2011 Prince Edward Island general election
Introduction The '''2011 Prince Edward Island general election''' was held on October 3, 2011.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.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.
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 divisionThe 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.+ ↓ '''22''' '''5''' '''Liberal''' '''PC'''PartyParty leaderCandidatesSeatsPopular vote2007Dissol. '''2011'''Change#%ChangeRobert Ghiz27232422-138,31551.38%-1.55%Olive Crane27425+129,95040.16%-1.19%Sharon Labchuk 22 - - 03,2544.36%+1.32%James Rodd 14 - - 02,3553.16%+1.20%Billy Cann12* - 06820.91%*1 - - 0150.02%-0.71% - - 1'''Total''''''103''''''27''''''27''''''27'''74,571 The Island Party of Prince Edward Island was not a registered political party at the time of the 2007 election.===Synopsis of results===+ 2011 PEI general election - synopsis of riding results Riding  FederalRiding 2007 Winning party Turnout Votes Party Votes Share Margin# Margin% Lib PC Green NDP Island  Total                 Alberton-Roseville26EGM  Lib  Lib1,604  56.18%467  16.36% 83.10%1,604 1,137 71 – 43 – 2,855Belfast-Murray River4CAR  PC  Lib1,135  45.86%8  0.32% 79.02%1,135 1,127 114 – 99 – 2,475Borden-Kinkora19MPQ  Lib  Lib1,590  49.41%122  3.79% 77.85%1,590 1,468 160 – – – 3,218Charlottetown-Brighton13CHA  Lib  Lib1,228  52.46%529  22.60% 77.42%1,228 699 238 176 – – 2,341Charlottetown-Lewis Point14CHA  Lib  Lib1,411  52.01%516  19.02% 70.01%1,411 895 132 275 – – 2,713Charlottetown-Parkdale11CHA  Lib  Lib1,510  61.76%845  34.56% 73.78%1,510 665 152 118 – – 2,445Charlottetown-Sherwood10CHA  Lib  Lib1,538  53.93%478  16.76% 77.86%1,538 1,060 127 127 – – 2,852Charlottetown-Victoria Park12CHA  Lib  Lib1,112  51.29%530  24.45% 69.03%1,112 582 278 177 19 – 2,168Cornwall-Meadowbank16MPQ  Lib  Lib1,686  63.46%930  35.00% 71.03%1,686 756 172 – 43 – 2,657Evangeline-Miscouche24EGM  Lib  Lib1,722  77.22%1,304  58.48% 84.89%1,722 418 64 – 26 – 2,230Georgetown-St. Peters2CAR  PC  PC1,575  53.30%361  12.22% 83.91%1,214 1,575 47 87 32 – 2,955Kellys Cross-Cumberland17MPQ  Lib  Lib1,768  54.02%808  24.69% 77.54%1,768 960 306 182 42 15 3,273Kensington-Malpeque20MPQ  Lib  Lib1,820  57.18%655  20.58% 74.76%1,820 1,165 – 198 – – 3,183Montague-Kilmuir3CAR  PC  Lib1,127  46.57%123  5.08% 78.10%1,127 1,004 89 – 200 – 2,420Morell-Mermaid7CAR  PC  PC1,649  58.29%616  21.77% 88.28%1,033 1,649 114 – 33 – 2,829O'Leary-Inverness25EGM  Lib  Lib1,431  55.51%284  11.02% 78.83%1,431 1,147 – – – – 2,578Rustico-Emerald18MPQ  Lib  Lib1,498  49.50%157  5.19% 78.69%1,498 1,341 187 – – – 3,026Souris-Elmira1CAR  Lib  PC1,302  48.58%30  1.12% 86.25%1,272 1,302 – – 106 – 2,680Stratford-Kinlock6CAR  Lib  PC2,020  55.59%779  21.44% 77.63%1,241 2,020 168 205 – – 3,634Summerside-St. Eleanors22EGM  Lib  Lib1,426  51.76%389  14.12% 63.76%1,426 1,037 145 147 – – 2,755Summerside-Wilmot21EGM  Lib  Lib1,382  54.75%445  17.63% 65.36%1,382 937 205 – – – 2,524Tignish-Palmer Road27EGM  Lib  PC1,175  50.15%33  1.41% 81.74%1,142 1,175 – – 26 – 2,343Tracadie-Hillsborough Park8CHA  Lib  Lib1,304  48.53%168  6.25% 72.80%1,304 1,136 93 136 18 – 2,687Tyne Valley-Linkletter23EGM  Lib  Lib1,390  57.27%353  14.54% 71.68%1,390 1,037 – – – – 2,427Vernon River-Stratford5CAR  Lib  Lib1,311  50.52%257  9.90% 77.29%1,311 1,054 119 111 – – 2,595West Royalty-Springvale15CHA  Lib  Lib1,432  45.93%63  2.02% 75.31%1,432 1,369 151 166 – – 3,118York-Oyster Bed9MPQ  Lib  Lib1,988  55.30%753  20.95% 79.55%1,988 1,235 122 250 – – 3,595: = 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 Source Party'''Lib''''''PC'''TotalSeats retained Incumbents returned 20 1 21Open seats held  1 1Seats changing hands Incumbents defeated  3 3Open seats gained 1  1Byelection gain held 1  1'''Total''' 22 5 27===Results by region===Party NameCardiganMalpequeCharlottetownEgmontTotalLiberal Seats:385622 Popular Vote: 42.54% 52.87% 54.31% 57.01% 51.38%Progressive Conservative Seats:40015 Popular Vote: 49.68% 38.10% 31.16% 38.89% 40.16%Total seats:785727Parties that won no seats:Green Vote: 651 1,191 927 485 3,254 Popular Vote: 3.32% 4.81% 7.40% 2.74% 4.36%NDP Vote: 403 932 873 147 2,355 Popular Vote: 2.06% 3.77% 6.97% 0.83% 3.16%Island Party Vote: 470 98 19 95 682 Popular Vote: 2.40% 0.40% 0.15% 0.54% 0.91%Independent Vote: 15  15 Popular Vote: 0.06% 0.02%
