‘Back to basics’
Brad Trivers, first PC MLA to enter leadership race, says campaign will focus on party’s core values
Rustico-Emerald MLA Brad Trivers wants to be the next leader of the Progressive Conservative party of P.E.I.
Trivers will officially launch his leadership bid at an event in Hunter River on Friday evening. Trivers has chosen the campaign slogan “back to basics,” because he says the PC party’s core values should be the party’s focus in order to win the next election.
“We have some excellent core values, but we’ve strayed away from that and I believe that’s the reason why our brand is suffering – we’ve forgotten what we stand for,” Trivers told The Guardian in an interview Tuesday.
“I’m going to bring that back to the forefront.”
So what are the PC party’s core values? Trivers listed nine: democracy; accountability; responsibility; compassion; respect; entrepreneurship; stewardship; self-reliance and patriotism.
“One of the reasons, I think, that we don’t think about our core values all the time is that there are quite a few, and one of my goals as a leader is to make sure people understand what those are.”
The 45-year-old father of two has been a member of the PC Opposition caucus since the 2015 election. He is the first member of caucus to confirm his intent to seek the leadership, although at least two others – James Aylward and Darlene Compton – are also considering running. To date only political newcomer, Al Mulholland, has officially entered the race for leadership.
Trivers says he believes his youth and his progressive views make him a good counter to Wade MacLauchlan and his Liberal government.
He pointed to his personal support for electoral reform, his dedication to environmental conservation and his passion for technology as areas of strength in bringing modern and fresh perspectives to the PC party.
“It’s no coincidence that we’re using the words ‘old’ and ‘tired’ about this Liberal government in question period because really they are doing things the old way,” Trivers said.
“A lot of them are on the edge of retirement, and as much as Wade MacLauchlan talks about doing things a different way, we see time and time again he’s really about doing things the same way.”
Trivers pointed to his work as a web developer and how he is often met with confused stares when he tries to push government to adopt more innovative technological ways of providing services.
“I understand technology and that’s what is changing our world today and I know the impact it can have,” he said.
“It’s really frustrating to me when I try to talk about that in the house and the minister of finance kind of laughs saying, ‘I don’t know anything about that.’ Guess what? You need to learn about that. This is what’s happening in the world today. You can’t stick your head in the sand any longer. And frankly, I don’t think Wade MacLauchlan gets it either.”
Trivers will officially announce his bid for leadership at an event on June 2 at the Hunter River Community Centre at 7:30 p.m.
The PC party has been without a permanent leader since 2015 when Rob Lantz resigned after failing to win a seat in the P.E.I. legislature.