CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — P.E.I.’s New Democratic Party is hoping a leadership contest this winter will spark renewed interest in all things orange.
The party has named four members to its leadership committee, which will be tasked with setting the rules of the upcoming leadership contest. The committee, composed of party president Jason Alward, former leader Joe Byrne, women’s committee representative Susan MacVittie and youth representative Sam Lowe, will also be tasked with vetting potential leadership candidates.
“It’s an exciting time for Island New Democrats as we engage in electing a new leader. We anticipate renewed interest with greater membership and participation of Islanders over the next year as we elect a new party leader,” said Alward in a news release.
Byrne resigned as party leader in September. The party ran candidates in all districts during the 2019 provincial election but failed to elect any representatives to P.E.I.’s legislature. Since then, with the more-or-less steady public support for both the provincial Greens and Liberals, and the high popularity of the governing Progressive Conservatives, the party has struggled to find an electoral toehold in P.E.I.
The P.E.I. NDP also held its annual general meeting over the weekend. Members passed a change of the party constitution to allow immigrants with permanent residency to hold party memberships and vote in leadership contests.
The party has been endeavouring to have a more inclusive appeal. The party formed committees for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) individuals and for sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in June.
The party also passed resolutions calling for improved access to affordable housing for Islanders with disabilities and for the province to advocate the federal government to bring back a single EI zone on P.E.I.
Stu Neatby is the political reporter for The Guardian.