68th Prince Edward Island general election
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On or before October 4, 2027
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All 27 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island 14 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 68th Prince Edward Island general election is the next general election to be held in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island (PEI), to elect the 68th General Assembly of Prince Edward Island. It is tentatively scheduled for the fixed election date of October 4, 2027, but may be held earlier under certain circumstances.
Election date
PEI's fixed election date law, passed in 2008,[1] requires a general election to be held on the first Monday in October of the fourth calendar year following the previous general election.[2] However, the law does not override the constitutional powers of the province's lieutenant governor to dissolve the Legislature and hold new elections at any time. Under the principles of responsible government, the lieutenant governor only calls elections on the advice of the premier or in response to the failure of a confidence vote in the Legislature.[3] Thus it generally remains the premier's prerogative to call elections early, and premiers are often criticized for doing so for political advantage.[1] Of PEI's four general elections held since the fixed date was passed into law, only one has been held on the fixed date; the other three were called early.[1]
Timeline
| Seat | Before | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Member | Party | Reason | Date | Member | Party | |
| Borden-Kinkora | November 11, 2023 | Jamie Fox | █ PC | Resigned to run for Malpeque in the 2025 federal election[4] | February 7, 2024 | Matt MacFarlane | █ Green |
| Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park | February 11, 2025 | Natalie Jameson | █ PC | Resigned to run for Charlottetown in the 2025 federal election[5] | August 12, 2025 | Carolyn Simpson | █ Liberal |
| Brackley-Hunter River | February 21, 2025 | Dennis King | █ PC | Resigned; later appointed as Canada's ambassador to Ireland[6] | August 12, 2025 | Kent Dollar | █ PC |
| Georgetown-Pownal | October 3, 2025 | Steven Myers | █ PC | Resigned[7] | December 8, 2025 | Brendan Curran | █ PC |
| Cornwall-Meadowbank | March 17, 2026 | Mark McLane | █ PC | Died in office[8] | July 13, 2026 | Tayte Willows | █ Green |
| Evangeline-Miscouche | March 28, 2026 | Gilles Arsenault | █ PC | Removed from caucus[9] | █ Independent | ||
2023
- April 3: General election held. The Progressive Conservative Party increases their seat total from 15 to 22 in the 27-seat Legislature, gaining 6 seats from the Green Party and 1 from the Liberal Party. The Liberals form the Official Opposition, replacing the Greens.[10] Voter turnout of 68.5% is the province's lowest for a general election since records began in 1966.[11]
- April 6: Sharon Cameron resigns as Liberal leader.[12]
- April 12: Tignish-Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry is named interim Liberal leader and becomes Leader of the Official Opposition.[13]
- June 17: Green Party leader Peter Bevan-Baker announces his intention to resign as leader.[14]
- July 21: Charlottetown-Victoria Park MLA Karla Bernard is appointed interim Green Party leader.[15]
- November 11: Borden-Kinkora MLA Jamie Fox resigns to run as Malpeque's Conservative candidate in the 2025 Canadian federal election.[16]
2024
- February 5: The Borden-Kinkora provincial by-election was scheduled to be held this date but was pushed to February 7 due to a winter storm.[17]
- February 7: Green candidate Matt MacFarlane wins the Borden-Kinkora provincial by-election, gaining the seat from the Progressive Conservatives.[18]
2025
- February 11: Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park MLA Natalie Jameson resigns to run as Charlottetown's Conservative candidate in the 2025 Canadian federal election.
- February 20: Dennis King announces his resignation as premier, as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, and as Brackley-Hunter River MLA, all effective February 21.[19] This triggers a leadership election within the PC Party.
- February 21: Rob Lantz is appointed the 34th premier of Prince Edward Island.[20]
- June 7: Matt MacFarlane is elected leader of the Green Party.[21]
- August 12: Liberal candidate Carolyn Simpson wins the Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park by-election, gaining the seat from the Progressive Conservatives. Progressive Conservative candidate Kent Dollar wins the Brackley-Hunter River by-election, holding the seat for the party.[22]
- October 3: Georgetown-Pownal MLA Steven Myers resigns.[23]
- October 4: Robert Mitchell is elected leader of the Liberal Party.
