Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12559 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AR AF ASEC AMBASSADOR AS AJ AM AORC AEMR ASEAN AFFAIRS AFIN AMGT AODE APEC AE ABLD ACBAQ APECO AFSI AFSN AY AO ABUD AG AC APER AU AMED ATRN ADPM ADCO ASIG AL ASUP ARF AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ACOA AADP ASCH AA AFU AN AID ALOW AINF AMG AIT ANET AGAO AROC ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AMCHAMS ACS APCS ADANA AECL ACAO AORG AGR ACABQ AGMT AX AMEX ADM AFGHANISTAN AZ AND ARM AQ ATFN
BR BK BL BA BO BRUSSELS BM BEXP BU BG BB BTIO BF BD BBSR BIDEN BX BP BE BH BT BY BILAT BWC BN BMGT BTIU BC
CI CU CO CS CVIS CA CJAN CARICOM CB CASC CE CH CN CONDOLEEZZA CMGT CWC CW CG CACS CY CPAS CFED CSW CIDA CIC CITT CBW CONS CD CLINTON CHR CACM CDB COE CDG CDC CAN CR CF CT CODEL CJUS CTM CM CLMT CBC COUNTERTERRORISM CAPC CAC COUNTER CV CL CBSA CNARC CEUDA COM CROS CIA CARSON COPUOS CTR CICTE COUNTRY CBE CIS CKGR CVR CITEL CLEARANCE
DR DISENGAGEMENT DE DJ DA DOMESTIC DEA DOD DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE DHS DEAX DO DAO DCM DK DPRK DEPT
ECA EU ENRG EPET ETTC ETRD ELN ELAB EC EFIN ECON EFIS ELTN EAGR EIND EWWT EMIN EINV EAID EG EUN ECPS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENGR ENIV ECIN EAIR EI ECUN EFTA ENGY ECONOMICS ES ELECTIONS EN EIAR ET EINDETRD EUR EZ EREL ER ECONEFIN EINT EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EK EPA ENVR EINVETC ETRC ENVI ECONCS ECONOMIC EXTERNAL EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA ESA ECINECONCS EAIG ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EUREM ESENV ETRN ENNP EFINECONCS EEPET ENERG EUC EUNCH EXIM ERD ERNG EINVEFIN ETC EAP ECONOMY EINN EXBS
FAO FR FI FTAA FAC FOI FREEDOM FJ FMLN FARC FDA FTA FBI FM FO FOREIGN FISO FOR FAS FINR FINANCE
GM GG GZ GAZA GR GOI GANGS GV GCC GY GT GA GAERC GOV GE GH GLOBAL GTIP GERARD GTMO GL GF
HK HR HA HURI HO HU HILLARY HUMAN HUMOR HSTC HYMPSK HEBRON HI
IIP IC IR IN IAEA IS IT IMF IBRD IZ IWC ISRAELI INTERPOL IO ISLAMISTS ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI ILO IPR IQ IV IRS INRB ICAO IMO ID IZPREL IRAJ ICTY ICRC IAHRC ITF INR IGAD ILC ITU IF ITPHUM IL INTERNAL ISRAEL IACI ICJ ITRA INMARSAT ICTR IA IEFIN INTELSAT IBET INRA INRO IDP INDO IRC IDA ITPGOV IEA
JA JP JO JAMES JOSEPH JM JUS JOHN JOHNNIE
KPAO KCRM KNNP KCOR KIRF KISL KSCA KDEM KDEMAF KZ KBTR KUNR KMDR KRVC KPAL KTIA KV KJUS KOMC KTFN KWBG KTIP KMPI KSUM KIRC KE KIPR KWMN KFRD KSEP KN KOLY KPKO KIDE KMRS KFLU KSAF KGIC KRAD KU KHLS KOCI KSTH KS KGHG KAWC KICC KG KSPR KPRP KDRG KGIT KVPR KGCC KSEO KMCA KSTC KBIO KHIV KBCT KPAI KICA KTDB KACT KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHUM KFLO KREC KSEC KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPIN KCOM KESS KDEV KCFE KNUC KAWK KPLS KWWMN KCIP KPRV KHDP KTEX KFIN KOM KBTS KCRS KNPP KWNM KRFD KVIR KLIG KMIG KDDG KRGY KFSC KR KMOC KPAONZ KNAR KIFR KCGC KID KSAC KAID KNSD KWMNCS KCMR KO KNEI KPOA KTER KOMS KPAK KTBT KWMM KWAC KHSA KX KMFO KPWR KRIM KSCI KVRP KENV KCRCM KNUP KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KJUST KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN
LY LTTE LE LH LO LI LG LT LU LABOR LA LAB LOG
MARR MX MOPS MNUC MZ MASS MEETINGS MG MW MIL MTCRE MCAP MAS MO MTCR MD MK MP MY MR MT MCC MIK MU ML MARAD MA MAPS MV MERCOSUR MASC MPOS MILITARY MDC MQADHAFI MEPP MRCRE MEDIA MAPP MTRE MEPN MI MC MUCN MAR MASSMNUC MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPI
NATO NL NZ NI NU NO NPT NRR NA NATIONAL NIPP NAFTA NT NS NE NASA NSF NP NAR NV NORAD NG NSSP NW NK NDP NR NATOPREL NEW NPA NPG NSG NSFO NGO NSC NH NZUS NC
OFDA OTRA OPRC OIIP OAS OPDC OVIP OEXC OPIC OSCE OPCW OREP OFFICIALS ODIP OECD OMIG OFDP OBSP OIE OSCI OES OPAD OVP OHUM OIC ON OCII OCS OTR OSAC
PREL PGOV PINR PTER PARM PHUM PA PBTS PINS PM PREF PHSA PK POL PL PE PFOR PALESTINIAN PUNE PGOVLO PAO POLITICS PO PHUMBA PSEPC PNAT PNR PROP POLINT PGOVE PROG PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PROV PSOE PU POGOV PMIL PINL PHUMPREL PGIV PBT PAK PP PGOC PY PLN PMAR PHUH PBIO PF PRL PG PHUS PTBS PRAM POV PEL PAS POLICY PGGV POLITICAL PARTIES PCUL PSA PDOV PCI PREO PAHO PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PHUMPGOV PREFA PSI PAIGH POSTS PARMS PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PINF PNG
QA
RU RS RICE RW RCMP RO RFE RP RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT REGION RUPREL RF RELATIONS RM REACTION ROOD REPORT RSO RSP
SNAR SENV SOCI SCUL SY SR SU SO SP SA SZ SF SMIG SW SIPDIS STEINBERG SN SNARIZ SG SNARN SSA SK SI SPCVIS SOFA SC SL SARS SNARCS SIPRS SYR SANC SEVN SWE SHI SEN SHUM SYRIA SH SPCE SAARC SCRS SENVKGHG SAN ST
TW TRGY TU TPHY TBIO TX TN TSPL TC TZ TSPA TS TF TI TIP TH TINT TNGD TP TD TFIN TAGS TK TL TV TT TERRORISM TR THPY TO TRSY TURKEY TBID
UK UP US UNSC UNHCR USEU UNGA UG UY UNESCO UN USTR USOAS UZ UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNEP UNIDROIT UNHRC UNDESCO UNMIK UNDP UNC UNO UNAUS UV UNICEF UNCHR UNDC UNCHC UNPUOS USUN USNC UNCSD UNCND USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE
VM VE VZ VT VN VTPREL VTIZ VAT VC VTEG VI
WITH WI WHO WTRO WIPO WTO WS WTRQ WWARD WHTI WEU WZ WHA WMD WMO WA WBG WFP WB
XF XG XT XK XM XR XZ XA XV XL XH XE XB XU XW XQ XS XX XY XD XC XI XTAG
YM YI YMCS YE
ZP ZR ZB ZI ZA ZK ZU ZOELLICK ZF ZO ZANU ZEALAND ZL ZJ ZN

