Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island

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The Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island (PEIPC) is one of three major political parties on Prince Edward Island. The party and its rival, the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party, have alternated in power since responsible government was granted in 1851.

Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island
AbbreviationPEIPC
LeaderBloyce Thompson (interim)
PresidentSydney Gallant
Founded1851; 175 years ago (1851)
Headquarters30 Pond Street
Unit B
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
C1A 9P2
Membership (2019)5,837
Ideology
  • Progressive conservatism
  • Green conservatism
  • Red Toryism
ColoursBlue
Seats in Legislature
20 / 27
Website
peipc.ca

History

The policies of the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives (PCs) are very similar. The major differences are in their allegiances to federal parties and in personalities. The PC Party began as the Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island, and changed its name in 1942 to reflect the development of the federal Progressive Conservative Party.

The Progressive Conservatives formed the government in Prince Edward Island under Premier Pat Binns, starting in 1996. The party lost its bid for a fourth mandate in 2007.

In October 2010, following the resignation of Binns as party leader (in 2007), a leadership election was held. Jim Bagnall became interim leader of the party in 2010 when previous interim leader MLA Olive Crane resigned the post to seek the permanent leadership of the party.

Crane won the PC leadership in October 2010, and served for over two years. She resigned as party leader on 31 January 2013, and was succeeded by Steven Myers as interim leader.

Rob Lantz was elected leader of the party at a leadership election on February 28, 2015, at the University of Prince Edward Island Sports Centre, but resigned on September 23, 2015, after failing to win a seat in the 2015 provincial election.

On October 15, 2015, the party chose Borden-Kinkora MLA Jamie Fox as interim leader

James Aylward, MLA for Stratford-Kinlock, defeated Brad Trivers and was chosen leader on October 19, 2017, replacing interim leader Jamie Fox.

On September 17, 2018, Aylward announced his pending resignation as leader, effective upon the election of his successor on February 9, 2019.

Dennis King was elected leader of the party, succeeding Aylward. King resigned in 2025 and was replaced by former leader Lantz as interim leader. Lantz then resigned to run in the 2026 leadership election and was replaced by Bloyce Thompson as interim leader.

Traditionally, the Tories have done better among Protestant voters, while Liberals have had more support from Catholics. Politics on the island, however, has never been sectarian, and both parties have always had voters and members from both populations. Indeed, it has been the custom until recently for a Liberal incumbent of one denomination to be opposed by a Tory challenger of the same denomination and vice versa. This had tended to minimise religious sectarianism within the parties. The Liberals have also traditionally enjoyed the support of the province's small Acadian population concentrated in Prince County at the west end of the island. Progressive Conservative support has tended to be greater on the eastern half of the island.

Current MLAs

  • Gilles Arsenault, Evangeline-Miscouche
  • Zack Bell, Charlottetown-Winsloe
  • Jill Burridge, Stratford-Keppoch
  • Darlene Compton, Belfast-Murray River
  • Robin Croucher, Souris-Elmira
  • Brendan Curran, Georgetown-Pownal
  • Cory Deagle, Montague-Kilmuir
  • Tyler DesRoches, Summerside-Wilmot
  • Susie Dillon, Charlottetown-Belvedere
  • Kent Dollar, Brackley-Hunter River
  • Rob Lantz, Charlottetown-Brighton
  • Ernie Hudson, Alberton-Bloomfield
  • Sidney MacEwen, Morell-Donagh
  • Hilton MacLennan, Tyne Valley-Sherbrooke
  • Mark McLane, Cornwall-Meadowbank
  • Matthew MacKay, Kensington-Malpeque
  • Barb Ramsay, Summerside-South Drive
  • Jenn Redmond, Mermaid-Stratford
  • Bloyce Thompson, Stanhope-Marshfield
  • Brad Trivers, Rustico-Emerald

Electoral performance

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/− Position Status
1931 James David Stewart 36,219 51.7
18 / 30
 12 1st Majority
1935 William J. P. MacMillan 31,840 42.1
0 / 30
 18 2nd Extra-parliamentary
1939 35,600 47.0
3 / 30
 3 2nd Opposition
1943 31,849 46.1
10 / 30
 7 2nd Opposition
1947 36,661 45.3
6 / 30
 4 2nd Opposition
1951 Reginald Bell 36,921 46.7
6 / 30
 2nd Opposition
1955 36,705 45.0
3 / 30
 3 2nd Opposition
1959 Walter Russell Shaw 43,845 50.9
22 / 30
 19 1st Majority
1962 44,707 50.6
19 / 30
 3 1st Majority
1966 46,118 49.5
15 / 32
 4 2nd Opposition
1970 George Key 46,015 41.6
5 / 32
 10 2nd Opposition
1974 Melvin McQuaid 47,470 39.9
6 / 32
 1 2nd Opposition
1978 Angus MacLean 60,878 48.1
15 / 32
 9 2nd Opposition
1979 68,440 53.3
21 / 32
 6 1st Majority
1982 James Lee 71,274 53.7
21 / 32
 1st Majority
1986 68,062 45.5
11 / 32
 10 2nd Opposition
1989 Mel Gass 50,731 35.8
2 / 32
 9 2nd Opposition
1993 Pat Mella 57,549 39.5
1 / 32
 1 2nd Opposition
1996 Pat Binns 37,910 47.4
18 / 27
 17 1st Majority
2000 45,820 58.0
26 / 27
 8 1st Majority
2003 43,712 54.29
23 / 27
 3 1st Majority
2007 33,754 41.35
4 / 27
 19 2nd Opposition
2011 Olive Crane 29,950 40.18
5 / 27
 1 2nd Opposition
2015 Rob Lantz 30,663 37.39
8 / 27
 3 2nd Opposition
2019 Dennis King 30,415 36.73
13 / 27
 5 1st Minority (2019–20)
Majority (2020–23)
2023 41,828 55.92
22 / 27
 9 1st Majority

Conservative and PC leaders

  • Edward Palmer, 1851–1854
  • John Holl, 1854–1855
  • Edward Palmer, 1855–1863
  • John Hamilton Gray, 1863–1865
  • James Colledge Pope, 1865–1873
  • Lemuel Cambridge Owen, 1873–1877
  • William Wilfred Sullivan, 1877–1889
  • Neil McLeod, 1889–1894
  • Daniel Gordon, 1894–1903
  • John Alexander Mathieson, 1903–1917
  • Aubin E. Arsenault, 1917–1921
  • James David Stewart, 1921–1933
  • William J. P. MacMillan, 1933–1948
  • Reginald Bell, 1948–1957
  • Walter Shaw, 1957–1968
  • George Key, 1968–1973
  • Melvin McQuaid, 1973–1976
  • Lloyd MacPhail, 1976 (interim)
  • J. Angus MacLean, 1976–1981
  • James M. Lee, 1981–1987
  • Leone Bagnall, 1987–1988 (interim)
  • Melbourne Gass, 1988–1990
  • Pat Mella, 1990–1996
  • Pat Binns, 1996–2007
  • Olive Crane, 2007–2010 (interim)
  • Jim Bagnall, 2010 (interim)
  • Olive Crane, 2010–2013
  • Steven Myers, 2013–2015 (interim)
  • Rob Lantz, 2015
  • Jamie Fox, 2015–2017 (interim)
  • James Aylward, 2017–2019
  • Dennis King, 2019–2025
  • Rob Lantz, 2025 (interim)
  • Bloyce Thompson, 2025–present (interim)

See also

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