PEI Politics Potpourri
Opposition leader Olive Crane was suspended from the P.E.I. legislature Friday for the remainder of the spring sitting.
Crane was suspended for unparliamentary language she used during a debate on whether government planned to introduce HST to the province.
"The premier's record of saying one thing and doing another is shameful. He continuously breaks promises," said Crane.
"Premier, why do you continually mislead and deceive this house?"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/05/13/pei-crane-suspended-legislature-584.html
The P.E.I. utility Maritime Electric was part of the plans in Hydro-Québec's purchase of NB Power, a document released last month by the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks reveal.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/05/18/pei-...P.E.I.'s lieutenant-governor hopes to find out soon if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be staying with her at Government House when they visit the province in July.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/06/01/pei-...
The City of Summerside is calling on the P.E.I. government to pull funding from the Charlottetown-based PEI Rocket unless it provides the same funding to a Summerside-based hockey team.
Summerside is actively seeking a major junior team of its own. There was talk earlier this year that the Lewiston Maineiacs might consider a move to P.E.I.'s second city, but the franchise ended up folding at the end of the season.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/06/06/pei-...
Starting this fall P.E.I. teenagers who are members of the cadets will be able to apply the experience for a high school credit, and the province is looking at giving credits for other extracurricular activities as well.
About 500 Island teenagers are members of the army, air or sea cadets. Jim Spears, president of the P.E.I. branch of the Army Cadet League of Canada told CBC News Tuesday the league the province have been working with the Education Department for a number of years on the plan.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/06/08/pei-...
An election
Latest poll has bad news for Tories:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Decision-11/Local-News-/2011-09-06/article-2741692/Crane-unfazed-by-latest-poll-numbers/1
Anybody know who the NDP candidate is in Charlottetown - Sherwood? It looks the party should be winning that seat (h/t Krago):
Charlottetown - 2011 Federal Electoral Map - Provincial ED Boundaries
Also Charlottetown-Vicotria Park would be a good fight for the NDP. I saw on CBC PEI Votes, they are working on putting forward a slate of candidates: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/peivotes2011/story/2011/09/07/peivotes-rodd-candidates-584.html
Holy, The PC's pulled out of the debate as only the Liberals and PC's were invited. Well i think thats kinda classy of her... also i want the NDP there :P
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/peivotes2011/story/2011/09/09/pei-crane-cbc-debate-584.htm
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The federal NDP vote in Charlottetown seems to be nicely concentrated in Sherwood and Victoria Park.
Does anyone have the numbers for the federal vote transposed into those two provincial ridings?
http://www.the506.com/elxnmaps/can2011/11002.html
this is the closest thing i could find... just click on the polls you get the results... if someone more in-the-know whats to transpose go crazy.
She'll only debate if all 5 registered parties (including the Greens & the "Island Party") are there. You can imagine what sort of precedent that would set if to participate in a debate all a party has to do is be a registered party.
I have done a quick calcualtion of the federal results transposed to the three most promising provincial seats:
Sherwood
Lib 877
Con 812
NDP 648
Parkdale
Lib 707
Con 616
NDP 618
Victoria Park
Lib 608
Con 379
NDP 590
Nicely done, nicky. Looks like the Liberals just squeaked through in Victoria Park.
Considering how weak an effort the other parties are turning in and their weak results in the past, I tend to agree with bekayne. Hopefully the CBC holds its ground.
The PEI Coalition for Women in Government says the number of women candidates nominated by the Conservative and Liberal parties has reached an all-time high for the Island.
This was the first week of the provincial election campaign.
Kirstin Lund, coalition co-ordinator, said P.E.I.'s Conservative party has nominated seven women and the Liberal party has nominated six, for a combined total of 13 people, or 24.1 per cent of all candidates.
Lund said that's an increase from a combined total of 18.5 per cent in the 2007 provincial election.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/09/10/pei-...Only one of five of the political leaders in P.E.I.'s provincial election made a firm commitment to increasing minimum wage at a debate sponsored by the Federation of Labour Monday night.
Moderator Craig Mackie asked the leaders if they would commit to raising the minimum wage to $17.10 by October 2016. Only the Island Party's Billy Cann gave a straight yes to the question.
Liberal Leader Robert Ghiz turned to how his government dealt with minimum wage increases. Minimum wage is due to go up to $9.60 in October, and $10 next year.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/09/20/peiv...New Poll:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/09/29/peivotes-cra-poll-584.html
Lib 53%
PC 36%
NDP 5%
GR 5%
So PEI votes today! Anyone on babble following from PEI? According the website ThreeHundredEight.com, it will be a Liberal majority, big time.
Ghislaine is the only one I know on Babble who is from PEI. I'm watching from neighbouring NB. The word on the street is that the dirty elements of the campaign weren't appreciated on the Island. I expect the Libs will take at least 20 seats.
ETA: I see 308 is projecting almost a shut-out.
I am really hoping that there are a few more opposition member at least. I shudder at the thought of a complete sweep, with even less accountability required. There have been serious allegations of wrongdoing against the Ghiz government concerning the Provincial Nominee Program used with Chinese Immigrants, with many members of his government and their family members having received "units" (ie investment money from would-be immigrants).
I have been extremely disappointed in the provincial NDP. We have had a fixed election date known for three years, yet they did not announce their candidates until halfway into the 4 week campaign and even then only have 14 of 27 districts with candidates. Two weeks after the writ was dropped, their website had not even been updated since June!! The Green Party has far surpassed the NDP, with 22 candidates and a much more vocal and visible leader.
Unfortunately we have not had even ONE debate that was televised across the whole province. CBC would only allow the PC and Liberals in the televised debate and the PC leader (to her credit) refused to participate unless all five party leaders were present. Eastlink TV had a debate, however this channel is only available in Chtown. So, it is a sad state of affairs and difficult not to feel very cynical!!
Prince Edward Island is indeed the only place left in Canada that is remotely safe for the Liberals. They won a massive majority, the NDP was shut out.
According to the CBC website:
Liberals Elected in 19, leading in 3 for 22 51.65% of the popular vote
Progressive Conservatives elected in 4, leading in 1 for 5 40.1% of the popular vote
Greens 4.22%
NDP 3.05%
Island Party 0.95%
Independents 0.02%
So will the NDP's PEI leader resign?
Thanks radiorahim!
I watched the debate and he seemed like a wise and likeable fellow. Though he seemed pretty old.
No one in PEI would care. 3% of the vote wow
Early polls had NDP support over 10% in PEI, according to threehundredeight. Why did their support collapse during the campaign?
I think part of the collapse could be explained by people wanting a change, and the best way to vote for change would be PC, as no NDP would be elected. I don't think the absence of elected NDP politicians provincially or federally helps, basically leaving the party unable to cash in on the Orange Crush, as opposed to say Newfoundland and Labrador. I live in hope that with 2 of 4 Atlantic provinces becoming polarized on NDP-PC lines, that the PEI NDP's time will come.
Its just that with a leader based in Charlottetown might give the PEI NDP its first breakthrough.
There is much potential here. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/#/9
The party at least needs to nominate a full slate of candidates. Standing in 14 out of 27 ridings is NOT enough to be credible.