Bevan-Baker’s political future uncertain as P.E.I. Greens take major loses in election
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Because the disagreeable fact of a political trouncing began to sink in with the Inexperienced Social gathering of P.E.I., supporters gathered on the Trailside Music Corridor in Charlottetown the place somebody uttered a tragic request.
“I want a hug.”
There have been quite a lot of hugs within the room earlier than the night time was over – and quite a lot of tears.
Although two of their incumbents managed to carry onto their seats, Karla Bernard in Charlottetown-Victoria and chief Peter Bevan-Baker in New Haven-Rocky Level, the celebration was in any other case decimated and misplaced its standing because the province’s official opposition to the Liberal Social gathering of P.E.I. and its three elected members.
The Progressive Conservatives retained energy, rising its seats to 22 and forming a majority authorities within the 27-seat provincial legislature.
Though he expressed his gratitude to Islanders for his or her help, and to the six departing members of his caucus for his or her arduous work and dedication, Bevan-Baker acknowledged that his celebration might be asking itself some arduous questions within the quick time period.
There might be an computerized management evaluation and Bevan-Baker himself instructed his supporters that he might be reflecting on his personal political future within the meantime.
“I have to do some soul-searching … It’s going to be a really emotional few days and weeks forward of me. However I’m wonderful with that, I’m prepared for that. And I believe popping out of all that, I don’t need to make a rash determination. However I do need to get an actual sense of the place persons are with the celebration, the place I’m and the job I did on this election, with my management usually – after which I am going to decide,” stated Bevan-Baker.
The P.E.I. Greens made historical past in 2019 when it turned the primary Inexperienced celebration in Canada to type an official opposition. Bevan-Baker stated he hopes the legacy of that victory might be all of the laws they contributed on behalf of Islanders.
“I believe we modified the face of politics on Prince Edward Island and that is no small factor.”
Because the celebration’s solely different elected candidate, Bernard stated she was honoured to be re-elected – however there was no denying April 3, 2023 was a troublesome night time for the celebration and the trigger she and her colleagues have put a lot of themselves into.
“It’s undoubtedly a blow tonight, I gained’t lie. We had some phenomenal, sturdy MLAs, I daresay a few of the strongest MLAs who’ve ever been in the home,” stated Bernard. “It’s going to take a short time to recover from that blow, that’s for positive. However right here we’re.”
Colin MacLean is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He might be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @JournalPMacLean.