- December 8: Progressive Conservative candidate Brendan Curran wins the Georgetown-Pownal by-election, holding the seat for the party.[24]
- December 12: Rob Lantz resigns as premier and interim leader of the PCs, to run in the 2026 Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island leadership election. Deputy Premier Bloyce Thompson is appointed premier and assumes the interim leadership of the PCs.
2026
- February 7: Rob Lantz is elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.
- February 7: Thomas Burleigh is elected leader of the New Democratic Party.[25]
- February 9: Bloyce Thompson resigns as premier. Rob Lantz is appointed as his successor.
- March 17: Cornwall-Meadowbank MLA Mark McLane dies.
- March 28: PC MLA Gilles Arsenault is removed from cabinet and becomes an independent in Evangeline-Miscouche.[26]
- July 13: Green candidate Tayte Willows wins the Cornwall-Meadowbank provincial by-election, gaining the seat from the Progressive Conservatives.
- July 16: Robert Mitchell resigns as leader of the Liberal Party, with Hal Perry appointed as interim leader.[27]
Opinion polling
The following is a list of scientific opinion polls of published voter intentions.
| Polling firm | Date(s) conducted |
Link | PC | Green | Liberal | NDP | Island | Others | Sample size | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narrative Research | June 10–17, 2026 | [p 1][p 2] | 18 | 54 | 26 | 3 | — | — | 147 | 28 |
| MQO Research | April 18–23, 2026 | [p 3][p 4] | 30 | 26 | 36 | 8 | — | 0 | 443 | 6 |
| Narrative Research | March 6–11, 2026 | [p 5][p 6] | 25 | 41 | 26 | 7 | — | — | 176 | 15 |
| Narrative Research | August 7–29, 2025 | [p 7][p 8] | 39 | 18 | 38 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Canadian Election Study | April 29–May 13, 2025 | [p 9] | 31 | 22 | 42 | 3 | — | 1 | 45 | 11 |
| Narrative Research | November 6–19, 2024 | [p 10] | 48 | 24 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 300 | 24 |
| Narrative Research | August 5–16, 2024 | [p 11] | 45 | 32 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 13 |
| Narrative Research | May 8–29, 2024 | [p 12] | 42 | 33 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 300 | 9 |
| Narrative Research | February 8–13, 2024 | [p 13] | 51 | 28 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 300 | 23 |
| Narrative Research | November 8–26, 2023 | [p 14] | 56 | 18 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 300 | 38 |
| Narrative Research | August 2–15, 2023 | [p 15] | 53 | 22 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 300 | 31 |
| Narrative Research | May 4–13, 2023 | [p 16] | 52 | 25 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 300 | 27 |
| General election results | April 3, 2023 | 55.9 | 21.6 | 17.2 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 74,792 | 34.3 |
References
- 1 2 3 Yarr, Kevin (March 7, 2023). "Why P.E.I. is having an election in April, when the date fixed by law is in October". CBC News. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- ↑ "Elections Act". www.princeedwardisland.ca. December 22, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ↑ "Confidence Convention". Compendium of Procedure. Parliament of Canada. 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ↑ "PC MLA Jamie Fox resigning from P.E.I. legislature, intends to run federally". CBC News. November 10, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ↑ "Natalie Jameson leaves P.E.I. cabinet to seek federal nomination". CBC News. November 10, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ MacIsaac, Alex (March 3, 2025). "Dennis King appointed as Canada's ambassador to Ireland". CBC News. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Steven Myers, P.E.I.'s housing minister and longtime MLA, announces resignation". CBC News. October 2, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ "P.E.I. MLA and cabinet minister Mark McLane has died". CBC News. March 17, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Gilles Arsenault suspended from PC caucus, RCMP may investigate further". CBC News. March 30, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ MacKay, Cody (April 3, 2023). "Dennis King promises humility, kindness after winning 2nd term as P.E.I. premier". CBC News. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- ↑ Yarr, Kevin (April 4, 2023). "Low P.E.I. voter turnout 'cynical response to an early election call'". CBC News. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- ↑ MacKay, Cody (April 6, 2023). "P.E.I. Liberal Leader Sharon Cameron stepping down". CBC News. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- ↑ Ross, Shane (April 12, 2023). "Hal Perry takes over as interim leader of P.E.I. Liberals". CBC News. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ↑ Ross, Shane (June 17, 2023). "'It's hard on you': Peter Bevan-Baker resigning as leader of P.E.I.'s Green Party". CBC News. PEI: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
