2003 Prince Edward Island general election

← 2000 September 29, 2003 (2003-09-29) 2007 →
← outgoing members members →
All 27 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island 14 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	83.27%[1]
First party Second party   PC Leader Pat Binns Robert Ghiz Party Progressive Conservative Liberal Leader since May 4, 1996 April 5, 2003 Leader's seat Murray River-Gaspereaux Ran in Charlottetown-Rochford Square (won) Last election 26 seats, 58.00% 1 seat, 33.84% Seats won 23 4 Seat change 3 3 Popular vote 43,712 34,347 Percentage 54.29% 42.66% Swing 3.71pp 8.82pp
Popular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via plurality results by each riding.
Premier before election Pat Binns Progressive Conservative Premier after election Pat Binns Progressive Conservative

The 2003 Prince Edward Island general election was held on September 29, 2003 to elect the 27 members of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. The election was called on September 2 by Premier Pat Binns, who enjoyed a high level of popularity among voters.

Polling took place on September 29, despite a blackout across two-thirds of the province and other damage caused by Hurricane Juan.

Binns' Progressive Conservatives were elected to a third consecutive majority government, the first time this had happened in Island history (for the PC party). The Premier, who ran in Murray River-Gaspereaux, was re-elected, along with his entire existing cabinet.

The Liberals wrested three seats from the Tories, increasing their standing to four seats. The party's new leader, Robert Ghiz, was one of those. The son of former premier Joe Ghiz beat Charlottetown mayor George MacDonald in the riding of Charlottetown-Rochford Square in Charlottetown.

The New Democrats did not win any seats; their leader, Gary Robichaud, was defeated by a Tory incumbent in Wilmot-Summerside.

The five largest margins of victory were:

1. Kensington-Malpeque: Mitch Murphy, PC, defeated Janice Sherry, Liberal, by 1416 votes.
2. North River-Rice Point: Ron MacKinley, Liberal, defeated Donna Butler, PC, by 1103 votes.
3. Murray River-Gaspereaux: Pat Binns, PC, defeated Michelle Johnston, Liberal, by 959 votes.
4. Glen Stewart-Bellevue Cove: David McKenna, PC, defeated Eric Ellsworth, Liberal, by 958 votes.
5. Alberton-Miminegash: Cletus Dunn, PC, defeated Robert B. White, Liberal, by 737 votes.

The five smallest margins of victory were:

1. Sherwood-Hillsborough: Elmer MacFadyen, PC, defeated Robert Mitchell, Liberal, by 61 votes.
2. Borden-Kinkora: Fred McCardle, PC, defeated Lorne Sutherland, Liberal, by 71 votes.
3. St. Eleanors-Summerside: Helen MacDonald, PC, defeated Gerard Greenan, Liberal, by 93 votes.
4. Evangeline-Miscouche: Wilfred Arsenault, PC, defeated Sonny Gallant, Liberal, by 104 votes.
5. Charlottetown-Kings Square: Richard Brown, Liberal, defeated Bob MacMillan, PC, by 142 votes.

• List of PEI political parties

• Mutimer, David, ed. (2009). Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs, 2003. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802099853.

• Government of Prince Edward Island
• Elections PEI
• CBC - PEI Votes 2003

• Progressive Conservative Party of PEI (see also Progressive Conservative Party of Canada)
• Liberal Party of PEI (see also Liberal Party of Canada)
• Island New Democrats (see also New Democratic Party)