Malpeque (Prince Edward Island) 171/338

 Malpeque (Prince Edward Island)

Today we're in our final PEI riding with Malpeque!

Malpeque has existed as a riding since 1968, created from Prince and Queen's. The population of the riding was 39,731 in 2021. The riding contains the communities of Cornwall (6,574 in 2021), Kensington (1,812 in 2021), and Miltonvale Park (1,196 in 2021). Like the other two rural PEI ridings, this riding is named for Malpeque Bay.

Politically, this seat has been Liberal since 1988. There have been recent close calls, including the Atlantic PC surge of '97, the last two elections that gave us Harper governments, and the 2021 election. The Greens received 26% and second place in 2019, building off provincial success in the area. This seat is currently held by Liberal MP Heath MacDonald.

Provincially, both Premier Dennis King and Leader of the Official Opposition Peter Bevan-Baker hold seats here, bordering each other. Both are historic in their own way. Dennis King took the PC's back to government, winning the first minority government in PEI history (it has turned into a majority since). Peter Bevan-Baker lead the PEI Green Party to both party status and became the first Canadian Green Official Opposition. In 2019, this seat was 2/4 in PEI and 136/338 in Canada by margin.

The name is okay, Malpeque Bay is split between Egmont and Malpeque. The shape is good, don’t really know how else you draw PEI ridings. As for individuality, having the two current main party leaders here is pretty cool.

See you tomorrow in Manicouagan!