CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - The leader of the P.E.I. New Democrats has named two members of the party to his shadow cabinet.
Joe Byrne said Leah-Jane Hayward will serve as deputy leader while former party leader, Dr. Herb Dickieson, will handle rural affairs, agriculture and fisheries.
Hayward is a former business woman who now works for an Island tour company. She is president of the Island NDP and served as party spokeswoman during the transition to the leadership convention last spring. She is also the nominated candidate in District 15, Brackley-Hunter River.
“Leah-Jane is working very hard in building a progressive alternative for Islanders,’’ Byrne said. “She has proven to be an effective listener and communicator and I’m very proud to have her as my deputy leader.’’
Hayward said Byrne has re-energized the party.
“With this, we are building a strong organization with a growing list of quality candidates for the coming provincial election,’’ she said.
Dickieson served as party leader from 1995 to 2002 and was a member of the legislative assembly from 1996 to 2000. He is a retired family physician from West Prince and was recently nominated as the NDP candidate for District 25, O’Leary-Inverness.
“Dr. Herb’s work as a rural physician and community leader, as well as his legislative experience, has him well positioned to seek out and understand the issues facing rural Islanders,’’ Byrne said. “His mandate will include our primary industries, farming and fishing, as well as service and infrastructure needs of rural Prince Edward Island.’’
Dickieson said Byrne is sensitive to important issues facing all Islanders, especially those living in rural P.E.I.
“Present and previous government policies don’t seem to recognize the contribution of rural Islanders to wealth creation for our province through farming, fishing, tourism and wind power production,’’ Dickieson said.