- ↑ Chang, Arturo (July 21, 2023). "Karla Bernard named interim leader of P.E.I.'s Green Party". CBC News. PEI: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
- ↑ CBC news
- ↑ "DISTRICT 19 BY-ELECTION | Elections PEI". www.electionspei.ca. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ↑ Brun, Stephen (February 7, 2024). "Greens' Matt MacFarlane takes Borden-Kinkora from governing PCs in P.E.I. byelection". CBC News. PEI: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
- ↑ Brun, Stephen (February 20, 2025). "Dennis King steps down as Prince Edward Island's premier after nearly 6 years in the job". CBC News. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ↑ Brun, Stephen (February 20, 2025). "Rob Lantz to become P.E.I.'s new premier and interim PC leader after King's resignation". CBC News. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ↑ Thibodeau, Wayne (June 7, 2025). "Matt MacFarlane chosen as leader of P.E.I. Green Party". CBC News. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ↑ Ryan, Carolyn (August 12, 2025). "Liberal Carolyn Simpson takes District 9, PC Kent Dollar wins District 15 in P.E.I. byelections". CBC News. PEI: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
- ↑ Spencer, Brittany (October 2, 2025). "Steven Myers, P.E.I.'s housing minister and longtime MLA, announces resignation". CBC News. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ↑ Lombard, Natalie (November 13, 2025). "P.E.I. Liberal leader to run in provincial byelection next month". CTVNews. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ↑ Farquharson, Camryn (February 7, 2026). "P.E.I. NDP elects Thomas Burleigh as new leader". CBC News. PEI: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
- ↑ McInnis, Lucas (April 1, 2026). "Arsenault says he will continue to sit as an MLA despite suspension from P.E.I. PC caucus". CBC News. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ↑ Neatby, Stu (July 15, 2026). "Robert Mitchell steps down as P.E.I. Liberal leader following byelection loss". The Guardian. Postmedia Network. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
Opinion poll sources
- ↑ "Low provincial government satisfaction levels reflected in voter intentions across Atlantic Canada" (PDF). Narrative Research. Halifax. July 2, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Prince Edward Island provincial polling". Polling Canada. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ↑ Neatby, Stu (July 10, 2026). "P.E.I. Liberals release April poll showing Grits ahead of Greens, PCs". The Guardian. Postmedia Network. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Prince Edward Island - Provincial 2026" (PDF). MQO Research. July 10, 2026. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
- ↑ Neatby, Stu (April 23, 2026). "Governing P.E.I. PCs plummet, Greens rise to top in latest political survey". The Guardian. SaltWire Network, Postmedia Network. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Prince Edward Island provincial polling". Polling Canada. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- ↑ Neatby, Stu (October 4, 2025). "Robert Mitchell wins P.E.I. Liberal leadership race". The Guardian. SaltWire Network, Postmedia Network. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Prince Edward Island provincial polling". Polling Canada. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ↑ Stephenson, Laura B; Harell, Allison; Rubenson, Daniel (May 29, 2026). "2025 Canadian Election Study (CES)". Harvard Dataverse, V1. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Satisfaction with the PEI King government remains strong". Narrative Research. November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ↑ "Satisfaction with PEI King government has increased compared with three months ago". Narrative Research. August 23, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ↑ "Satisfaction with PEI King government has declined compared with three months ago". Narrative Research. June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ↑ "Satisfaction with PEI King government has decreased compared with three months ago". Narrative Research. February 28, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ↑ "Satisfaction with PEI King government remains strong, although down from three months ago". Narrative Research. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ↑ "Satisfaction with PEI King government remains strong". Narrative Research. August 24, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
- ↑ "Satisfaction with King government remains strong in PEI post-election, with party and leader support unchanged since the election". Narrative Research. May 24, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
- ↑ Lantz was initially appointed as interim party leader on February 21, 2025, but vacated the position from December 11, 2025 to February 7, 2026 in order to seek the permanent leadership.
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