On Friday, Oct. 20, the Progressive Conservative Party of P.E.I. chose a new leader at a convention in Brudenell. On the same day, at the other end of the Island, a ceremony was held to install our 42nd lieutenant-governor. Was this a coincidence? Hardly.
When a political party in our system elects a new leader, it is usually positively reflected in the next round of polls. By pulling media focus from this by scheduling a high profile ceremony on the same day, this impact would likely be lessened.
Yet again the party in power is offering insight into its real priorities. Staying in office is their primary goal. As a bonus this blatant public relations stunt didn't cost the party a dime. Government was happy to use public assets in a manner that could only be described as political gamesmanship. Islanders' tax money is being used to influence our image of the current government. The only way to break away from this skewed model is for Islanders to give a long, hard look at other ways of electing our legislature.
Boyd Allen,
Pownal
