Leader Jamie Fox (interim) Founded 1851 | President Peter McQuaid Political position Center-right | |
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Headquarters 30 Pond Street, Unit B
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 9P2 Ideology Progressive conservatism, Red Toryism | ||
The Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island is one of two major political parties on Prince Edward Island. It and its rival, the Liberals have alternated in power since responsible government was granted in 1851.
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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.
Generally, the Progressive Conservatives have held centrist policies while the Liberals have been slightly to the left. Traditionally, the Tories have done better among Protestant voters while Liberals have had more support from Catholics – accordingly, the Conservatives have tended to do slightly better in the easternmost region of the island which is more Protestant while the Liberals have tended to do better on the western end where there are more Catholics. However, politics on the island 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 and this had tended to minimise religious sectarianism within the parties.
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 rookie MLA Olive Crane decided 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