Pat Binns
 |
Patrick George Binns | |
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| File:Premier binns of PEI.jpg Premier Pat Binns in Murray Harbour. | |
| 32nd Premier of Prince Edward Island | |
| Assumed office November 27, 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Keith Milligan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 8, 1948 Weyburn, Saskatchewan |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Carol MacMillan |
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.
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.[1] In 1972, Binns began working for the Prince Edward Island Rural Development Council[2] and met and married Carol MacMillan of Stratford, PEI. While working for the P.E.I. government from 1974 to 1978, Mr. Binns helped create and run the Regional Service Centres in the province's east.[2] In 1978, he received the Queen's Silver of Jubilee for Outstanding Public Service.[3]
Binns entered politics in 1978 when he was elected as a MLA for the district of 4th Kings.[1][2] He was subsequently re-elected in 1979 and 1982, serving various portfolios as Minister of Industry (1983), Community Affairs (1980), Fisheries (1982-83), Environment (1979), Labour (1979), Municipal Affairs (1979),[2]
From 1984-1988 Binns was the MP for Cardigan, serving as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries in the Brian Mulroney government.[2] Binns subsequently established an edible bean farm in Hopefield (Island Bean Limited) and operated a management consultant firm, Pat Binns & Associates.[2]
Premiership
First term (1996 to 2000)
Binns entered the provincial PC Party leadership race to succeed Patricia Mella in 1996 and won a convincing first ballot victory on May 5,[2] 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 Liberals' 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.
Second term (2000 to 2003)
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.
In 2001, Binns' government inaugurated the Disability Support Program intended to provide assistive devices and social integration assistance to Islanders with disabilities. A Human Rights complaint questioned whether the program was "a service in the context of the Prince Edward Island Human Rights Act".[4] In 2003 Binns' government commissioned the Baker Report.[5] The report documented complaints under the DSP. Funding was restored to the DSP in 2007.
Third term (2003 to present)
The 2003 provincial election was held on September 29 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 canceled, 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 its 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, evidenced by the disappearance of Doctors in West Prince. 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.
Binns' government waited for federal ruling on same-sex marriage before allowing it in Prince Edward Island in 2004.
Binns is expected to run in the Prince Edward Island general election, 2007
Personal life
He is the father of Rob Binns,[1] Mark Binns (a Partner at Torque Market Intelligence [6]), Brad Binns,[1] and Lilly Binns,[1]
Binns has two grandchildren, Kristen and Andrew,[1] and resides with his wife Carol on the family farm in Hopefield, Prince Edward Island.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island: Hon. Pat G. Binns Biography
- ^ a b c d e f g The Canadian Encyclopedia: "Binns, Patrick George".
- ^ Team Canada 2001: Canadian Provincial Premiers
- ^ File #1123-02: Pat Coady on behalf of Jennifer Coady, complainant, and Queens Region Health and Department of Health and Social Services, respondent, The Prince Edward Island Human Rights Panel, heard September 29, 2004.
- ^ Formative Evaluation: P.E.I. Disability Support Program Final Report [1]
- ^ Torque Market Intelligence: Mark Binns
External links
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