2011 Prince Edward Island general election

The 2011 Prince Edward Island general election was held on October 3, 2011.[2][3]

2011 Prince Edward Island general election

← 2007October 3, 2011 (2011-10-03)2015 →

27 seats of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island
14 seats needed for a majority
Turnout76.53%[1]
 First partySecond party
 
PC
LeaderRobert GhizOlive Crane
PartyLiberalProgressive Conservative
Leader sinceApril 5, 2003October 2, 2010
Leader's seatCharlottetown-BrightonMorell-Mermaid
Last election23 seats, 52.93%4 seats, 41.35%
Seats before242
Seats won225
Seat changeDecrease2Increase3
Popular vote38,31529,950
Percentage51.39%40.18%
SwingDecrease1.54%Decrease1.17%

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

Robert Ghiz
Liberal

Premier after election

Robert Ghiz
Liberal

The Liberal government of Premier Robert Ghiz was elected to a second majority government, winning one seat less than they did in 2007. Ghiz himself considered 18 seats to be a marker for a strong majority. He won 22.

Health care was an important issue during the election, especially in rural areas.[4]

The Progressive Conservatives retained their position as Official Opposition, winning five seats. Olive Crane used the issue of the Provincial Nominee Program during the election, as well as issues surrounding immigration and investments that came under investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Federal Minister Jason Kenney during the election.[5]

Results

Both the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives lost votes, and lost in the share of vote. Turnout was down and seven thousand fewer voters cast ballots total. The Greens and New Democrats increased both their raw vote and their share of the vote, and the new Island party took nearly a full percentage point. Three incumbent Liberal MLAs were defeated by Progressive Conservatives; the Progressive Conservatives retained one of the two seats they held at the dissolution of the previous legislature, as well as one vacant seat which they held prior to the resignation of Michael Currie from the legislature in March 2011, while the Liberals gained one seat whose Progressive Conservative incumbent did not stand for re-election.

The election saw one riding, Kellys Cross-Cumberland, have six candidates, a rarity in PEI elections.

Results of the election by polling division

The PC Party solidified their base in central-east PEI, winning four ridings that were part of the federal riding of Cardigan, and carried the region. The PC Party also managed to win a single seat on the northern tip of the Island.

225
LiberalPC
Summary of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island election results
PartyParty leaderCandidatesSeatsPopular vote
2007Dissol.2011Change#%Change
LiberalRobert Ghiz27232422-138,31551.38%-1.55%
Progressive ConservativeOlive Crane27425+129,95040.16%-1.19%
GreenSharon Labchuk22--03,2544.36%+1.32%
New DemocraticJames Rodd14--02,3553.16%+1.20%
IslandBilly Cann12*-06820.91%*
Independents and no affiliation1--0150.02%-0.71%
Vacant--1
Total10327272774,571

* The Island Party of Prince Edward Island was not a registered political party at the time of the 2007 election.

Popular vote
Liberal
51.38%
PC
40.16%
Green
4.36%
New Democratic
3.16%
Others
0.94%
Seats summary
Liberal
81.48%
PC
18.52%

Synopsis of results

2011 PEI general election - synopsis of riding results[a 1]
Riding#Federal
Riding
2007Winning party[a 2]Turnout
[a 3]
Votes
PartyVotesShareMargin
#
Margin
%
LibPCGreenNDPIslandIndTotal
 