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 04HALIFAX255, PROVINCIAL POLITICS IN ATLANTIC CANADA: WHO'S IN AND WHO'S

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04HALIFAX255.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
04HALIFAX255 | 2004-11-13 18:42 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Consulate Halifax

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

    131842Z Nov 04

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HALIFAX 000255

    SIPDIS

    FOR WHA/CAN

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV ECON CA
    SUBJECT: PROVINCIAL POLITICS IN ATLANTIC CANADA:  WHO'S IN AND WHO'S
    OUT

    ¶1.  INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY:  This fall has proven to be a busy
    season for provincial politicians in Atlantic Canada.  Minority
    governments, shortened legislative sessions, by-elections, and
    party leadership changes have combined to create more attention
    than usual on what's going on both inside and outside the four
    legislatures.  Accordingly, we have taken a snapshot look at
    each of the provinces showing the situation in each with a few
    predictions on what's in store for the region.

    ¶2.  Both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are facing minority
    governments suggesting a decline in the Conservative Party's
    sway in these provinces.  In N.B. the Liberals are the strongest
    potential challenger, while in N.S. it is the NDP.  In the short
    term neither of these provincial governments seem likely to be
    overturned, but in the longer term observers should not be
    surprised to see electoral change.  In Newfoundland and Labrador
    and Prince Edward Island the Conservative leadership is
    experiencing more popularity.  Only in Newfoundland could the
    popularity be fleeting, pending the Premier's success in
    negotiations with Ottawa. Thus it will be interesting to watch
    whether the potential fall of the Conservatives in N.B. or N.S.
    will shake the popularity of the Conservatives in PEI and
    Newfoundland and Labrador.  END INTRODUCTION/SUMMARY

    New Brunswick
    -------------

    ¶3.  Lt. Governor Herminigilde Chiasson (Appointed for a five
    year term on August 26, 2003)

    Premier: Bernard Lord (Party: Progressive Conservatives)
    Most recent election:  June 9, 2003
    Current Party Standings in the House (55 seats in total)
            Progressive Conservatives 28
                    (Leader: Bernard Lord since October 18, 1997
            Liberals 26
                    (Leader: Shawn Graham since May 11, 2002
            New Democrats 1
                    (Leader:  Elizabeth Weir since 1988)

    Election history:  Bernard Lord and his Conservative party have
    ruled New Brunswick since they overturned the incumbent Liberals
    in the June 1999 election.

