by Nash Alonto
Feb. 28, 2024
The P.E.I. Liberal Party retained its Official Opposition status on Tues., Feb. 27, 2024, during a Legislative Assembly session.
The status was clarified following the byelection win and later swearing-in of Borden-Kinkora MLA Matthew MacFarlane, resulting in the Liberals and the Green Party having equal number of members at three each. This has never happened before in the history of the Island.
House Speaker Darlene Compton decided to retain the Liberals’ Official Opposition status because they were not, as of writing, the smallest party nor they were displaced by a larger opposition party.
On Feb. 9, the Greens sent a letter to Compton, stating their case for Official Opposition status. They believed it boils down to three factors: (a) incumbency; (b) minimizing disruption; and (c) popular vote.
However, citing previous rulings from both the House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Compton decided that is not the case.
“Tied opposition parties are an infrequent occurrence, but the process of determining who is the Official Opposition, in this case, is clear and well-established,” she said.
Compton also advised party leaders to discuss amongst themselves the future composition of the legislature.
“I will encourage the House leaders, each and every one of you, to consider or continue or begin negotiations to come with an arrangement of their own creation, instead of seeking one to be imposed on them,” she said.
MacFarlane was elected through a byelection on Feb.7, following the resignation of his predecessor, Jamie Fox on Nov. 11, 2023.
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