P.E.I. Greens drop to 3rd-party status, 4 years after making history

In the face of a huge night for P.E.I.'s incumbent Progressive Conservative government, the Island's Green Party has been relegated to third place in the legislature after four years as Canada's first Green Official Opposition.

The Greens lost six of their eight seats, and three high-profile incumbent candidates suffered losses:

• Michele Beaton, who lost to the PC's Jenn Redmond in District 5: Mermaid-Stratford by just 38 votes; 
• Trish Altass, who lost to PC candidate Hilton MacLennon in District 23: Tyne Valley-Sherbrooke by 362 votes;
• Lynne Lund, who lost to PC Tyler Desroches in District 21: Summerside-Wilmot by 670 votes.

"I'm very, very sad at losing some fine MLAs — relieved that I managed to keep my own seat, but you know, that's a small solace in what's been a very difficult night," said Green Leader Peter Bevan-Baker.

Rejoining Bevan-Baker in the legislature will be Karla Bernard in District 12: Charlottetown-Victoria Park.

While the party earned more votes overall than the provincial Liberals did, the Liberals earned those votes where they counted, taking three seats to the Greens' two. The governing PCs won 22 seats for an increased majority, with the Greens coming second in 18 districts.

Bernard said given the result, the party needs to examine what happened, "reflect back on what we did, and see what areas we have some work to do in, and rebuild for next time."

'I need to absorb this'

Speaking before supporters in downtown Charlottetown, Bevan-Baker said it is too early for him to make any comment regarding his future with the party. He said he would be making an announcement regarding his leadership in the very near future.

"I need to absorb this a little bit and think for a little while, but obviously there will be questions about that, as there should be," he said.

Bevan-Baker, who was a dentist before entering politics, noted that this isn't the first time the Green Party has held third-party status on Prince Edward Island.

Before 2019, the party had never taken more than 16.8 per cent of the vote in any provincial or federal contest in Canada, with that benchmark being set in the 2017 B.C. provincial election.

The Greens nearly doubled that result in P.E.I. in 2019 with 30.6 per cent of the vote, but dropped back down to 21.6 per cent on Monday.

We started as a party of one, and then there were two of us — and I can tell you we did some pretty cracking things when there were just two of us. So, Karla! You and me!— Peter Bevan-Baker

While questioning his own future, Bevan-Baker said he remains confident the future of the Green Party on the Island is secure.

"This party has established itself on the political landscape here," he said. 

"We started as a party of one, and then there were two of us — and I can tell you we did some pretty cracking things when there were just two of us. So, Karla! You and me!"