2011 Prince Edward Island general election

Canadian provincial election

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October 3, 2011 (2011-10-03)

2015 →

27 seats of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island
14 seats needed for a majority

Turnout

76.53%^[1]

	First party	Second party
		PC
Leader	Robert Ghiz	Olive Crane
Party	Liberal	Progressive Conservative
Leader since	April 5, 2003	October 2, 2010
Leader's seat	Charlottetown-Brighton	Morell-Mermaid
Last election	23 seats, 52.93%	4 seats, 41.35%
Seats before	24	2
Seats won	22	5
Seat change	2	3
Popular vote	38,315	29,950
Percentage	51.39%	40.18%
Swing	1.54%	1.17%

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

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.

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.

↓
22	5
Liberal	PC

Summary of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island election results
Party		Party leader	Candidates	Seats				Popular vote
Party		Party leader	Candidates	2007	Dissol.	2011	Change	#	%	Change
	Liberal	Robert Ghiz	27	23	24	22	-1	38,315	51.38%	-1.55%
	Progressive Conservative	Olive Crane	27	4	2	5	+1	29,950	40.16%	-1.19%
	Green	Sharon Labchuk	22	-	-	0		3,254	4.36%	+1.32%
	New Democratic	James Rodd	14	-	-	0		2,355	3.16%	+1.20%
	Island	Billy Cann	12	*	-	0		682	0.91%	*
	Independents and no affiliation		1	-	-	0		15	0.02%	-0.71%
	Vacant		-	-	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.

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		Winning party^{[a 2]}						Turnout ^{[a 3]}	Votes
				Party		Votes	Share	Margin #	Margin %		Lib	PC	Green	NDP	Island	Ind	Total
				Party		Votes	Share	Margin #	Margin %								Total

Alberton-Roseville	26	EGM	Lib		Lib	1,604	56.18%	467	16.36%	83.10%	1,604	1,137	71	–	43	–	2,855
Belfast-Murray River	4	CAR	PC		Lib	1,135	45.86%	8	0.32%	79.02%	1,135	1,127	114	–	99	–	2,475
Borden-Kinkora	19	MPQ	Lib		Lib	1,590	49.41%	122	3.79%	77.85%	1,590	1,468	160	–	–	–	3,218
Charlottetown-Brighton	13	CHA	Lib		Lib	1,228	52.46%	529	22.60%	77.42%	1,228	699	238	176	–	–	2,341
Charlottetown-Lewis Point	14	CHA	Lib		Lib	1,411	52.01%	516	19.02%	70.01%	1,411	895	132	275	–	–	2,713
Charlottetown-Parkdale	11	CHA	Lib		Lib	1,510	61.76%	845	34.56%	73.78%	1,510	665	152	118	–	–	2,445
Charlottetown-Sherwood	10	CHA	Lib		Lib	1,538	53.93%	478	16.76%	77.86%	1,538	1,060	127	127	–	–	2,852
Charlottetown-Victoria Park	12	CHA	Lib		Lib	1,112	51.29%	530	24.45%	69.03%	1,112	582	278	177	19	–	2,168
Cornwall-Meadowbank	16	MPQ	Lib		Lib	1,686	63.46%	930	35.00%	71.03%	1,686	756	172	–	43	–	2,657
Evangeline-Miscouche	24	EGM	Lib		Lib	1,722	77.22%	1,304	58.48%	84.89%	1,722	418	64	–	26	–	2,230
Georgetown-St. Peters	2	CAR	PC		PC	1,575	53.30%	361	12.22%	83.91%	1,214	1,575	47	87	32	–	2,955
Kellys Cross-Cumberland	17	MPQ	Lib		Lib	1,768	54.02%	808	24.69%	77.54%	1,768	960	306	182	42	15	3,273
Kensington-Malpeque	20	MPQ	Lib		Lib	1,820	57.18%	655	20.58%	74.76%	1,820	1,165	–	198	–	–	3,183
Montague-Kilmuir	3	CAR	PC		Lib	1,127	46.57%	123	5.08%	78.10%	1,127	1,004	89	–	200	–	2,420
Morell-Mermaid	7	CAR	PC		PC	1,649	58.29%	616	21.77%	88.28%	1,033	1,649	114	–	33	–	2,829
O'Leary-Inverness	25	EGM	Lib		Lib	1,431	55.51%	284	11.02%	78.83%	1,431	1,147	–	–	–	–	2,578
Rustico-Emerald	18	MPQ	Lib		Lib	1,498	49.50%	157	5.19%	78.69%	1,498	1,341	187	–	–	–	3,026
Souris-Elmira	1	CAR	Lib		PC	1,302	48.58%	30	1.12%	86.25%	1,272	1,302	–	–	106	–	2,680
Stratford-Kinlock	6	CAR	Lib		PC	2,020	55.59%	779	21.44%	77.63%	1,241	2,020	168	205	–	–	3,634
Summerside-St. Eleanors	22	EGM	Lib		Lib	1,426	51.76%	389	14.12%	63.76%	1,426	1,037	145	147	–	–	2,755
Summerside-Wilmot	21	EGM	Lib		Lib	1,382	54.75%	445	17.63%	65.36%	1,382	937	205	–	–	–	2,524
Tignish-Palmer Road	27	EGM	Lib		PC	1,175	50.15%	33	1.41%	81.74%	1,142	1,175	–	–	26	–	2,343
Tracadie-Hillsborough Park	8	CHA	Lib		Lib	1,304	48.53%	168	6.25%	72.80%	1,304	1,136	93	136	18	–	2,687
Tyne Valley-Linkletter	23	EGM	Lib		Lib	1,390	57.27%	353	14.54%	71.68%	1,390	1,037	–	–	–	–	2,427
Vernon River-Stratford	5	CAR	Lib		Lib	1,311	50.52%	257	9.90%	77.29%	1,311	1,054	119	111	–	–	2,595
West Royalty-Springvale	15	CHA	Lib		Lib	1,432	45.93%	63	2.02%	75.31%	1,432	1,369	151	166	–	–	3,118
York-Oyster Bed	9	MPQ	Lib		Lib	1,988	55.30%	753	20.95%	79.55%	1,988	1,235	122	250	–	–	3,595

^ Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Prince Edward Island for the Provincial General Election of 3 October 2011 (PDF). Elections Prince Edward Island. 2015. pp. 2–6. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
^ percentages calculated on valid votes only
^ including spoilt ballots

= 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
Source		Lib	PC	Total
Seats retained	Incumbents returned	20	1	21
Seats retained	Open seats held		1	1
Seats changing hands	Incumbents defeated		3	3
	Open seats gained	1		1
	Byelection gain held	1		1
Total		22	5	27

Results by region

Party Name			Cardigan	Malpeque	Charlottetown	Egmont	Total
	Liberal	Seats:	3	8	5	6	22
	Liberal	Popular Vote:	42.54%	52.87%	54.31%	57.01%	51.38%
	Progressive Conservative	Seats:	4	0	0	1	5
	Progressive Conservative	Popular Vote:	49.68%	38.10%	31.16%	38.89%	40.16%
Total seats:			7	8	5	7	27
Parties that won no seats:
	Green	Vote:	651	1,191	927	485	3,254
	Green	Popular Vote:	3.32%	4.81%	7.40%	2.74%	4.36%
	NDP	Vote:	403	932	873	147	2,355
	NDP	Popular Vote:	2.06%	3.77%	6.97%	0.83%	3.16%
	Island Party	Vote:	470	98	19	95	682
	Island Party	Popular Vote:	2.40%	0.40%	0.15%	0.54%	0.91%
	Independent	Vote:		15			15
	Independent	Popular Vote:		0.06%			0.02%

Incumbent MLAs not running for re-election

Progressive Conservative

Michael Currie (resigned, March 28, 2011), Georgetown-St. Peters^[6]
Jim Bagnall, Montague-Kilmuir

Opinion polls

Polling Firm	Date of Polling	Link	Liberal	Progressive Conservatives	Greens	New Democrats
Corporate Research Associates	September 29, 2011	HTML	53	36	5	5
Corporate Research Associates	August 28, 2011	PDF	59	31	3	7
Corporate Research Associates	June 10, 2011	PDF	51	35	2	13
Corporate Research Associates	March 9, 2011	PDF	62	25	2	11
Corporate Research Associates	December 6, 2010	PDF	53	34	8	4
Corporate Research Associates	August 24, 2010	PDF	61	30	2	6
Corporate Research Associates	May 31, 2010	PDF	61	27	3	8
Corporate Research Associates	February 24, 2010	HTML	64	26	4	6
Corporate Research Associates	December 3, 2009	HTML	57	31	3	9
Corporate Research Associates	August 2009	HTML	62	27	5	6
Corporate Research Associates	May 2009	HTML	57	32	4	7
Corporate Research Associates	February 2009	HTML	64	28	2	6
Corporate Research Associates	November 2008	HTML	55	31	5	8
Corporate Research Associates	August 2008	HTML	63	25	6	6
Corporate Research Associates	May 2008	HTML	61	27	4	7
Corporate Research Associates	February 2008	HTML	68	34	4	6
Corporate Research Associates	November 2007	HTML	64	22	5	5
Election 2007	May 28, 2007	HTML	52.9	41.4	3.0	1.9

Riding by riding results

Cardigan

Electoral district	Candidates											Incumbent
Electoral district	Liberal		PC		Green		NDP		Island		Other	Incumbent
Belfast-Murray River		Charlie 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. Peters		Kevin 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-Kilmuir		Allen Roach 1,127 - (46.57%)		Greg Farrell 1,004 - (41.49%)		Vanessa Young 89 - (3.68%)				Billy Cann 200 - (8.26%)			Jim Bagnall†
Morell-Mermaid		Dan MacDonald 1,033 - (36.51%)		Olive Crane 1,649 - (58.29%)		Darcie Lanthier 114 - (4.03%)				Roger Nowe 33 - (1.17%)			Olive Crane
Souris-Elmira		Allan Campbell 1,272 - (47.46%)		Colin LaVie 1,302 - (48.58%)						Jason MacGregor 106 - (3.96%)			Allan Campbell
Stratford-Kinlock		Cynthia 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 district	Candidates												Incumbent
Electoral district	Liberal		PC		Green		NDP		Island		Other		Incumbent
Borden-Kinkora		George 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-Emerald		Carolyn 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 district	Candidates											Incumbent
Electoral district	Liberal		PC		Green		NDP		Island		Other	Incumbent
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 Park		Buck 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-Springvale		Bush 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 district	Candidates											Incumbent
Electoral district	Liberal		PC		Green		NDP		Island		Other	Incumbent
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 Road		Neil 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

^ "SaltWire | Prince Edward Island". www.saltwire.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
^ Wayne Thibodeau (January 11, 2011). "Next election will be fought on new ideas, not new spending: Ghiz". The Guardian. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Archived from the original on January 14, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
^ John Ibbitson (January 10, 2011). "Can Harper wait out the election traffic jam?". Ottawa Notebook. Toronto: Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
^ "Ghiz wins 2nd term as P.E.I. premier". CBC News. October 3, 2011. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
^ "Crane and 4 Tories voted in". CBC News. October 4, 2011. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
^ "Currie to run in Cardigan" Archived 2012-11-09 at the Wayback Machine. CBC News, March 28, 2011.

External links

Election Almanac - Prince Edward Island Provincial Election 2011

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