would avoid any conflicts with the next federal election, expected to be held in October 2015.

The governing Liberals were elected to a third consecutive majority government under Premier Wade MacLauchlan, while the Progressive Conservatives made slight gains despite party leader Rob Lantz failing to win election in Charlottetown-Brighton. The Green Party, meanwhile, won its first seat in the legislature, with leader Peter Bevan-Baker elected in Kellys Cross-Cumberland.^[3] The New Democratic Party was shut out.

Standings[]

↓
18	8	1
Liberal	Progressive Conservative	Grn

Summary of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island election results
Party		Party leader	Candidates	Seats				Popular vote
Party		Party leader	Candidates	2011	Dissol.	2015	Change	#	%	Change
	Liberal	Wade MacLauchlan	27	22	20	18	−4	33,481	40.83%	−10.55%
	Progressive Conservative	Rob Lantz	27	5	3	8	+3	30,663	37.39%	−2.77%
	Green	Peter Bevan-Baker	24	0	0	1	+1	8,857	10.81%	+6.45%
	New Democratic	Michael Redmond	27	0	0	0		8,997	10.97%	+7.81%
	Independent			0	1	0
	Vacant				3	-	-
Total			105	27	27	27		81,998

Popular vote

Liberal			40.83%
PC			37.39%
New Democratic			10.97%
Green			10.81%

Seats summary

Liberal			66.67%
PC			29.63%
Green			3.70%

Results by region[]

Party Name			Cardigan	Malpeque	Charlottetown	Egmont	Total
	Liberal	Seats:	2	2	7	7	18
	Liberal	Popular Vote:	38.16%	36.33%	40.69%	49.00%	40.83%
	Progressive Conservative	Seats:	5	3	0	0	8
	Progressive Conservative	Popular Vote:	44.95%	38.21%	31.08%	34.97%	37.39%
	Green	Seats:	0	1	0	0	1
	Green	Popular Vote:	5.45%	18.76%	12.41%	6.01%	10.81%
Total seats:			7	6	7	7	27
Parties that won no seats:
	NDP	Seats:	0	0	0	0	0
	NDP	Popular Vote:	11.44%	6.69%	15.82%	10.01%	10.98%

Timeline[]

2011[]

October 3: The Prince Edward Island Liberal Party under Robert Ghiz is re-elected with a majority government in the 64th Prince Edward Island general election.

2012[]

October 13: The New Democratic Party elects Michael Redmond as party leader.^[4]
November 3: The Green Party elects Peter Bevan-Baker as party leader^[5]
December 5: Progressive Conservative leader Olive Crane announces her intention to resign as party leader in January 2013 after party members narrowly vote against having a leadership review. Crane further announces that she will stay on as Leader of the Opposition.^[6]

2013[]

January 30: Olive Crane resigns as Leader of the Opposition. The Progressive Conservative caucus names Tignish-Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry, a candidate for the interim leadership, as Leader of the Opposition.^[7]^[8]
January 31: Olive Crane resigns as Progressive Conservative leader. Georgetown-St. Peters MLA Steven Myers is elected interim PC leader over Leader of the Opposition and Tignish-Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry. Perry initially announces that he will remain Leader of the Opposition, despite Myers' urging that the party leader should hold both positions.^[9]
February 11: Tignish-Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry steps down as Leader of the Opposition, citing internal divisions within the Progressive Conservative Party.^[10] Interim PC leader and Georgetown-St. Peters MLA Steven Myers is subsequently named Leader of the Opposition.
October 3: In what is believed to be the first instance of a sitting MLA crossing the floor, Tignish-Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry leaves the Progressive Conservatives to join the Liberals, citing his concerns with the federal Conservative governments changes to employment insurance.^[11]
October 4: Morell-Mermaid MLA and former Progressive Conservative leader Olive Crane is kicked out of the party. Crane subsequently announces she will sit as an independent.^[12]

2014[]

November 13: Robert Ghiz announces he will be resigning as Premier in early 2015 as soon as the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party elects a new leader.^[13]

2015[]

