Cory Deagle is sworn in as the new minister of housing, land and communities as Premier Rob Lantz stands behind him. Deagle also said he would be suspending his run for leadership of the Progressive Conservatives. Photo by Stu Neatby /The GuardianArticle contentFor genuine leaders, the path followed is as important as the result achieved — an understanding wholly absent from the backroom collective managing the leadership of P.E.I.’s PC Party.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentDropping poll numbers show Islanders are questioning the integrity of those who preached “It’s about people” but are now undermining democracy as the “It’s about me” gang. Instead of focusing on the challenges worrying Islanders, this small cabal is focused on serving their own interests, more concerned about being in the wheelhouse than on the direction of the ship.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentIt began eight months ago when the departing leader and his cronies ignored the party constitution and hand-picked the interim leader, side-stepping the mandated joint vote of caucus and executive.Article contentNext came an effort to discredit the two individuals who fairly, sincerely and clearly expressed their interest in the job. The hushed whispers of the smiling faces that pat you on the back while marking the spot for a shiv.Article contentThen came the trial balloon of the non-leadership-seeking-interim-leader becoming a candidate, only to go back under the blankets when the public reaction did not mirror their aspirations. He told us, “After much consideration, the best decision for Islanders and the PC party is to continue my role as interim leader until the party selects a new permanent leader.”Article contentYou might think that ended the idea. No, it did not, either because the person is implicit in the planning or a willing pawn of the self-interest, serve-myself-first, inner circle.Article contentArticle contentLast week, he said, “At some point the party will deal with leadership and at that point I’ll determine whether it’s something I’ll want to consider or not.”Article contentThe mechanisms of government have been used in hopes of enhancing the occupier for another soon-to-surface attempt. One candidate was enticed to drop his leadership bid with the dangled carrot of a return to cabinet; the other held at bay by rule changes.Article contentPublished, publicly approved rules have been altered, ignored or abandoned for the sole purpose of self-interest.Article contentAlthough some individuals may not recognize or acknowledge these forms of manipulation, interference and deliberate mismanagement, the influence on the integrity of our democratic political process is nothing short of spine-chilling.Article contentI am a party member, a party supporter. Though no longer involved in any leadership campaign, I am engaged in a fight for fairness, integrity and democracy. It is what the party of Pat Binns, Pat Mella, Leone Bagnall, Angus Maclean, demands. Islanders deserve better from our leaders, interim or otherwise.Article contentDarren W. Peters,Article contentCharlottetownArticle contentArticle content Darren W. Peters, who is a PC party member in P.E.I. and former political candidate, does not like the manoeuvring around the interim and permanent leadership of the party.Article content
LETTER: The path not followed in P.E.I. politics
