The Progressive Conservatives led by Premier Dennis King won a decisive election victory on Monday night. Island voters delivered a hefty majority of the seats to the party, which begins its second term in office today. The Tories won 22 of the 27 seats in the legislature — the Liberals fell to three seats and the Greens held on to only two seats. That means the Greens will lose their status as Official Opposition — a role they assumed in 2019 when PEI became the first province in Canada to see the Greens in that role.
King won re-election in District 15: Brackley-Hunter River, while cabinet ministers Matthew MacKay, Steven Myers, Cory Deagle, Darlene Compton, Natalie Jameson, Bloyce Thompson, Mark McLane, Jamie Fox and Ernie Hudson all won re-election. Also holding seats for the PCs were Robin Croucher, Jill Burridge, Sidney MacEwen, Zack Bell, and Brad Trivers. The PCs gained seats with wins by Jenn Redmond in District 5 Mermaid-Stratford over Michelle Breaton of the Greens; Susie Dillon in District 11 Charlottetown Belvedere, which had been held by the Green’s Hannah Bell who did not reoffer; Rob Lantz in Charlottetown-Brighton; Tyler Desroches in Summerside-Wilmot over Green incumbent Lynne Lund; Barb Ramsay in District 22 Summerside – South Drive who beat out Green incumbent Steve Howard; Hilton MacLennon who won over the Green’s Trish Altass in Tyne Valley – Sherbrooke; Gilles Arsenault in District 24 Evangeline Miscouche.
The Liberals will form the Official Opposition with wins by three incumbents – Gord McNeilly in District 14 Charlottetown – West Royalty; Robert Henderson in O’Leary – Inverness and Hal Perry in Tignish – Palmer Road.
The Greens lost 6 of the 8 seats they held before dissolution, with only Leader Peter Bevan-Baker winning in District 17 New Haven – Rocky Point and Karla Bernard in District 12 Charlottetown – Victoria Park. Bevan-Baker says he needs time to consider his future.
As for voter turnout, it was lower than usual with only 68.5 per cent of the province’s more than 109-thousand registered voters casting ballots.
