Island Party leader says accountability front and centre for new political party
CBC
Accountability is front and centre for the new leader of the Island Party.
Ahava Kálnássy de Kálnás has only been at the reins of the upstart political party for just over two weeks.
Now, they are in the middle of a provincial election campaign.
Born in the former Czechoslovakia, Kálnássy de Kálnás moved to Canada when they were five years old. They moved to Prince Edward Island in 2019.
Kálnássy de Kálnás says a battle over plans to evict them from their Souris apartment got them involved in politics.
"That made us realize that we need to become involved, we need to be able to direct our own futures, we need to be able to respect ourselves and say 'no' to people in positions of power that are trying to create a society in which there isn't justice for everyone," said Kálnássy de Kálnás.
Ahava Kálnássy de Kálnás is their ancestral Jewish name. Their common legal name is Cecile Sly.
D.P. Murphy, which operates Tim Hortons, purchased the building they live in, and issued eviction notices to the tenants on Jan. 5.
According to documents filed by the company with the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission, the company wanted to use the building to house temporary foreign workers.
Those evictions were overturned late last month.
Kálnássy de Kálnás said when they were asked to lead the Island Party it was "like coming home."
"Because the platform and the policies and the vision of the Island Party are everything that I believe in."
That includes recall legislation, town halls and referendums on major issues, which the party says puts the power back in the hands of the people.
Husband and wife couple, Gary and Lucy Robbins, are running for the Island Party in eastern P.E.I.