PC MLA Natalie Jameson wins federal Conservative nomination for Charlottetown

Charlottetown PC MLA Natalie Jameson will be the Conservative Party of Canada's candidate for Charlottetown in the next federal election.

Jameson won at the party's nomination at a convention Thursday evening at the Eastlink Centre over local lawyer Catherine Parkman. The party did not release the vote count.

In an interview following her win, Jameson said she plans to start knocking on doors right away. 

The Charlottetown riding has been Liberal for more than four decades but Jameson said she believes change is in the air. 

"There is a desire for change out there," Jameson told reporter following her win.

'Change is already afoot'

"I think the change is already afoot to be honest. I can feel an undercurrent where by we have a lot of folks that would traditionally vote Liberal in the riding who are saying, 'you know, I think this is the year we'll be voting Conservative."

The win will force a provincial byelection  in her district of Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park.

"My intention would be to resign here relatively soon," said Jameson. 

"This undertaking is going to require a tremendous amount of my time and effort so what I'm committed to doing is getting to those doorsteps and really putting my best foot forward to try to win this seat."

When asked what soon means, Jameson said: "It'll be within the next couple of days."

Premier Dennis King will then have six months to call a provincial byelection. 

'Breakdown trade barriers'

Jameson was first elected as an MLA in the Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park deferred election in 2019, and was a cabinet minister in the Dennis King government for the majority of her tenure — including as minister responsible for the status of women, minister of environment and climate change, and minister of education. 

During her speech to about 250 party members earlier Thursday, Jameson said it's important that Charlottetown has a seat at the table.

"Our Island is not immune from the threats of unfair tariffs from the U.S.," Jameson said during her speech.

"Over 25 per cent of our GDP is reliant on trade from the United States. In a new Conservative government under Prime Minister Pierre Poilievre we will work to breakdown trade barriers in our own country and strengthen our economic resilience creating new jobs and bigger paychecks right here in Charlottetown."

Another former cabinet minister under provincial Liberal governments, Doug Currie, was expected to run against her and Parkman for the Charlottetown nomination. He was the party's candidate in 2021, but was disallowed by the Conservatives this time around in mid-January after what the party described as "serious misrepresentations and violations" of its rules.

'People before politics'

Charlottetown was the last riding left on P.E.I. for the Conservatives to nominate a candidate in.

Jameson joins fellow Conservative candidates Logan McLellan (Egmont), Jamie Fox (Malpeque) and James Aylward (Cardigan). She is the first woman to win the Charlottetown Conservative nomination since Donna Profit in 2011.

A federal election must be held by October 2025.

Jameson said her years in provincial politics gives her the experience needed to represent the riding in Ottawa.

Liberal Sean Casey now represents the riding of Charlottetown.

"The challenges ahead may be great but our resolve is greater," said Jameson.

"I believe in the strength of this community, in the power of working together and in the progress we can achieve when we put people before politics."