Pat Binns

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Patrick George Binns
Premier Pat Binns in Murray Harbour. Photo taken by Cynthia Dunsford.
32nd Premier of Prince Edward Island
Incumbent
Assumed office  November 27, 1996
Preceded by	Keith Milligan
Born	October 8, 1948 (age 58) Weyburn, Saskatchewan
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse	Carol MacMillan
Religion	Roman Catholic

Patrick George Binns, MLA (born October 8, 1948 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan), is a Canadian politician and the Premier of Prince Edward Island. He has been the leader of the Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party since 1996.

Contents 1 Before the premiership 2 First term 3 Second term 4 Third Term 5 Criticisms 6 Legacy

[edit] Before the premiership

Binns graduated from the University of Alberta in 1971 with a Master of Arts in Community Development while working for the government of Alberta as a community development officer. In 1972, Binns began working for the Prince Edward Island Rural Development Council and met and married Carol MacMillan of Stratford Prince Edward Island. While working for the P.E.I. government from 1974 to 1978, Mr. Binns helped create and run the eastern region services centres. In 1978, he received the Queen's Silver of Jubilee for Outstanding Public Service.

Binns entered politics in 1978 when he was elected as a MLA for the district of 4th Kings. He was subsequently re-elected in 1979 and 1982, serving various portfolios as Minister of Industry, Municipal Affairs, Fisheries, Environment, Labour, Housing and had responsibilities for Economic Development. From 1984-1988 Binns was the MP for [[Cardigan (electoral district)|Cardigan], serving as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries. Binns subsequently established an edible bean farm in Hopefield (Island Bean Limited) and operated a management consultant firm, Pat Binns & Associates.

[edit] First term

Binns entered the provincial PC Party leadership race to succeed Patricia Mella in 1996 and won a convincing first ballot victory over Charlottetown businessman Wes MacAleer and O'Leary Veternarian Dr. Gary Morgan. He immediately set about organizing the party for an election expected within months. Binns took over a party with only a single member in the 32 seat Provincial Legislature. Binns campaigned on a platform of strengthening health care and education, encouraging economic development, and energizing communities. A provincial election was planned for late May by Premier Catherine Callbeck, only to be called off by Premier Callbeck at the last minute at a nominating convention on the night of the planned election call. Subsequent media polls showed a surge in popularity for the PC Party. Premier Callbeck resigned shortly afterwards and a leadership convention was held in the fall, electing provincial Cabinet Minister Keith Milligan as Callebeck's successor as Liberal leader and Premier.

Binns' PC Party defeated the Liberal Party led by new Premier Keith Milligan in the general election on November 18, 1996, gathering 18 seats to the Liberal's 8, and the NDP's 1. This was the first provincial general election contested under a new single member, 27 seat system, replacing the previous dual member, 16 seat system. The previous system had been successfully challenged in the courts, triggering an electoral reform process that culminated in the new 27 seat system being approved in the Legislature as a Private Members Bill by Liberal MLA Ross Young, overturning the recommendations of an independent commission in favour of boundaries drawn by elected officials.

[edit] Second term

Binns' won a second mandate in 2000 when his PC Party swept 26 of 27 seats, leaving a single opposition Liberal in the legislature. Both Liberal Party Leader Wayne Carew and NDP Leader Dr. Herb Dickieson were defeated. The second term of the Binns government saw continued economic growth with new business investment,economic diversification, export and tourism growth, and construction of the Atlantic Technology Centre in Charlottetown as a catalyst for development of the burgeoning IT sector. Investments continued in education and health care for extensive school construction and repair, creation of the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre in Charlottetown and Prince County Hospital in Summerside. The province's first Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act was also passed. During this time Prince Edward Island launched Waste Watch, becoming the first Canadian province to offer waste management services to every home and business resulting in a 65% waste diversion rate and closure of many community landfills. Investments were also made to made expand renewable energy use with the development of the North Cape Wind Farm in West Prince, strengthening Prince Edward Island's credentials as a national leader in environmental sustainability.

Among the major issues during this period included major financial pressures in the farm sector as a result of plant disease, overcapacity and closure of the US border due to trade issues. The tourism industry also experienced a downturn in the face of post-9/11 travel concerns and rising energy prices.

[edit] Third Term

The 2003 provincial election was held on September 29th, 2003. Infamously, the election date coincided with Hurricane Juan, a category 2 hurricane which swept over the central part of the province during the early morning hours, causing several million dollars in property damage and disrupting electricity service for days. The election date was not delayed or cancelled, although the decision to do so rested with the Chief Electoral Officer and not the premier. Despite the weather, there was a customary high voter turnout (83%).

