The 1947 Prince Edward Island general election was held in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island on December 11, 1947.
The governing Liberals of Premier J. Walter Jones were able to increase their majority in the Legislature over the opposition Progressive Conservatives, led by former Premier William J.P. MacMillan. This would be MacMillan's last election as PC leader.
The democratic socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation increased their share of the vote marginally, but were unable to capture any seats. Cyrus Gallant, the CCF's candidate for Assemblyman in 3rd Prince, made history as the first third-party candidate to place second in an electoral contest over one of the two major party candidates.
Party Standings
+ ↓ 24 6 Liberal PC
PartyParty LeaderSeatsPopular Vote1943ElectedChange#%ChangeLiberalJ. Walter Jones2024+440,75850.3%-1.0%William J. P. MacMillan106-436,66145.3%-0.8%---3,5094.3%+2.2%---890.1%+0.1%
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 John R. McLean Progressive Conservative T. J. Kickham Liberal 2nd Kings Harry Cox Liberal Lou Burge Progressive Conservative 3rd Kings Joseph G. Campbell Liberal Keir Clark Liberal 4th Kings John A. Campbell Liberal Alexander Wallace Matheson Liberal 5th Kings William Hughes Liberal George Saville Liberal
Queens
District Assemblyman Party Councillor Party 1st Queens Frederic Large Liberal W. F. Alan Stewart Liberal 2nd Queens Philip Matheson Progressive Conservative Reginald Bell Progressive Conservative 3rd Queens Russell C. Clark Liberal Eugene Cullen Liberal 4th Queens Dougald MacKinnon Liberal John Walter Jones Liberal 5th Queens David L. Matheson Progressive Conservative William J. P. MacMillan Progressive Conservative
Prince
District Assemblyman Party Councillor Party 1st Prince Hector Richard Liberal Fred Ramsay Liberal 2nd Prince George H. Barbour Liberal Forrest Phillips Liberal 3rd Prince J. Wilfred Arsenault Liberal Thomas Linkletter Liberal 4th Prince Cleveland Baker Liberal Horace Wright Liberal 5th Prince Carrol Delaney Liberal Lorne H. MacFarlane Liberal
Sources