Liberals give green light to May 2026 leadership convention

The Liberal Party of P.E.I. will chose its leader in May 2026, the same month the Green Party will hold its own leadership convention.

But Liberal president Katie Morello says the two parties will work together to ensure the events don't take place on the same day.

"We'd want to make sure there was some spacing between the two," Morello said. "Obviously, we would not want to overshadow theirs and I'm assuming they would not want to overshadow ours."

Morello made the announcement Saturday at the Liberal Party's annual general meeting in Cornwall.

Morello said the Liberals likely would have chosen a date in 2025 had it not been for the federal election expected in the fall of 2025. The Green Party gave the same reasoning when it announced its date a few weeks ago.

The Liberals said they would remain flexible on the date. The governing PCs don't need to call a provincial election until 2027.

Perry, speaking at the podium, says a permanent leader will be able to put their 'stamp' on party policy. (Kerry Campbell/CBC)

The Liberals and Greens each have three MLAs in the P.E.I. Legislature, though the Liberals hold the title of Official Opposition.

Both party leaders resigned after the provincial election last spring.

The Greens' Peter-Bevan Baker stayed on as the MLA for New Haven-Rocky Point, but stepped down as leader after the party dropped from eight seats to two. (Matt MacFarlane became the third member after winning a byelection in the former PC riding of Borden-Kinkora).

Former Liberal leader Sharon Cameron resigned after failing to win a seat. She had run against Bevan-Baker.

No one has declared their intention to run for either leadership position.

The convention date means Tignish-Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry will likely remain as interim Liberal leader for the next two years.

"There is an interest to rebuild this party, to rejuvenate this party and the table officers and myself have that task," he said.

It was also announced at the AGM that the party is considering a separate convention to address the lack of policy from the party, something that has been challenging with no permanent leader in place, Perry said.

"An interim leader is there to hold a place, basically. However, they do have the same position and duties and expectations as a permanent leader would. However, a permanent leader brings their own stamp on any policy that's created within that party."

The party has also changed its constitution to allow it to charge a fee for memberships. The party said it will help keep track of current members, and help pay down its $250,000 debt.