PC party to outline leadership convention plans at annual meeting WAYNE THIBODEAU The Guardian
Victory 2011 is the theme of the Progressive Conservative party’s annual general meeting that will be held Saturday in Summerside.
The party will outline details for a leadership convention during the all-day meetings being held at the Loyalist Lakeview Resort.
The party will elect a new leader next fall.
Gerard McCardle, chairman of the annual general meeting, says the party feels confident it can take back power following the next election, which will be held in October 2011.
“We, as a party, feel that we have victory in hand with the governing party of today not coming up to par with the promises they made in the last election,” McCardle said in an interview with The Guardian.
“We feel that with a leadership convention coming up, with a new leader, we feel with that and the grass roots party we have the capability of taking government back.”
The party will also elect a new party president during the annual general meeting on Saturday.
Don Roberts, the current president, is not reoffering.
Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, who is also the MP for Egmont, will be guest speaker.
McCardle pointed out that P.E.I. Senator Mike Duffy will not be speaking.
The outspoken senator and former broadcaster touched off a national firestorm for comments he made during the last annual general meeting.
During that meeting held last February, Duffy suggested Premier Robert Ghiz may get the “shaft” by getting in bed with the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and that the sight of two politicians in bed is “... a grotesque scene.”
He then repeated the comments, using slightly different language, in the Senate.
Duffy stood by his comments, saying “… people are pretty easily offended if they’re offended by that.”
Interim party leader Olive Crane said the next two years are going to be exciting ones for the Progressive Conservative party.
Crane has not said whether she’ll run for the leadership.
“The next two years are going to be about a lot of fun and excitement,” said Crane, adding she hopes to see lots of new faces at Saturday’s meeting.
McCardle said there is considerable interest in the leadership race, which will get underway following Saturday’s announcement of when and where that leadership convention will be held.
“I got that feeling big time during our leader’s dinner Thursday evening,” he said.
“That’s where it became quite evident … people were working the room. The atmosphere was just outstanding.”
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bill from pei writes: the senator has alredy gottten the shaft from islanders
he is so self-absorbed he doesn't notice the looks he gets
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Blaine from Summerside, P.E.I. writes: Rumour has it that Mr. McCardle has leadership aspirations as well....it would be great to have someone from Summerside in the mix for the top job!
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turnip truck from PEI writes: My prediction alot of Liberals will attend,most fed up with the Ch`town mafia.
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Milton Steed from Charlottetown, PEI writes: If Olive Crane decides to run for the PC leadership I will support her with my first ever Tory mmebrship card, my vote and those of other former Liberals I promise to take to the convention, and as much money as I can spare without disadvantaging my grand children.
In the election of 2011 I will work as hard as I possibly can against the Liberal MLAs I helped elect in 2007.
I thought I could not be more sickened by Robert Ghiz until of course I read his fake passionate debate stories in the last few days. That young man is the opposite of this late father.
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matthew from Charlottetown, pei writes: We don't need a party that takes back to the old ways. We need a NEW person someone young and not scared to change our little island and delvelope the island for the future Not the past.
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bill from pei writes: this is a good chance for Ms. Crane to find out all she can about the involvement in the pnp by all the party members,lawyers of the party, and the party's loyal supporters etc
She would then be able to tell the people of the province about all the facts involving the conservative party and the pnp insiders only fund
But she will not do that-
she is the same as Ghiz-
neither want the truth to be known about all the money from the Chinese- ---------------besides------------
If she did that she would never be accepted as a leader by conservatives
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I am not sure, matthew from pei writes: I think that was the case for electing Baby Ghiz, it has turned into a huge disappointment. To suggest experience and a little maturity of age is a liability is a little shortsighted and judgmental.
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To Matthew from PEI writes: ummmmm like the fellow we have now?
He meet all your pre-requisites!
(A New Person, Someone Young and not Scared to Change our Little Island and Develop it for the Future???)
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Ruth from Summerside, P.E.I. writes: I also feel that Gerard McCardle would be a good candidate for the leadership race, I've voted Liberal the last couple of elections but would switch for the charisma of McCardle.
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bye the way from Chtown, pei writes: strange things may happen at the Loyalist Lakeshore Resort overlooking the Northumberland LAKE. Perhaps Senator Duffy should attend!!!
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Shelley .B from PEI writes: The Party feels Confident it Can Take Back POWER following the next election, on October 2011.
POWER and CONTROL.
ABUSE IS ALL ABOUT -POWER and CONTROL.
CON-LIBBER, makes No difference. What's important IS Power and Control TO the international, unelected 'Associates' who own THIS Province, PEI and Nova Scotia.
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