The 1943 Prince Edward Island general election was held in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island on September 15, 1943.
The governing Liberals of Premier J. Walter Jones lost seven seats to the Progressive Conservatives led by former Premier William J.P. MacMillan, but were able to retain a strong majority in the Legislature. Jones became Premier in May 1943 following the elevation of his predecessor Thane Campbell to the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island.
This election featured the first appearance of the democratic socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in provincial Island politics. Though they had formed an association in 1936, they did not run any candidates provincially until this election. The CCF ran nine candidates throughout the Island and earned just over 2% of the popular vote, though no seats.
This election also took place during the Second World War.
Party Standings
+ ↓ 20 10 Liberal PC
PartyParty LeaderSeatsPopular Vote1939ElectedChange#%ChangeLiberalJ. Walter Jones2720-735,39651.3%-1.7%William J. P. MacMillan310+731,84946.1%-0.9%---1,4362.1%+2.1%---3790.5%+0.5%
Members Elected
The Legislature of Prince Edward Island had two levels of membership from 1893 to 1996 - Assemblymen and Councillors. This was a holdover from when the Island had a bicameral legislature, the General Assembly and the Legislative Council.
In 1893, the Legislative Council was abolished and had its membership merged with the Assembly, though the two titles remained separate and were elected by different electoral franchises. Assembleymen were elected by all eligible voters of within a district, while Councillors were only elected by landowners within a district.
Kings
District Assemblyman Party Councillor Party 1st Kings Harry S. Francis Liberal T. J. Kickham Liberal 2nd Kings Harry Cox Liberal Thomas R. Cullen Liberal 3rd Kings Leslie Hunter Progressive Conservative Francis MacPhee Progressive Conservative 4th Kings John A. Campbell Liberal Murdock McGowan Progressive Conservative 5th Kings William Hughes Liberal George Saville Liberal
Queens
District Assemblyman Party Councillor Party 1st Queens Walter G. MacKenzie Progressive Conservative W. F. Alan Stewart Liberal 2nd Queens Philip Matheson Progressive Conservative Reginald Bell Progressive Conservative 3rd Queens Russell C. Clark Liberal Mark R. MacGuigan Liberal 4th Queens Dougald MacKinnon Liberal John Walter Jones Liberal 5th Queens William Prowse Liberal William J. P. MacMillan Progressive Conservative
Prince
District Assemblyman Party Councillor Party 1st Prince Joseph A. Bernard Liberal Fred Ramsay Liberal 2nd Prince George H. Barbour Liberal William H. Dennis Liberal 3rd Prince Marin Gallant Liberal Thomas Linkletter Liberal 4th Prince Heath Strong Progressive Conservative Horace Wright Liberal 5th Prince Daniel F. MacNeill Progressive Conservative Ernest Strong Progressive Conservative
Sources