Melissa Hilton is no stranger to how provincial and municipal concerns can often overlap.
The Progressive Conservative candidate in the District 11 byelection was first elected to Charlottetown city council during a municipal byelection in 2005.
During her three re-election campaigns since, Hilton said she’s become familiar with how provincial and municipal issues can intertwine.
“The levels of government work very closely with each other, and when you’re campaigning and going door to door talking to people, they share their concerns with not only the direction the municipality may be headed in but also the direction the province may be headed in,” said Hilton, who chaired the city’s finance committee until taking leave to campaign for the byelection.
“I act on the concerns of my constituents and it has shown with respect to me being re-elected three times. I feel my experience on city council is certainly an asset to bring into the legislature.”
Hilton said the concerns shared by residents during this campaign have encompassed a variety of issues from seniors and affordable housing to education, job retention, mental health and addictions support.
While on council, Hilton has been a critic of the province’s tax system, which she said has taken millions of dollars from city residents.
She said many residents are also worried about the rising costs of living, an incoming federal carbon tax and increasing energy costs.
“They’re all very real concerns and there’s just so much uncertainty,” said Hilton.
A specific issue Hilton said she would like to address if elected is the high number of medically discharged patients who are in hospital waiting for available nursing beds.
“It’s very stressful on their families,” said Hilton. “There are nursing beds available, it’s just whether or not the province is willing to license the beds that are available for our medically discharged patients. I would like to see that eradicated before 2019.”
Having grown up in Charlottetown, Hilton graduated from UPEI with a bachelor of arts with a major in psychology.
She now lives with her husband, Rob, and their two daughters and works in a family-owned business.
She also worked at the Charlottetown Spa for more than 20 years and taught aerobics classes in addition to volunteering as manager of the Sherwood Parkdale Rural Minor Hockey Association.
“I’ve always been very physically active and it’s very important to me to be active and to teach my children remain to be active,” Hilton said during a forum hosted by the Young Voters of P.E.I. earlier this month.
Candidate profiles
Editor’s note: This is the second of four profiles of candidates for the District 11 byelection to be held on Nov. 27. On Thursday, The Guardian will profile Hannah Bell, who is running for the Green Party.
NDP Party - Mike Redmond profile
Green Party - Hanna Bell profile
PC Party - Melissa Hilton profile
Liberal Party - Bob Doiron profile
For an overview of the issues in District 11, watch for The Guardian’s weekend report on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Election day for the provincial electoral District 11, vacated by Doug Currie, is Monday, Nov. 27.Hilton said the District 11 byelection campaign has been eye-opening.
About Melissa Hilton
- - Hilton was born and raised in Charlottetown and lives with her husband, Rob Gallant, and their two daughters, Nicole and Robyn.
- - Hilton received her bachelor of arts degree with a major in psychology from UPEI in 1990.
- - Hilton is Charlottetown’s councillor for Ward 9 Stonepark and is currently on leave for the byelection campaign. She was chairwoman of the city’s finance committee at the time she went on leave and has previously chaired the Parks and Recreation and Leisure Activities Committee.
- - Hilton has volunteered with the Sherwood Parkdale Rural Minor Hockey Association, including in managerial roles, and has been a board member with the Four Neighbourhood Community Health Centre and the Island Fitness Council. She’s also a member of the community advisory committee focusing on homelessness in Charlottetown and Summerside.
“I love helping people, and being a part of James Aylward’s Progressive Conservative team really excites me. They’re invigorated, they’re energized, they’re alive and it’s wonderful to be a part of that,” said Hilton. “I’d like to thank all of the residents that have opened up the doors and have allowed me to enter and share with me their very serious concerns. Hopefully when elected on Nov. 27, I’ll be a strong voice for them in the legislature.”