February 21: The Prince Edward Island Liberal Party held its leadership election. As the sole candidate nominated, Wade MacLauchlan was acclaimed the new leader and incoming premier.^[14]
February 23: Robert Ghiz resigns as Premier. Wade MacLauchlan is appointed and sworn in as the new Premier.^[15] Later that day, Ghiz, Wes Sheridan, and Robert Vessey resign as MLAs, triggering potential by-elections in their former seats (Charlottetown-Brighton, Kensington-Malpeque, and York-Oyster Bed, respectively).^[16]
February 28: At the party's leadership election, Rob Lantz is elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island.^[17]
April 6: After being nominated as the Liberal candidate for York-Oyster Bed, Premier Wade MacLauchlan dropped the writ, calling for an election on May 4, 2015.
April 10: The Island Party drops out of the campaign, due to not having enough candidates ^[18]
April 27: Party leaders' first televised debate, held in Summerside.^[19]
April 30: A second televised debate was held for the party leaders, in Charlottetown.^[20]
May 4: Election results - The Liberals win a third consecutive majority government, with a reduced number of 18 seats. The Progressive Conservatives remain as the official opposition, with an increase to 8 seats. The Greens make Prince Edward Island political history, winning their first seat.

Opinion polls[]

Voting intentions since the 2011 election.

Polling Firm	Last date of polling	Link	Liberal	PC	Green	NDP	Island	Other
Corporate Research Associates	April 23, 2015	HTML	44	35	6	15
Abingdon Research	April 20, 2015	PDF	43	27	12	18
Corporate Research Associates	February 28, 2015	PDF	58	26	4	12		0
Corporate Research Associates	November 25, 2014	PDF	50	23	11	15	0	0
Corporate Research Associates	September 1, 2014	PDF	48	28	7	16	0	0
Corporate Research Associates	May 22, 2014	PDF	53	23	3	21	0	0
Corporate Research Associates	February 27, 2014	PDF	53	17	7	22	0	1
Corporate Research Associates	November 27, 2013	PDF	49	17	7	26	0	1
Corporate Research Associates	August 28, 2013	PDF	42	23	3	32	0	0
Corporate Research Associates	May 28, 2013	PDF	52	22	5	21	0	1
Corporate Research Associates	March 2, 2013	PDF	51	16	7	26	0	0
Corporate Research Associates	December 1, 2012	PDF	45	28	5	22	0	0
Corporate Research Associates	August 31, 2012	PDF	42	32	8	18	0	0
Corporate Research Associates	June 4, 2012	PDF	47	26	8	18	1	1
Corporate Research Associates	February 26, 2012	PDF	50	33	5	11	0	0
Corporate Research Associates	November 29, 2011	PDF	53	34	4	9	0	0
2011 election	October 3, 2011		51.38	40.16	4.36	3.16	0.91	0.02

Results[]

Candidates' names appear as recorded by Elections PEI
Party leaders' names are in bold; cabinet ministers' names are in italics.

Cardigan[]

Electoral district	Candidates								Incumbent
Electoral district	Liberal		PC		Green		NDP		Incumbent
4. Belfast-Murray River		Charlie McGeoghegan 1,095 - 41.1%		Darlene Compton 1,203 - 45.1%		Jordan MacPhee 152 - 5.7%		Alan Hicken 216 - 8.1%		Charlie McGeoghegan
2. Georgetown-St. Peters		Russ Stewart 1,170 - 38.8%		Steven Myers 1,448 - 48.0%		Heather Gallant 145 - 4.8%		Nathan Bushey 256 - 8.5%		Steven Myers
3. Montague-Kilmuir		Allen Roach 1,060 - 41.8%		Andrew Daggett 785 - 31.0%		Jason Furness 106 - 4.2%		Mike Redmond 585 - 23.1%		Allen Roach
7. Morell-Mermaid		Daniel MacDonald 1,114 - 37.1%		Sidney MacEwen 1,501 - 50.0%		Meaghan Lister 177 - 5.9%		Edith Perry 211 - 7.0%		Olive Crane†
1. Souris-Elmira		Tommy Kickham 951 - 35.8%		Colin LaVie 1,179 - 44.4%				Susan Birt 528 - 19.9%		Colin LaVie
6. Stratford-Kinlock		David Dunphy 1,453 - 33.9%		James Aylward 2,155 - 50.3%		Samantha Saunders 330 - 7.7%		Chris van Ouwerkerk 350 - 8.2%		James Aylward
5. Vernon River-Stratford*		Alan McIsaac* 1,173 - 41.3%		Mary Ellen McInnis* 1,173 - 41.3%		Nicholas Graveline 234 - 8.2%		Kathleen Romans 258 - 9.1%		Alan McIsaac

