Hal Perry staying on as leader of Official Opposition when P.E.I. Legislature resumes

Hal Perry will stay on as leader of the Official Opposition when the province’s legislative assembly resumes sitting next week, despite the P.E.I. Liberal Party's recent leadership change.

Robert Mitchell became leader of the party earlier this month, but he does not have a seat in the legislature. 

Perry, the MLA for Tignish-Palmer Road, became interim leader of the party in 2023 after Sharon Cameron resigned following the provincial general election that year in which she failed to win a seat. 

“Obviously Hal has done a super job over the last number of sessions inside of the rail. He’s got a good ability to hold government to account. When you look at all of those factors there’s no reason not to continue that,” Mitchell told CBC News.

Mitchell said he and Perry will work together very closely during the fall sitting of the legislature, which begins Nov. 4.

“Hal and I have a solid working relationship so that outside of the rail, I will be able to be part of all the discussions,” he said. 

“The fact of the matter is I’ve spent all summer campaigning and I know the real issues that Islanders are dealing with, so that will aid the process... with Hal Perry doing the job that he does on the floor of the House.”

Mitchell said he will run for a seat in the next provincial general election. Under P.E.I.'s fixed election date system, that vote will be held no later than Monday, Oct. 4, 2027, though an election could be called sooner.

The Liberals hold four seats in the legislative assembly after Carolyn Simpson’s byelection win in August in District 9, Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park.

Before that, they had been tied with the Green Party of P.E.I. at three seats each since February 2024, when Matt MacFarlane won a byelection in District 19, Borden-Kinkora.

Darlene Compton, who was Speaker at the time, had to decide which party would form the Official Opposition, settling the unprecedented conundrum in favour of the incumbent Liberals. 

Michell also announced Wednesday that Simpson would take on critic roles for education, economic development and social development.