Parties & Leaders
Dean ConstableCBC Online News | Updated Apr. 30, 2007
Constable recognizes that the great challenge for his party is to get another MLA into the legislature. In its history, the party has only ever elected one: Herb Dickieson from 1996 to 2000. "We want to ensure that we bring the voice of Islanders back into the legislature," Constable told CBC News. "The goal is to ensure that we have seats in the next legislature, absolutely."
Constable was born in Charlottetown and will run his first political campaign there in the district of Charlottetown-Victoria Park. A theatre stage manager by trade, Constable understands the value of organization, and has made this a priority for the party, but he has found the going hard. In January he told CBC News he was getting an early start on campaigning, and had nine or 10 people committed to running for the party. In previous elections, the party has often run nominating conventions well into the campaign. So far, the recruiting has not gone as well as Constable has hoped. The party website listed only two candidates in place when the election was called.
Constable ranks the environment as the No. 1 issue in the election, with a particular focus on reducing consumption, preserving the land, and increasing renewable energy production. "We certainly need to look at our public buildings, the ones that are owned by the province, which are quite large and often do waste quite a bit of energy, but we also do need programs to help every Islander make better use of the energy we do have," he said. Constable is also concerned about recent moves to remove provincial protection from certain lands, saying once an area is designated protected it should stay protected. Constable has one son, who is four, and recognizes that choosing political life will mean spending less time with him. He hopes he can make enough of a difference to the lives of Islanders to make that sacrifice worthwhile. The CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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P.E.I. NDP
The 2007 election campaign coincides with Dean Constable's first anniversary as leader of the Island New Democrats, a job he won in April of 2006.
At 27, Constable is the youngest leader in Island politics, but he has a fair amount of experience for a person of his age. When he was 18, he founded a production company in Charlottetown, operating it for three years, and then moved to Vancouver to study theatre production, eventually returning to work as a stage manager with the Charlottetown Festival and other groups.
Leaders Menu
Quick Facts
Born: Charlottetown, Jan 11, 1980
Education: Dip. Theatre Production, Studio 58, Langara College, Vancouver, 2001
Family: Married to Teresa with a four-year-old son, William.
Media
- VIDEO FEATURE | Sep. 12, 2006
Interviews with the three party leaders - Host Terry Seguin speaks with NDP leader Dean Constable. (runs 6:55)
- AUDIO FEATURE | Aug. 29, 2006
What's left of the NDP? - A look at the propects for Dean Constable's party.
(runs 9:15)
District Profiles
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