Voters again placed significant confidence in the PC Party of PEI and elected 23 PCs and 4 opposition Liberals, led by new leader Robert Ghiz who had replaced Interim Leader Ron MacKinley that spring. Under the leadership of Binns the PC Party won it's third consecutive majority government, becoming the first Conservative Premier to accomplish this feat in over a century.

The popularity and resolve of Binns were tested as the government weathered challenges on many fronts.Unpredictability in federal equalization, coupled with rising health care and energy costs and weakness in the primary and tourism sectors, played havoc with provincial finances. Clashes with the federal government over the fiscal imbalance and fisheries management continued for several years. Binns launched a Program Renewal process to streamline duplication and improve delivery of public services. The provincial public service was reduced by several hundred people as services were reorganized and administrative overlap was reduced in the health sector. These measures, along with a steadily growing economy, have led to continued improvement of public finances.

Other reforms in health included expanded used of nurse practitioners and better utilization of ground ambulance services, increased use of technology to improve service delivery, focused strategies for recruitment and retention of health care professionals, and restructuring health care delivery to accommodate the needs of an aging population. Other reforms in health included expanded used of nurse practitioners and better utilization of ground ambulance services, increased use of technology to improve service delivery, focused strategies for recruitment and retention of health care professionals, and restructuring health care delivery to accommodate the needs of an aging population.

In 2004 the Island's largest lobster processing company, Polar Foods, went into receivership. Polar Foods had been created in 1998 through the consolidation of several smaller plants to become more competitive. Polar Foods employed thousands of Islanders and contributed millions to the provincial economy in wages, product purchased from local fishermen, and taxes. The provincial government invested heavily in Polar Foods and assumed control of the company through receivership, eventually leading a rationalization of the lobster processing industry which several rural processing plants closing their doors. Binns received criticism for provincial losses in Polar Foods which could eventually total $31 Million yet the lobster processing industry has subsequently stabilized and a decades long pattern of provincial government investment in the lobster processing industry came to an end as the industry stands on its own feet in the marketplace.

[edit] Criticisms

Through his term in office Binns and his government have sustained opposition on certain issues, ranging from health care to economic development to fiscal management to long term planning. The Official Opposition has also criticized Binns' policies on rural investment, electoral reform, economic advancement, health care restructuring, and advancements on student achievement in education.

In 2001, Binns’ government inaugurated a program called the Disability Support Program intended to provide assistive devices and social integration assistance to Islanders with disabilities. The DSP grandfathered several older programs and has been criticized in some quarters as inadequate to the needs of disabled persons, leading to a series of Human Rights complaints. Recently, a Charlottetown political activist has attacked Binns,the Disability Support Program and various public servants with several blogs and other websites. The activist has also attempted to alter Binns' Wiki.

[edit] Legacy

The Binns administration legacy has been defined by record economic growth and diversification with unemployment having dropped by more than half during his tenure. Record investments have been made in health care,education, and community development. Pat Binns is known as a friendly and approacable Premier.

He is the father of Rob Binns, CA an executive with Diagnostics Chemicals Limited in Charlottetown, PE; Mark Binns, a Partner at Torque Market Intelligence, Brad Binns, a provincial tax analyst; and Lilly Binns, a business analyst with Dominion Insurance. Binns has two grandchildren and resides with his wife Carol on the family farm in Hopefield, Prince Edward Island.

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by W. Bennett Campbell, Liberal	Member of Parliament from Cardigan 1984–1988	Succeeded by Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal
Political offices
Preceded by Charles Fraser, Liberal	Assemblyman for 4th Kings 1978–1984	Succeeded by Stanley Bruce, Liberal
Preceded by Pat Mella	Leader of the Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party 1996 – present	Incumbent
Preceded by district created	MLA for Murray River-Gaspereaux 1996 – present	Incumbent
Preceded by Keith Milligan	Premier of Prince Edward Island 1996 – present	Incumbent

Premiers of Prince Edward Island
Colony: Coles | Holl | Coles | E. Palmer | Gray | Pope | Coles | Hensley | Haythorne | Pope | Haythorne | Province: Pope | Owen | Davies | Sullivan | McLeod | F. Peters | Warburton | Farquharson | A. Peters | Haszard | J. Palmer | Mathieson | Arsenault | Bell | Stewart | Saunders | Lea | Stewart | MacMillan | Lea | T. Campbell | Jones | Matheson | Shaw | A. Campbell | B. Campbell | MacLean | Lee | Ghiz | Callbeck | Milligan | Binns