2017 Charlottetown-Parkdale provincial by-election

The 2017 Charlottetown-Parkdale provincial by-election took place on November 27, 2017. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the district's incumbent MLA Doug Currie on October 19.

2017 Charlottetown-Parkdale provincial by-election
November 27, 2017 (2017-11-27)
District of Charlottetown-Parkdale
Registered3,598
Turnout60.83%[1]
  First party Second party
 
Lib
Candidate Hannah Bell Bob Doiron
Party Green Liberal
Popular vote 768 621
Percentage 35.28% 28.53%
Swing Increase 16.12% Decrease 15.18%
  Third party Fourth party
 
PC
Candidate Melissa Hilton Michael Redmond
Party Progressive Conservative New Democratic
Popular vote 586 202
Percentage 26.92% 9.28%
Swing Increase 0.72% Decrease 1.67%
MLA before election

Doug Currie
Liberal

 Elected MLA

Hannah Bell
Green

Green Party candidate Hannah Bell won the election, becoming the second member of the party to be elected to the Legislative Assembly after Peter Bevan-Baker successfully contested the district of Kellys Cross-Cumberland in the 2015 general election.

Background

District profile

Charlottetown-Parkdale was established ahead of the 2007 provincial election. The Charlottetown district covered the entirety of the neighbourhoods of Belvedere and St. Avard's as well as most of Parkdale.

The district had voted reliably Liberal since its inception, sending Doug Currie to the Legislative Assembly in the 2007 election and re-electing him in 2011 and 2015.

Resignation of Doug Currie

On October 17, 2017, incumbent MLA Doug Currie announced his resignation from the Legislative Assembly effective immediately.[2] In an interview with CBC News, Currie stated "My decision really is about what's in the best for Doug Currie and my two girls — I don't think there's any perfect time to leave public office, but I feel excited about leaving. I feel excited about what I've accomplished."[3] Currie was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2007 election and had served in various ministerial roles under three successive Liberal governments. At the time of his resignation, Currie was Minister of Education, Early Learning and Culture.

Candidates

Bob Dorion won the Liberal nomination, defeating challenger Marcia Carroll at the party's nomination meeting on October 30.[4] Dorion has been a member of the University of Prince Edward Island Security Police Department since 1987 and has represented the ward of Mount Edward on the Charlottetown City Council since 2014.

The Progressive Conservatives nominated Melissa Hilton at a meeting on November 1.[5] Hilton has represented the ward of Stonepark on the Charlottetown City Council since 2005.

Hannah Bell won the Green nomination against Karla Bernard by a vote of 72 to 22 at the party's nomination meeting on October 30. Bell was the party's shadow finance critic and was the executive director of the PEI Business Women's Association.[6]

The New Democratic Party nominated their leader Michael Redmond.[7] Redmond had been leader of the NDP PEI since October 2012.

Campaign

Candidates Hannah Bell and Michael Redmond caused controversy when they campaigned on November 11, Remembrance Day in Canada. While all four candidates attended ceremonies that day, Bob Dorion and Melissa Hilton chose not to campaign. Bell defended her decision to campaign, stating "The reason veterans fought for us was to secure our democracy."[8]

Results
Prince Edward Island provincial by-election, 27 November 2017
Resignation of Doug Currie
Party Candidate Votes%±%
GreenHannah Bell76835.28+16.12
LiberalBob Doiron62128.53-15.18
Progressive ConservativeMelissa Hilton58626.92+0.72
New DemocraticMichael Redmond2029.28-1.67
Total valid votes 2,177100.00
Green gain from Liberal Swing +15.65
[9]

Reactions and aftermath

In an email statement, Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May said the outcome of the by-election showed that "voters are increasingly looking to Greens when it comes to strengthening democracy, fighting for those less fortunate, and leading the way to a sustainable future."[10] Andrew Weaver, leader of the Green Party of British Columbia, released a statement congratulating Hannah Bell and characterizing her victory as a "tidal shift."[11]

Speaking to reporters on election night, Progressive Conservative leader James Aylward stated "Clearly, the MacLauchlan government...has been sent a message. Was it the message that I was necessarily hoping for tonight? Certainly not, but clearly they've been sent a message."[12]

Liberal Premier Wade MacLauchlan did not view the result as significant, saying "I think you really have to look at a by-election as a by-election, with local context and what people have to take into account as they're making their choices. And of course the turnout. That's the nature of by-elections."[12]

Following his fourth-place finish, NDP leader Michael Redmond announced on December 5 that he would meet with the party's executive within the week to determine the future of his leadership.[13] The following day, Redmond announced his resignation as party leader.[14]

References
  1. Garrity, Tim (April 20, 2018). "Provincial By-Election for District 11: Charlottetown - Parkdale" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  2. Lloyd, Jocelyne (October 19, 2017). "Education Minister Doug Currie resigns | Saltwire". www.saltwire.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  3. Yarr, Kevin (October 19, 2017). "'I've had a good run': Doug Currie resigning from politics". CBC News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017.
  4. MacKay, Cody (October 30, 2017). "Bob Doiron gets the nod to run in byelection for P.E.I. Liberal Party". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 1, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  5. "Melissa Hilton named PC candidate for District 11 byelection". CBC News. November 1, 2017. Archived from the original on November 1, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  6. MacKay, Cody (October 30, 2017). "Hannah Bell wins P.E.I. Green Party nomination to run in byelection". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 1, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  7. "NDP chooses Mike Redmond as candidate for Charlottetown-Parkdale byelection". CBC News. November 2, 2017. Archived from the original on November 3, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  8. Fraser, Sara (November 13, 2017). "Disrespectful, or necessary? The politics of campaigning on Remembrance Day". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017.
  9. Elections Prince Edward Island (November 27, 2017). "By-Election - Unofficial Results 2017-11-27". Archived from the original on November 30, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  10. Auld, Alison (November 27, 2017). "Green party celebrates 'absolutely astounding' win in Prince Edward Island". National Post.
  11. "Weaver congratulates new P.E.I. Green MLA-elect Hannah Bell". BC Green Party. November 27, 2017. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  12. Yarr, Kevin (November 28, 2017). "A message or just a byelection? Liberals, Tories react to Green win". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  13. Yarr, Kevin (December 5, 2017). "Mike Redmond pondering future as NDP leader". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  14. Harding, Gail (December 6, 2017). "Mike Redmond resigns as leader of P.E.I. NDP". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
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