Neill to remain P.E.I. NDP leader

Michelle Neill will remain as leader of the New Democratic Party of P.E.I. after receiving a 90 per cent approval during a leadership review held at the party’s annual general meeting on April 27.

The vote comes just after the second anniversary of Neill’s selection as leader of the party in 2022.

Neill ran as the party’s candidate in Charlottetown brighton during the 2023 provincial election but lost to former Progressive Conservative leader Rob Lantz.

The party also elected former NDP MLA Herb Dickieson as party president. Dickieson served as MLA for West Point-bloomfield from 1996-2000 and also served as leader of the party from 19952002.

While the party did run a full slate of candidates in the 2023 provincial election – which the Opposition Liberals and third party Greens did not – no NDP candidates succeeded in being elected.

The party captured 4.5 per cent of the overall vote.

During the AGM, party members passed several policy resolutions, including one calling for public delivery of long-term care and another for a provincial re-evaluation of staff-resident ratios at existing public long-term care homes.

Members also called for an expansion of publicly-owned housing, the adoption of ANTI-SLAPP legislation in the province and the adoption of a living minimum wage indexed to inflation.

Party treasurer Katie Macinnis reported that the debts from the 2023 election campaign have been paid off.

Macinnis reported $17,239 in revenue and $12,804 in expenses for the period of October 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

This figure excluded the party’s revenue from a significant fundraising event the it holds yearly, the Hilda Ramsay fundraiser.

This year’s event, which supports female candidates who run for political office, will feature Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske and will be held June 14 at the Beaconsfield Carriage House in Charlottetown.

The party reported $1,436 in expenses and $1,420 in donations during the February 2024 byelection in Bordenkinkora.

The party also elected former NDP MLA Herb Dickieson as party president.