Vision PEI welcomes the high participation rate in Monday’s election, and hopes both Islanders and Wade MacLauchlan’s Liberals recognize the historic nature of the results. After voter participation slipped in the last couple of elections, Islanders voted with a vengeance again, 86% casting a ballot, back to levels not seen for thirty years. And who Islanders voted for is just as important. Over twenty percent voted for parties that had no chance to form government, again record levels. In fact there were only five districts where elected MLAs were supported by a majority of voters. It’s clearly not business as usual.

Many times premier Wade MacLauchlan called for engagement. Islanders have done that, and close to 60% said they wanted a government other than the Liberals. It will take resolve and courage for the Liberals to recognize this, and Vision PEI hopes strong consideration is given to reforming the electoral system, so that the engagement the premier called for is genuinely reflected in legislature. The real majority demand nothing less.

Vision PEI was established to give voice to Islanders’ deep concern for the economy, the environment, the soaring public debt. It’s time for good ideas to matter more than who you know. All parties clearly understood this during the election, and Vision PEI will pay attention to whether the promises made for more ethical governing are put into practice.