Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party
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| PEI Progressive Conservative Party | |
|---|---|
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| Active Provincial Party | |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Leader | Pat Binns |
| President | |
| Headquarters | 30 Pond Street, Unit B Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 9P2 |
| Political ideology | Conservatism |
| International alignment | |
| Colours | Blue |
| Website | http://www.pcparty.pe.ca |
The PEI Progressive Conservative Party 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 and are the only two parties represented in the PEI Legislative Assembly.
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.
[edit] Past Conservative and PC leaders
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[edit] See also
- List of Prince Edward Island premiers
- List of political parties in Canada
- Politics of Prince Edward Island
[edit] External links
| Major national, provincial, and territorial conservative parties in Canada (edit): | ||
| Forming the government: | ||
| Canada - Alberta - Prince Edward Island - Newfoundland and Labrador - Nova Scotia - Yukon | ||
| Forming the official opposition: | ||
| Manitoba - New Brunswick - Ontario - Saskatchewan Party - Action démocratique du Québec | ||
| Third parties represented in legislatures: | ||
| Alberta Alliance | ||
| Historical conservative parties: | ||
| Progressive Conservative Party of Canada - Canadian Alliance - Social Credit Party of Canada - British Columbia Conservative Party - British Columbia Social Credit Party - Social Credit Party of Alberta - Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan - Conservative Party of Quebec - Northwest Territories Liberal-Conservative Party | ||
