Prince Edward Island is the most recent Canadian province to elect a new government. Traditionally, political power in the province has alternated between two parties - the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals.

A third party has made a major mark on Prince Edward Island politics. The environmentally-focused Green Party fell short of winning but outdid the Liberals.

Progressive Conservatives win a plurality of seats

The Progressive Conservative Party has won a plurality of seats in the Prince Edward Island General Assembly. Some polls had indicated the Greens could win the election and form a government, something they have never done in Canada.

However, this was not to be, though they did win the second-most seats.

The Liberal Party, which had controlled the provincial government since 2007, fell to third place. Incumbent Premier Wade MacLauchlan lost his own riding to PC candidate Bloyce Thompson. The New Democratic Party, the third-largest party in the national Canadian Parliament, was once again shut out. Since its creation, the NDP has only had one member elected to the Prince Edward Island General Assembly.

As Global News reports, these results are part of a continuing trend that indicates trouble for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The scandal-ridden prime minister's Liberal Party has continued to struggle mightily in provincial elections.

Most likely to benefit from Trudeau and the Liberals' problems are the Conservative Party of Canada. They are led by Andrew Scheer. The next federal election is set for later this year.

The Progressive Conservatives likely would've been expected to do better. Especially given the woes of the Liberals, as the National Observer touches on.

Party members have struggled to find a long-term leader since the tenure of Pat Binns ended. Binns had been a member of the federal parliament in the 1980s. He would serve as party leader and premier of Prince Edward Island for over a decade. At one point, the party was so dominant that they held all but one seat in the general assembly.

Afterward, Binns was Canadian ambassador to the Republic of Ireland.

For all of the continuous problems the party has had in the leadership position, they've found success once again. The new premier-to-be is Dennis King. A former staff member for Pat Binns, King just won his General Assembly seat in this election.

One seat in the General Assembly hasn't been decided. Voting for the new riding of Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park has been delayed. Green Party candidate Josh Underway and his son were killed in a tragic canoeing accident days before the election. A by-election is to be held at a later date. Whatever the result, it's unlikely to change the make-up of the General Assembly.

An electoral reform referendum failed to pass

Another point of interest was a referendum about whether or not the province should reform its voting system. Voters chose to remain with the traditional first past the post system over changing to mixed-member proportional representation. The movement for change failed to reach even 50 percent, where at least 60 was required for passage.

Voting for the current system was strongest in the areas of and near Alberton. Conversely, voting for the other system was strongest in the Malpeque Bay region.
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