Another member of the Tory caucus is throwing his name in the race for interim leader of the PC party.
Hal Perry, who represents the riding of Tignish-Palmer Road, announced his intention Monday to run for the position.
"After countless phone calls and emails and just people coming up to me in the street encouraging me to submit my name for the interim leader post, I gave it a long thought and I do have something to give to this party," Perry said in an exclusive interview with The Guardian Monday evening.
"I will step up to the plate."
Perry's bid for the interim leadership comes on the heels of a similar announcement made by his Opposition caucus colleague Steven Myers just over a week ago.
He said he does not see this as a sign of division among the group of five elected Tories, but rather one of interest in the party.
"It's great to give the party a choice. It makes it healthy and just creates a little bit more buzz, which is all good for our party."
The Progressive Conservative party was sent reeling last November when current PC and Opposition Leader Olive Crane announced her intention to resign as leader of the party on Jan. 30.
Deep divisions within the party had already been revealed even before this after a group of Tory insiders tried to force a review of her leadership. Ever since, the party has been fighting to renew its embattled stance in public opinion and reap the benefits of declining satisfaction with the governing Liberals.
Perry acknowledged the divisions that exist within his party. But he hopes he can convince the membership he could be a uniting force.
"I believe that I can provide stability and confidence to the party," Perry said.
"There is some rebuilding and there are fences to be mended, but I know I can do that. I'm confident I can do that."
When asked about whether he would be interested in seeking to also become Opposition leader, should he be chosen as interim party leader, he only spoke highly of Crane.
Crane created controversy within the party when, after announcing her intention to resign as party leader, she indicated she intended to remain Opposition leader. This position is chosen by consensus of the Opposition caucus, who support her in this role at this time.
"After countless phone calls and emails and just people coming up to me in the street encouraging me to submit my name for the interim leader post, I gave it a long thought and I do have something to give to this party," - PC MLA Hal Perry
Perry said Monday he "has no intentions of trying to seek the leadership as long as (Crane) is in Opposition."
"As long as she is in Opposition, I have no desire to be the leader of the Opposition," Perry said.
"I stand behind the leader of the Opposition whoever that leader might be. What I'm doing is offering my experience for the betterment of this party."
He does not believe it would be awkward for this role to be separated from the party leader position.
"Both of them play different roles... they can work together," he said.
As for whether he's interested in running eventually for permanent leadership - Perry left the door open.
"You have to leave yourself with options all the time, so I can't say yes or no. And 18 months or two years down the road, one doesn't know what can affect change at that time. But at this moment my focus is on interim leader and interim leader only."
Perry and Myers are not the only contenders for the job. Former PC candidate Linda Clements also announced her intention Monday to run for the position, making it a three-way race.
Clements says she too believes she could bring together the divisive factions within the party.
"Our party needs healing and self-examination if we are to remain a force in Island political life. I believe I am the person to begin the process," she wrote in a letter to the membership.
The party must choose a leader within 30 days of Crane's resignation on Jan. 30. The interim leader will be chosen by the caucus and the party executive.
twright@theguardian.pe.ca
twitter.com/GuardianTeresa
I think you are wrong that 'all Olive saw was PNP' - she spoke out on many other issues. But because she wouldn't tow the line, she had little or no support from the party elite. It was these elite, the backroom boys, who saw nothing but PNP....as in what they had to lose if they could not bully her into 'dropping it' . It was those who had the most to fear from exposure who tried to oust her at the convention. It is they who did the damage. As for her resigning - they got what they wanted but not on their own terms since they couldn't 'install' someone to replace her. In my opinion, the lack of truth and transparency surrounding the PNP embodies what is wrong at the core of our island politics. The integrity of our politicians will tell us a lot about 'who' they will serve if elected - the people of PEI or their connected friends and relatives.