P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz is considering moving the province's fixed election date from the spring to the fall.

'The auditor general will have five months before the next general election to get those books ready.'— Premier Robert Ghiz

The former government brought in fixed election dates last spring. The legislation states elections will be held every four years on the second Monday in May, with the next election set for 2011.

Ghiz supported the legislation in the spring and said his quibble now isn't with the idea of a fixed date, but with the time of year.

With a May election this year, the legislature wasn't able to pass a budget in the spring. A fall election would also give the auditor general time to look over a budget passed in the spring.

"The auditor general will have five months before the next general election to get those books ready. So if you look at things logistically, a fall election is probably the better way to go," said Ghiz.

Opposition leader Olive Crane said she is ready to support the change.

"If the premier is making the decision based on the fact that audited financial statements are available usually in late spring and would be available prior to the fall election in 2011, then I would support that," said Crane.

Another effect of changing the dates would be a further five months in power for the current government.

Ghiz said he'll consult Islanders before bringing in any amendments to the fixed election date legislation. He noted Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Northwest Territories all set their fixed election dates for the fall.