This riding vote count resulted in a tie between McIsaac and McInnis. As a result, a coin toss was held, which determined McIsaac, the Liberal candidate, as the winner.^[21]

Malpeque[]

Electoral district	Candidates								Incumbent
Electoral district	Liberal		PC		Green		NDP		Incumbent
19. Borden-Kinkora		Ramona Roberts 1,154 - 34.1%		Jamie Fox 1,597 - 47.1%		Ranald MacFarlane 511 - 15.1%		Aleida Tweten 126 - 3.7%		George Webster†
16. Cornwall-Meadowbank		Heath MacDonald 1,444 - 46.3%		Michael Drake 1,056 - 33.8%		Rosalyn Abbott 377 - 12.1%		Jennifer Coughlin 243 - 7.8%		Ron MacKinley†
17. Kellys Cross-Cumberland		Valerie Docherty 1,046 - 27.6%		Randy Robar 609 - 16.1%		Peter Bevan-Baker 2,077 - 54.8%		Jesse Cousins 58 - 1.5%		Valerie Docherty
20. Kensington-Malpeque		Paul Montgomery 1,033 - 28.3%		Matthew MacKay 1,984 - 54.3%		Lynne Lund 374 - 10.2%		Joseph Larkin 264 - 7.2%		Vacant
18. Rustico-Emerald		Bertha Campbell 1,152 - 34.3%		Brad Trivers 1,585 - 47.2%		Marianne Janowicz 325 - 9.7%		Leah-Jane Hayward 294 - 8.8%		Carolyn Bertram†
9. York-Oyster Bed		Wade MacLauchlan 1,938 - 47.7%		Jim "Benson" Carragher 1,338 - 32.9%		Thane Bernard 347 - 8.5%		Gordon Gay 442 - 10.9%		Vacant

Charlottetown[]

Electoral district	Candidates								Incumbent
Electoral district	Liberal		PC		Green		NDP		Incumbent
13. Charlottetown-Brighton		Jordan Brown 1,054 - 39.0%		Rob Lantz 1,032 - 38.2%		Derrick Biso 352 - 13.0%		Bob MacLean 265 - 9.8%		Vacant
14. Charlottetown-Lewis Point		Kathleen Casey 1,040 - 34.3%		Dianne Young 821 - 27.0%		Doug Millington 244 - 8.0%		Gord McNeilly 931 - 30.7%		Kathleen Casey
11. Charlottetown-Parkdale		Doug Currie 1,166 - 43.7%		Lynn MacLaren 699 - 26.2%		Becka Viau 511 - 19.2%		Andrew Watts 292 - 10.9%		Doug Currie
10. Charlottetown-Sherwood		Robert Mitchell 1,425 - 45.8%		Mike Gillis 1,031 - 33.1%		Mitchell Gallant 295 - 9.5%		Karalee McAskill 360 - 11.6%		Robert Mitchell
12. Charlottetown-Victoria Park		Richard Brown 955 - 39.4%		Joey Kitson 666 - 27.5%		Darcie Lanthier 456 - 18.8%		Chris Clay 348 - 14.4%		Richard Brown
8. Tracadie-Hillsborough Park		Buck Watts 1,354 - 45.7%		Darren Creamer 826 - 27.8%		Isaac Williams 237 - 8.0%		Jason Murray 549 - 18.5%		Buck Watts
15. West Royalty-Springvale		Bush Dumville 1,389 - 37.6%		Linda Clements 1,330 - 36.0%		Charles Sanderson 462 - 12.5%		Peter Meggs 516 - 14.0%		Bush Dumville

Egmont[]