Alberton-Roseville26EGM Lib Lib1,60456.18%46716.36%83.10%1,6041,13771432,855
Belfast-Murray River4CAR PC Lib1,13545.86%80.32%79.02%1,1351,127114992,475
Borden-Kinkora19MPQ Lib Lib1,59049.41%1223.79%77.85%1,5901,4681603,218
Charlottetown-Brighton13CHA Lib Lib1,22852.46%52922.60%77.42%1,2286992381762,341
Charlottetown-Lewis Point14CHA Lib Lib1,41152.01%51619.02%70.01%1,4118951322752,713
Charlottetown-Parkdale11CHA Lib Lib1,51061.76%84534.56%73.78%1,5106651521182,445
Charlottetown-Sherwood10CHA Lib Lib1,53853.93%47816.76%77.86%1,5381,0601271272,852
Charlottetown-Victoria Park12CHA Lib Lib1,11251.29%53024.45%69.03%1,112582278177192,168
Cornwall-Meadowbank16MPQ Lib Lib1,68663.46%93035.00%71.03%1,686756172432,657
Evangeline-Miscouche24EGM Lib Lib1,72277.22%1,30458.48%84.89%1,72241864262,230
Georgetown-St. Peters2CAR PC PC1,57553.30%36112.22%83.91%1,2141,5754787322,955
Kellys Cross-Cumberland17MPQ Lib Lib1,76854.02%80824.69%77.54%1,76896030618242153,273
Kensington-Malpeque20MPQ Lib Lib1,82057.18%65520.58%74.76%1,8201,1651983,183
Montague-Kilmuir3CAR PC Lib1,12746.57%1235.08%78.10%1,1271,004892002,420
Morell-Mermaid7CAR PC PC1,64958.29%61621.77%88.28%1,0331,649114332,829
O'Leary-Inverness25EGM Lib Lib1,43155.51%28411.02%78.83%1,4311,1472,578
Rustico-Emerald18MPQ Lib Lib1,49849.50%1575.19%78.69%1,4981,3411873,026
Souris-Elmira1CAR Lib PC1,30248.58%301.12%86.25%1,2721,3021062,680
Stratford-Kinlock6CAR Lib PC2,02055.59%77921.44%77.63%1,2412,0201682053,634
Summerside-St. Eleanors22EGM Lib Lib1,42651.76%38914.12%63.76%1,4261,0371451472,755
Summerside-Wilmot21EGM Lib Lib1,38254.75%44517.63%65.36%1,3829372052,524
Tignish-Palmer Road27EGM Lib PC1,17550.15%331.41%81.74%1,1421,175262,343
Tracadie-Hillsborough Park8CHA Lib Lib1,30448.53%1686.25%72.80%1,3041,13693136182,687
Tyne Valley-Linkletter23EGM Lib Lib1,39057.27%35314.54%71.68%1,3901,0372,427
Vernon River-Stratford5CAR Lib Lib1,31150.52%2579.90%77.29%1,3111,0541191112,595
West Royalty-Springvale15CHA Lib Lib1,43245.93%632.02%75.31%1,4321,3691511663,118
York-Oyster Bed9MPQ Lib Lib1,98855.30%75320.95%79.55%1,9881,2351222503,595
  = open seat
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = incumbent re-elected in same riding
  = other incumbent renominated
Resulting composition of the 64th General Assembly of Prince Edward Island
SourceParty
LibPCTotal
Seats retainedIncumbents returned20121
Open seats held11
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated33
Open seats gained11
Byelection gain held11
Total22527

Results by region

Party NameCardiganMalpequeCharlottetownEgmontTotal
 LiberalSeats:385622
 Popular Vote:42.54%52.87%54.31%57.01%51.38%
 Progressive ConservativeSeats:40015
 Popular Vote:49.68%38.10%31.16%38.89%40.16%
Total seats:785727
Parties that won no seats:
 GreenVote:6511,1919274853,254
 Popular Vote:3.32%4.81%7.40%2.74%4.36%
 NDPVote:4039328731472,355
 Popular Vote:2.06%3.77%6.97%0.83%3.16%
 Island PartyVote:470981995682
 Popular Vote:2.40%0.40%0.15%0.54%0.91%
 IndependentVote:1515
 Popular Vote:0.06%0.02%

