Time for third party to listen

You would think that a collapse to third-party status would be a wake-up call for the Island’s Liberal Party. Well, think again.

Interim leader Sonny Gallant painted a different picture for members at Saturday’s annual general meeting.

The policies are fine, he said. No need to change any of them. Instead, the Liberals need a renewed focus on engaging the party’s grassroots.

Sounds like a plan. Of course, it isn’t clear what’s left of the party’s grassroots after voters abandoned the Liberals in the election and threw their support behind the Greens and Progressive Conservatives.

As 19-year-old Brianna O’Connor, the president of Young Liberals of P.E.I., reminded us on Saturday, the party needs to come up with an environmental plan that appeals to young voters.

And she’s right, as the Greens found out by appealing to many of those environmentally conscious young voters and being rewarded with Official Opposition status.

If Island politics has taught us anything, it’s that once you fall off the mountain, it can be a long road to climb back up.

Just ask the PCs, who governed P.E.I. for 11 consecutive years, including dominating the 2000 provincial election by winning 26 of 27 seats, but also fell from grace in 2007 after suffering a devastating defeat at the hands of the Liberals by winning only four seats.

Only now are the PCs getting the chance to govern again, albeit in a minority position.

The cold, honest truth is that the Liberals need to rebuild. That rebuilding process already began election night with several high-profile incumbents and former cabinet ministers losing their job. Not even thenpremier Wade MacLauchlan could keep his seat after suffering a tough defeat at the hands of political newcomer Bloyce Thompson in the Stanhope-Marshfield district.

Voters sent a clear message to the Liberals that they’re looking for change and that the once strong Liberal brand has grown tired with Islanders.

Regardless of how Gallant spins it — building new rather than rebuilding — the party needs to change and it needs to attract candidates who embody what Islanders are looking for. What the party can’t continue to do is pat itself on the back for past accomplishments, and arrogantly assume that the status quo will be good enough next time.

They can climb back on top, but they need to stop telling themselves that losing the election was a fluke or that voters simply chose the wrong parties.

Voters have already told them why they’re sitting in third place. Now, the Liberals need to start listening.