Incumbent MLAs not running for re-election '''Progressive Conservative'''* Michael Currie (resigned, March 28, 2011), Georgetown-St. Peters* Jim Bagnall, Montague-Kilmuir
Opinion polls Polling FirmDate of PollingLink '''Liberal''' '''Progressive Conservatives''' '''Greens''' '''New Democrats'''Corporate Research Associates HTML'''53'''3655Corporate Research Associates PDF'''59'''3137Corporate Research Associates PDF'''51'''35213Corporate Research Associates PDF'''62'''25211Corporate Research Associates PDF'''53'''3484Corporate Research Associates PDF'''61'''3026Corporate Research Associates PDF'''61'''2738Corporate Research Associates HTML'''64'''2646Corporate Research Associates HTML'''57'''3139Corporate Research Associates HTML'''62'''2756Corporate Research Associates HTML'''57'''3247Corporate Research Associates HTML'''64'''2826Corporate Research Associates HTML'''55'''3158Corporate Research Associates HTML'''63'''2566Corporate Research Associates HTML'''61'''2747Corporate Research Associates HTML'''68'''3446Corporate Research Associates HTML'''64'''2255Election 2007 HTML'''52.9'''41.43.01.9
Riding by riding results ===Cardigan===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 McGeogheganGeorgetown-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%) VacantMontague-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 CampbellStratford-KinlockCynthia Dunsford  1,241 - (34.15%) James Aylward  2,020 - (55.59%)Donald Killorn  168 - (4.62%)Chris van Ouwerkerk  205 - (5.64%) Cynthia DunsfordVernon 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===Borden-KinkoraGeorge Webster  1,590 - (49.41%)Jamie Fox 1,468 - (45.62%)Conor Leggott  160 - (4.97%)  George WebsterCornwall-Meadowbank Ron MacKinley  1,686 - (63.46%)Larry Hogan  756 - (28.45%)Allieanna Ballagh  172 - (6.47%)Jay Gallant  43 - (1.62%)Ron MacKinleyKellys 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 DochertyKensington-Malpeque Wes Sheridan  1,820 - (57.18%)Wilber Lamont  1,165 - (36.60%)George S. Hunter  198 - (6.22%)Wes SheridanRustico-EmeraldCarolyn Bertram  1,498 (49.50%)Brad Trivers  1,341 - (44.32%)Ron Wagner  187- (6.18%)   Carolyn BertramYork-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===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 CaseyCharlottetown-Parkdale Doug Currie  1,510 - (61.76%)Bernie Flynn  665 - (27.20%)Eliza Knockwood  152 - (6.22%)Noel Pauley  118 - (4.83%)  Doug CurrieCharlottetown-Sherwood Robert Mitchell  1,538 - (53.93%)Mike Gillis  1,060 - (37.17%)Sarah Jones  127 - (4.45%)Kat Murphy  127 - (4.45%)  Robert MitchellCharlottetown-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 BrownTracadie-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 WattsWest 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===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 MurphyEvangeline-Miscouche Sonny Gallant  1,722 - (77.22%)Edgar Arsenault  418 - (18.74%)Melissa Hotte  64 - (2.87%)Arthur Arsenault  26 - (1.17%)  Sonny GallantO'Leary-Inverness Robert Henderson  1,431 - (55.51%)Daniel MacDonald  1,147 - (44.49%)    Robert HendersonSummerside-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 GreenanSummerside-Wilmot Janice Sherry  1,382 - (54.74%)Shirley Anne Cameron  937 - (37.12%)Rosalyn Ridlington Abbott  205 - (8.12%)  Janice SherryTignish-Palmer RoadNeil LeClair   1,142 (48.74%)Hal Perry   1,175 - (50.15%) Derek D. Peters   26 - (1.11%)  Neil LeClairTyne Valley-Linkletter Paula Biggar  1,390 - (57.27%)Jim Henwood  1,037 - (42.73%)   Paula Biggar
References
Further reading *
External links *  Election Almanac - Prince Edward Island Provincial Election 2011