Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King has called for a provincial election on April 3rd. The top issues on the campaign trail for the election are health care, housing, and leadership. King’s majority Progressive Conservative government is looking for a second term after four years of battling the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing struggle to fix the health-care system. During the dissolution, the Conservatives held 15 of the legislature’s 27 seats, while the Green Party had eight seats and the Liberals held four seats. Despite the state of health care and rising living costs, the electorate does not seem inclined to change the government. The campaign could be pivotal since there are numerous hot-button issues. P.E.I. is facing its own health-care crisis, as a growing number of Islanders are complaining about a lack of family doctors and long wait times for treatment. The Island’s population has grown rapidly, leading to a shortage of housing, with its vacancy rate at its record low in 2018. Additionally, the government has come under fire for its handling of post-tropical storms in 2019 and 2022, the potato industry’s struggle with the potato wart fungus, and the quality of life on P.E.I. declining. The mood of the electorate, however, does not indicate any fatigue or disillusionment with the government in power. The opposition, Greens and Liberals, do not seem to have any momentum as the campaign begins.
Healthcare, housing, and leadership are the main concerns in PEI’s upcoming election.