Electoral district	Candidates								Incumbent
Electoral district	Liberal		PC		Green		NDP		Incumbent
26. Alberton-Roseville		Pat Murphy 1,569 - 53.7%		John Griffin 1,166 - 39.9%				Orville Lewis 188 - 6.4%		Pat Murphy
24. Evangeline-Miscouche		Sonny Gallant 1,419 - 62.6%		Debbie Montgomery 586 - 25.8%		Jordan Cameron 125 - 5.5%		Grant Gallant 138 - 6.1%		Sonny Gallant
25. O'Leary-Inverness		Robert Henderson 1,310 - 48.8%		Daniel MacDonald 1,063 - 39.6%				Billy Mackendrick 311 - 11.6%		Robert Henderson
22. Summerside-St. Eleanors		Tina Mundy 1,246 - 41.2%		Major Stewart 1,098 - 36.3%		Caleb Adams 321 - 10.6%		Olivia Wood 358 - 11.8%		Gerard Greenan†
21. Summerside-Wilmot		Janice Sherry 1,135 - 39.4%		Brian Ramsay 1,105 - 38.4%		Donald MacFadzen-Reid 285 - 9.9%		Scott Gaudet 353 - 12.3%		Janice Sherry
27. Tignish-Palmer Road		Hal Perry 1,486 - 58.2%		Joseph Profit 818 - 32.1%		Malcolm Pitre 167 - 6.5%		John A'Hearn 81 - 3.2%		Hal Perry
23. Tyne Valley-Linkletter		Paula Biggar 1,147 - 43.0%		Ryan Williams 810 - 30.3%		Shelagh Young 240 - 9.0%		Jacqueline Tuplin 473 - 17.7%		Paula Biggar

References[]

^ "Saltwire | Prince Edward Island".
^ PEI election called for May 4, 2015
^ "Liberals win majority in P.E.I. election". CBC News. May 4, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
^ "P.E.I. NDP elect Mike Redmond as party leader". CBC News, October 13, 2012.
^ "Bevan-Baker acclaimed as P.E.I. Green Party leader". The Guardian. Charlottetown. November 3, 2012. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
^ "P.E.I. PC Leader Olive Crane resigns". CBC News. December 5, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
^ "Olive Crane resigns as P.E.I. Opposition leader". CBC News. January 30, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
^ "Tories name new P.E.I. Opposition leader". CBC News. January 30, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
^ "MLA Steven Myers named interim PC leader". CBC News. January 31, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
^ "Perry to step down as Opposition leader". CBC News. February 11, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
^ Wright, Teresa (October 3, 2013). "Hal Perry crossing floor to join Liberals". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
^ "Olive Crane kicked out of PC caucus". The Journal Pioneer. October 4, 2013. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
^ "P.E.I.-Liberals-and-PCs-both-looking-for-leaders".
^ Wade MacLauchlan confirmed as P.E.I. Liberal leader
^ "Experienced faces make up Wade MacLauchlan cabinet". CBC News. February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
^ Legislative Assembly of PEI: Members
^ Rob Lantz celebrates Progressive Conservative leadership victory
^ "Island Party sitting out election". Archived from the original on 2015-07-10. Retrieved 2015-04-12.
^ PEI Votes 2015: Leaders' Debate
^ Leaders met in 2nd TV debate
^ Liberal Alan McIsaac wins seat in coin toss after recount tie. CBC News, May 19, 2015.

External links[]

P.E.I. Votes 2015: Tracking the candidates

[1] "Saltwire | Prince Edward Island".

[2] PEI election called for May 4, 2015

[3] "Liberals win majority in P.E.I. election". CBC News. May 4, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

[leader-4] "P.E.I. NDP elect Mike Redmond as party leader". CBC News, October 13, 2012.

[baker-5] "Bevan-Baker acclaimed as P.E.I. Green Party leader". The Guardian. Charlottetown. November 3, 2012. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

[6] "P.E.I. PC Leader Olive Crane resigns". CBC News. December 5, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

[7] "Olive Crane resigns as P.E.I. Opposition leader". CBC News. January 30, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

[8] "Tories name new P.E.I. Opposition leader". CBC News. January 30, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

[9] "MLA Steven Myers named interim PC leader". CBC News. January 31, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

[10] "Perry to step down as Opposition leader". CBC News. February 11, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

[11] Wright, Teresa (October 3, 2013). "Hal Perry crossing floor to join Liberals". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

[12] "Olive Crane kicked out of PC caucus". The Journal Pioneer. October 4, 2013. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

[13] "P.E.I.-Liberals-and-PCs-both-looking-for-leaders".

[14] Wade MacLauchlan confirmed as P.E.I. Liberal leader

[15] "Experienced faces make up Wade MacLauchlan cabinet". CBC News. February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.

[16] Legislative Assembly of PEI: Members

[17] Rob Lantz celebrates Progressive Conservative leadership victory

[18] "Island Party sitting out election". Archived from the original on 2015-07-10. Retrieved 2015-04-12.

[19] PEI Votes 2015: Leaders' Debate

[20] Leaders met in 2nd TV debate

[21] Liberal Alan McIsaac wins seat in coin toss after recount tie. CBC News, May 19, 2015.

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