Former Progressive Conservative party leader-turned Independent MLA Olive Crane has announced she will not re-offer in the upcoming provincial election, instead endorsing the future Liberal premier Wade MacLauchlan.
Crane cited the heavy workload and long days of being an MLA as a major reason why she is choosing to bow out of politics.
“The kind of commitment and the work that needs to be done in the district and right across Prince Edward Island requires people to be committed to long work,” Crane said.
“Public service is an honour and a huge commitment. Some people like politics, I like good government.”
Crane’s announcement puts to rest months of speculation about her plans for the upcoming election, notably in her riding of Morell-Mermaid.
She incited much of this speculation herself when she began going door-to-door, asking constituents whether they thought she should run for the Liberal or Progressive Conservative parties, as an independent or whether she should retire from politics.
The PC party president and the PC district association made public comments saying they did not want her to run as a Tory.
Since then, people wondered whether Crane would still seek the PC nomination in her district with the support of a perceived large group of personal backers.
Rumours have also been circling that a group of Liberal Crane supporters attended the recent Liberal District 7 AGM in Morell-Mermaid, fuelling speculation Crane might run for the Liberals.
Crane denied actively seeking the Liberal nomination, but did say her constituents encouraged her on the doorsteps to run for every political party in P.E.I. except one – the Progressive Conservative party.
As part of her announcement, Crane took the opportunity to express her endorsement for P.E.I.’s Liberal premier-in-waiting, Wade MacLauchlan.
She says she has long thought he would make a great premier, after working with him years ago at UPEI.
“Wade MacLauchlan is a progressive leader,” she said, comparing him to Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.
“(Wall) brought together people from all parties to put Saskatchewan on the map. I believe Wade MacLauchlan will do the same for Prince Edward Island.
Crane was not so complimentary about the party she once led – the party that tried to force a review of her leadership, kicked her out of caucus after she resigned as leader and recently publicly stated they did not want her.
That party is not what it once was, she said.
“Many people in my district have felt and shared with me they see the Progressive Conservative party of P.E.I. is gone and the Conservative party of Canada is here,” she said.
“I, for one, am with the people of the district… and I know I’ve been divisive, but I was progressive, and there’s a big difference between Progressive Conservative and Reform Conservative.”
Twitter.com/GuardianTeresa
Former Progressive Conservative party leader-turned Independent MLA Olive Crane has announced she will not re-offer in the upcoming provincial election, instead endorsing the future Liberal premier Wade MacLauchlan.
Crane cited the heavy workload and long days of being an MLA as a major reason why she is choosing to bow out of politics.
“The kind of commitment and the work that needs to be done in the district and right across Prince Edward Island requires people to be committed to long work,” Crane said.
“Public service is an honour and a huge commitment. Some people like politics, I like good government.”
Crane’s announcement puts to rest months of speculation about her plans for the upcoming election, notably in her riding of Morell-Mermaid.
She incited much of this speculation herself when she began going door-to-door, asking constituents whether they thought she should run for the Liberal or Progressive Conservative parties, as an independent or whether she should retire from politics.
The PC party president and the PC district association made public comments saying they did not want her to run as a Tory.
Since then, people wondered whether Crane would still seek the PC nomination in her district with the support of a perceived large group of personal backers.
Rumours have also been circling that a group of Liberal Crane supporters attended the recent Liberal District 7 AGM in Morell-Mermaid, fuelling speculation Crane might run for the Liberals.
Crane denied actively seeking the Liberal nomination, but did say her constituents encouraged her on the doorsteps to run for every political party in P.E.I. except one – the Progressive Conservative party.
As part of her announcement, Crane took the opportunity to express her endorsement for P.E.I.’s Liberal premier-in-waiting, Wade MacLauchlan.
She says she has long thought he would make a great premier, after working with him years ago at UPEI.
“Wade MacLauchlan is a progressive leader,” she said, comparing him to Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.
“(Wall) brought together people from all parties to put Saskatchewan on the map. I believe Wade MacLauchlan will do the same for Prince Edward Island.
Crane was not so complimentary about the party she once led – the party that tried to force a review of her leadership, kicked her out of caucus after she resigned as leader and recently publicly stated they did not want her.
That party is not what it once was, she said.
“Many people in my district have felt and shared with me they see the Progressive Conservative party of P.E.I. is gone and the Conservative party of Canada is here,” she said.
“I, for one, am with the people of the district… and I know I’ve been divisive, but I was progressive, and there’s a big difference between Progressive Conservative and Reform Conservative.”
Twitter.com/GuardianTeresa