Incumbent MLAs not running for re-election

Progressive Conservative

Opinion polls

Polling FirmDate of PollingLinkLiberalProgressive ConservativesGreensNew Democrats
Corporate Research AssociatesSeptember 29, 2011HTML533655
Corporate Research AssociatesAugust 28, 2011PDF593137
Corporate Research AssociatesJune 10, 2011PDF5135213
Corporate Research AssociatesMarch 9, 2011PDF6225211
Corporate Research AssociatesDecember 6, 2010PDF533484
Corporate Research AssociatesAugust 24, 2010PDF613026
Corporate Research AssociatesMay 31, 2010PDF612738
Corporate Research AssociatesFebruary 24, 2010HTML642646
Corporate Research AssociatesDecember 3, 2009HTML573139
Corporate Research AssociatesAugust 2009HTML622756
Corporate Research AssociatesMay 2009HTML573247
Corporate Research AssociatesFebruary 2009HTML642826
Corporate Research AssociatesNovember 2008HTML553158
Corporate Research AssociatesAugust 2008HTML632566
Corporate Research AssociatesMay 2008HTML612747
Corporate Research AssociatesFebruary 2008HTML683446
Corporate Research AssociatesNovember 2007HTML642255
Election 2007May 28, 2007HTML52.941.43.01.9

Riding by riding results

Cardigan

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalPCGreenNDPIslandOther
Belfast-Murray RiverCharlie McGeoghegan
1,135 - (45.86%)
Darlene Compton
1,127 - (45.54%)
John Burhoe
114 - (4.61%)
Andy Clarey
99 - (4.00%)
 Charlie McGeoghegan
Georgetown-St. PetersKevin Gotell
1,214 - (41.08%)
 Steven Myers
1,575 - (53.30%)
Jason Furness
47 - (1.59%)
Jane Dunphy
87 - (2.94%)
Ray Cantelo
32 - (1.08%)
 Vacant
Montague-KilmuirAllen Roach
1,127 - (46.57%)
Greg Farrell
1,004 - (41.49%)
Vanessa Young
89 - (3.68%)
 Billy Cann
200 - (8.26%)
 Jim Bagnall
Morell-MermaidDan MacDonald
1,033 - (36.51%)
 Olive Crane
1,649 - (58.29%)
Darcie Lanthier
114 - (4.03%)
Roger Nowe
33 - (1.17%)
Olive Crane
Souris-ElmiraAllan Campbell
1,272 - (47.46%)
Colin LaVie
1,302 - (48.58%)
Jason MacGregor
106 - (3.96%)
Allan Campbell
Stratford-KinlockCynthia Dunsford
1,241 - (34.15%)
 James Aylward
2,020 - (55.59%)
Donald Killorn
168 - (4.62%)
Chris van Ouwerkerk
205 - (5.64%)
 Cynthia Dunsford
Vernon River-Stratford Alan McIsaac
1,311 - (50.52%)
Mary Ellen McInnis
1,054 - (40.62%)
Marion Pirch
119 - (4.59%)
Edith Perry
111 - (4.28%)
 Alan McIsaac

Malpeque

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalPCGreenNDPIslandOther
Borden-KinkoraGeorge Webster
1,590 - (49.41%)
Jamie Fox
1,468 - (45.62%)
Conor Leggott
160 - (4.97%)
  George Webster
Cornwall-Meadowbank Ron MacKinley
1,686 - (63.46%)
Larry Hogan
756 - (28.45%)
Allieanna Ballagh
172 - (6.47%)
Jay Gallant
43 - (1.62%)
Ron MacKinley
Kellys Cross-Cumberland Valerie Docherty
1,768 - (54.10%)
Neila Auld
960 - (29.38%)
Peter Bevan-Baker
306 - (9.36%)
Jesse Reddin Cousins
182 - (5.56%)
Paul Smitz
37 - (1.13%)
Arthur C. Mackenzie
15 - (0.46%)
Valerie Docherty
Kensington-Malpeque Wes Sheridan
1,820 - (57.18%)
Wilber Lamont
1,165 - (36.60%)
George S. Hunter
198 - (6.22%)
Wes Sheridan
Rustico-EmeraldCarolyn Bertram
1,498 (49.50%)
Brad Trivers
1,341 - (44.32%)
Ron Wagner
187- (6.18%)
   Carolyn Bertram
York-Oyster Bed Robert Vessey
1,988 - (55.30%)
Martie Murphy
1,235 - (34.25%)
Jenet Clement
122 - (3.39%)
James Rodd
250 - (6.95%)
 Robert Vessey

