Proportional representation back on table, says P.E.I. premier

Changing the way Prince Edward Islanders elect MLAs will be part of a government white paper on democratic reform promised in the throne speech that's coming out in this sitting of the legislature.

Premier Wade MacLauchlan was asked in the legislature Thursday whether his government is willing to explore the idea of replacing first-past-the-post voting with proportional representation.

"That's a question that will be very much central to the white paper and the work of the special committee," said MacLauchlan.

MacLauchlan said it will be important in the forthcoming discussions to keep in mind that in a 2005 plebiscite 63 per cent of Islanders casting a ballot on rejected the idea.

Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker said a lot has changed on P.E.I. since that plebiscite. One of the big differences, he said, was the outcome of the May election, which saw the Green and NDP parties gather a combined 22 per cent of the popular vote, and win just one seat in the legislature.

• Reconsider proportional representation on P.E.I., says Fair Vote

Question of the day: Is it time for P.E.I. to look at proportional representation again? (This is a re-ask of a May 6 question)