Prince Edward Island.

• Author: Johnston, Marian
• Position: Legislative Reports

Provincial general election

The provincial general election was held on May 4, 2015. There were a total of 100,162 confirmed electors and 82,340 votes cast, which translates to a voter turnout of 82.2 per cent, an increase over the 2011 provincial election. In the three advance polls, a total of 28,897 people voted. Prince Edward Island typically enjoys high voter participation, ranging from a low of 76.2 per cent in the 2011 election to 87.6 per cent in the provincial general election of 1986. Several seats were won by 30 votes or fewer, and there were two judicial recounts undertaken.

The district of Charlottetown-Brighton, previously held by former Premier Robert Ghiz, was won by Jordan Brown, who held the seat for the Liberal Party. Following a recount, Provincial Court Judge Nancy Orr determined that he received 22 votes more than Progressive Conservative Party Leader, Rob Lantz. Even closer was the result in District 5, Vernon River-Stratford, where just two votes separated the top two candidates. Following a judicial recount, the margin disappeared and Chief Provincial Court Judge John Douglas declared the number of ballots equal at 1,173 each for Mary Ellen McInnis and Alan McIsaac. As provided for in the Elections Act, the returning officer conducted a coin toss which was won by Alan McIsaac, who had held the seat at dissolution of the Sixty-fourth General Assembly.

Overall, Premier H. Wade MacLauchlan led the

PEI Liberal Party to win a majority government with 18 seats. The Progressive Conservatives secured eight seats in the Legislative Assembly. Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker made history by winning District 17, Kellys Cross-Cumberland.

New Speaker

Francis (Buck) Watts was elected Speaker in June 2015. There were four candidates for the Speakership. The secret ballot election required two ballots, as a clear majority was not achieved on the first ballot.

Mr. Watts has represented the constituency of Tracadie-Hillsborough Park since his election in May 2007. He was subsequently re-elected in the 2011 and 2015 provincial general elections. He has served as a member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Environment, Energy and Forestry; Standing Committee on Fisheries, Transportation and Rural Development; and was Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts from 2007 until dissolution of the Sixty-fourth General Assembly in April 2015.

Mr. Watts is a lifelong resident of Grand Tracadie. He was a successful fisherman and businessman and is well known as a community volunteer. He was the cofounder and Chair of the Grand Tracadie Community Council and played an integral part in building a baseball diamond and hockey rink in his community. He helped make the PEI Fisherman's Association a stronger organization assisting and supporting fishers in the industry. He is also an honorary member of the Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters.

New Deputy Speaker

Sonny...