Charlottetown

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalPCGreenNDPIslandOther
Charlottetown-Brighton Robert Ghiz
1,228 - (52.46%)
Linda Clements
699 - (29.86%)
Elizabeth Schoales
238 - (10.17%)
Trevor John LeClerc
176 - (7.52%)
   Robert Ghiz
Charlottetown-Lewis Point Kathleen Casey
1,411 - (52.01%)
Parnell Kelly
895 - (32.99%)
Charles Sanderson
132 - (4.87%)
Jacquie Robichaud
275 - (10.14%)
   Kathleen Casey
Charlottetown-Parkdale Doug Currie
1,510 - (61.76%)
Bernie Flynn
665 - (27.20%)
Eliza Knockwood
152 - (6.22%)
Noel Pauley
118 - (4.83%)
  Doug Currie
Charlottetown-Sherwood Robert Mitchell
1,538 - (53.93%)
Mike Gillis
1,060 - (37.17%)
Sarah Jones
127 - (4.45%)
Kat Murphy
127 - (4.45%)
  Robert Mitchell
Charlottetown-Victoria Park Richard Brown
1,112- (51.29%)
Myles MacKinnon
582- (26.85%)
Sharon Labchuk
278 - (12.82%)
Rita Jackson
177 - (8.16%)
Philip Stewart
19 - (0.88%)
  Richard Brown
Tracadie-Hillsborough ParkBuck Watts
1,304 - (48.53%)
Glen Kelly
1,136 - (42.28%)
Helene LaRouche
93 - (3.46%)
Ron Kelly
136 - (5.06%)
Gary Chipman
18 - (0.67%)
 Buck Watts
West Royalty-SpringvaleBush Dumville
1,432 - (45.93%)
Gary Bowness
1,369 - (43.91%)
Liz Vaine
151 - (4.84%)
Andrew Want
166 - (5.32%)
  Bush Dumville

Egmont

Electoral districtCandidatesIncumbent
LiberalPCGreenNDPIslandOther
Alberton-Roseville Pat Murphy
1,604 - (56.18%)
David Gordon
1,137 - (39.82%)
Gerald O'Meara
71 - (2.49%)
Mitch Gallant
43 - (1.51%)
  Pat Murphy
Evangeline-Miscouche Sonny Gallant
1,722 - (77.22%)
Edgar Arsenault
418 - (18.74%)
Melissa Hotte
64 - (2.87%)
Arthur Arsenault
26 - (1.17%)
  Sonny Gallant
O'Leary-Inverness Robert Henderson
1,431 - (55.51%)
Daniel MacDonald
1,147 - (44.49%)
    Robert Henderson
Summerside-St. Eleanors Gerard Greenan
1,426 - (51.76%)
Merlin Cormier
1,037 - (37.64%)
Caleb Adams
145 - (5.26%)
Paulette Halupa
147 - (5.30%)
 Gerard Greenan
Summerside-Wilmot Janice Sherry
1,382 - (54.74%)
Shirley Anne Cameron
937 - (37.12%)
Rosalyn Ridlington Abbott
205 - (8.12%)
  Janice Sherry
Tignish-Palmer RoadNeil LeClair
1,142 (48.74%)
Hal Perry
1,175 - (50.15%)
 Derek D. Peters
26 - (1.11%)
  Neil LeClair
Tyne Valley-Linkletter Paula Biggar
1,390 - (57.27%)
Jim Henwood
1,037 - (42.73%)
   Paula Biggar

References

Further reading