A voter heads into a polling station in Charlottetown, P.E.I. on May 4, 2015. The Canadian Press/ Nathan Rochford
Green Party candidate Tayte Willows has won the Prince Edward Island byelection, edging out the Liberal party’s leader to secure the same number of seats in the legislature as the official Opposition.
Willows’ July 13 byelection victory in Cornwall-Meadowbank over Liberal Leader Robert Mitchell gives the Green Party four seats in the 27-seat legislature, matching the Opposition Liberals’ seat count.
The provincial byelection was called after the death of Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Mark McLane in March.
Willows received 1,184 votes, representing nearly 40 percent of the ballots cast, placing her ahead of Mitchell, who secured 31 percent of the vote with 955 votes.
Caley McDonald of the Progressive Conservatives wasn’t far behind with 823 votes, while NDP candidate Craig Nash placed a distant fourth with just 24 votes.
Willows told the CBC her win will give the Green Party “an incredible boost” ahead of the provincial election next year, saying it shows the Greens are “not just a fringe party.”
“This is a great momentum-builder for the Green Party,” she said. She described her win as “wild,” adding that she is grateful “so many people here in Cornwall-Meadowbank are putting their trust in us as the Green Party, putting their trust in me as their MLA.”
The outcome of the byelection does not influence the Tory majority in the legislature. The party occupies 18 out of the 27 seats, the Greens and Liberals now hold four seats each, and there is one member sitting as an Independent.
Liberal candidate and party leader Robert Mitchell thanked his supporters, his team, and his family during a concession speech after the results were announced.
“It’s not the result we were hoping for and obviously not the result all of you worked for on my behalf,” he told the crowd. “It has been an incredible run and this campaign was an incredible run. We worked hard.”
Mitchell did not disclose his intentions about remaining as party leader following his July 13 loss. The byelection marks the second occasion he has been unable to secure his seat since assuming the position.
Mitchell said he plans to take several days for reflection and to consult with Liberal MLAs and the party executive regarding the future.
The PC’s McDonald said she was disappointed with the results of the vote, but congratulated Willows on her win and thanked her supporters for their hard work during the campaign.
She said the campaign gave her a chance to have “really valuable conversations with the residents of Cornwall-Meadowbank” which reminded her why she decided to run for the provincial seat.
“I care deeply about this community and I just, at the end of the day, really wanted to see the best for it,” she said.
The next general election in P.E.I. is scheduled for Oct. 4, 2027.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
