Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party
Encyclopedia : P : PR : PRI : Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party
| PEI Progressive Conservative Party | |
|---|---|
| |
| Active Provincial Party | |
| Political ideology | Conservatism |
| International alignment | |
| Colours | Blue |
| Seats | 27 |
| Website | [http://www.pcparty.pe.ca] |
The policies of the Liberals and Conservatives are very similar. The major differences are in their allegiances to federal parties and in personalities. Historically, the Tories originated as the Conservative Party changing their name in 1942 to reflect the development of the federal Progressive Conservative Party.
The original PEI Conservative Party opposed responsible government, and supported the elites who owned large landed estates on the island, while the Liberals were more sympathetic to tenant farmers. When the "land question" was settled as part of the terms of joining Canadian confederation in 1873 (money was provided to buy out the land owners, break up the estates and turn them over to residents), there was little left to distinguish the two parties.
Generally, however, the Conservatives have leaned slightly to the right and are more sympathetic to business while the Liberals 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 Conservative Party can, like other Tory parties in Atlantic Canada, be characterized as a moderate Red Tory party.
The Progressive Conservatives currently form the government in Prince Edward Island under Premier Pat Binns, who intends to seek a fourth term in office.
Past Conservative and PC leaders
- Edward Palmer 1851-1854
- John Holl 1854-1855
- Edward Palmer 1855-1863
- John Hamilton Gray 1863-1865
- James Colledge Pope
- Lemuel Cambridge Owen 1873-1877
- William Wilfred Sullivan 1877-1889
- Neil McLeod 1889-1892
- John Alexander Mathieson 1903-1917
- Aubin E. Arsenault 1917-1921
- James David Stewart 1921-1933
- William J. P. MacMillan 1933-1948
- Walter Shaw 1957-1970
- George Key 1970-1972
- Melvin J. McQuaid 1972-1976
- J. Angus MacLean 1976-1981
- James M. Lee 1981-1987
- Leone Bagnall 1987-1988
- Melbourne Gass 1988-1990
- Pat Mella 1990-1996
- Pat Binns 1996-present
See also
- List of Prince Edward Island premiers
- List of political parties in Canada
- Politics of Prince Edward Island
External links
| Provincial and territorial Conservative parties ([http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit]): | |
|---|---|
| Former provincial wings: Alberta - British Columbia - Manitoba - New Brunswick - Newfoundland and Labrador - Nova Scotia - Ontario - Prince Edward Island - Saskatchewan - Yukon | |
| Defunct Conservative parties: Northwest Territories - Québec | |
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