Leadership races shouldn’t be distraction, says Myers

It will be business as usual in the P.E.I. Legislature for the Progressive Conservatives, says interim leader Steven Myers, even with both parties in the house in the middle of leadership races.

The Liberal race started on Thursday, with a surprise announcement by Premier Robert Ghiz that he is stepping down. That convention is expected in January or February. Myers has been interim Tory leader since January 2013, and a convention date has been set for May 30.

Myers said there have been a lot more whispered conversations between government MLAs in the corridors of Province House, and he's fine with that, but he hopes on the floor of the Legislature any cabinet ministers with leadership ambitions remember who they serve.

“If you're elected you're elected, and if you're a minister you're a minister, if you have floor time you have floor time,” said Myers.

“It's up to them how they choose to use their time but I think a lot them will need to remember that they represent Islanders first and not their own personal interests.”

Myers said his party will continue to move ahead with its agenda as planned, although behind the scenes a spokesperson says the party is reviewing its strategy for question period in light of the announcement Robert Ghiz is resigning once a new leader is chosen.