    Current political scene:  While portrayed as a rising star on
    the national political stage, Conservative Premier Bernard Lord
    is suffering from popularity problems with the folks at home.
    Lord's tough policy decisions on health care reform have created
    widespread unrest throughout the province and have stirred up
    serious dissention in the party ranks over how the Premier
    handled contentious issues such as hospital bed closures and
    downgrading hospitals. Helping to fan the flames of discontent
    is Liberal Opposition leader Shawn Graham, now openly talking of
    bringing down the government in the next legislative session of
    the house.

    The possibility of an eventual non-confidence motion has led
    Graham to institute a series of personnel changes in his caucus
    office including the addition of a new chief of staff whose
    principal job will be to prepare the party for battle with the
    Conservatives.  However, the Liberals are still struggling with
    a credibility problem among the electorate.  Hesitancy is thus
    the play of the day, with some Liberal rank and file calling for
    restraint in order to allow the party to build up more momentum
    before forcing a new election. The NDP is similarly reluctant to
    bring down the current government. The current NDP leader
    Elizabeth Weir, who holds the party's only seat in the house,
    recently announced her resignation as leader, although there is
    no date yet for a convention to pick a replacement.  All things
    considered, this will make the next New Brunswick legislative
    session the one to watch in the region.

    Nova Scotia
    -----------

    ¶4.  Lt. Governor: Myra A. Freeman (Appointed for a five year
    term on April 28, 2000)
    Premier: John F. Hamm (Party: Progressive Conservatives-PC)
    Most Recent Election: August 5, 2003
    Party Standings in the House (52 seats in total)
            Progressive Conservatives 25
                    (Leader:  John F. Hamm since October 28, 1995)
            Liberals 12
    (Leader:  Francis Mackenzie since October 23, 2004)
            New Democrats 15
                    (Leader:  Darrell Dexter since June 4, 2001)

    Election History:  John Hamm and his Conservatives have been
    governing Nova Scotia since July 1999 when they defeated the
    incumbent Liberal government by a wide majority.

    Current political scene:  Like his counterpart in New Brunswick,
    Nova Scotia premier John Hamm is in a precarious minority
    situation, although the opposition is split with the NDP forming
    the official opposition and the Liberals in third place.  The
    NDP has done very well in the province, offering a cooperative
    attitude in working with the incumbent Tories to keep the
    government afloat.

    With the NDP viewed as a credible alternative to the ruling
    Tories, the Liberals appear destined to remain in third place.
    The Liberals have been plagued with weak leadership and this
    does not seem to have changed with the recent newly elected
    leader, Francis MacKenzie. MacKenzie does not have a seat in the
    legislature and will likely have to wait until another general
    election before he has a chance to enter the house.  Thus it
    seems that John Hamm's popularity may be slipping and this will
    likely work in favor of the NDP leaving the Liberals to cool
    their heels for the time being.

    Newfoundland-Labrador
    ---------------------

    ¶5.  Lt. Governor Edward M. Roberts (Appointed for a five year
    term on November 1, 2002)
    Premier: Danny Williams (Party: Progressive Conservatives-PC)
    Most recent election: October 21, 2003
    Party Standings in the House (48 seats in total)
            Conservatives 34
                    (Leader:  Danny Williams since April 7, 2001)
            Liberals 12
                    (Leader:  Roger Grimes since February 3, 2001)
            New Democrats 2
                    (Leader:  Jack Harris since November, 1992)

    Election History: With their win in the October 2003 provincial
    election, Premier Williams and his Tories upset a 12-year long
    Liberal administration.

    Current political scene: Premier Danny Williams recently
    celebrated his first-year anniversary, but he admits that it has
    been a tough year.  After reviewing the province's fiscal
    situation last year, Williams said he had no choice but to
    institute tough measures to bring the province's fiscal
    situation under control and enduring a contentious public sector
    strike.  While fiscal watchers applauded the government's tough
    stance, the measures left the government shaken.  However,
    Williams has seen a surge in popularity with his firm stance
    with the federal government on a revenue sharing agreement on
    offshore energy projects. Should Williams get his way in this
    current dispute with Ottawa, it would be the crowning
    achievement for Williams and one that even opposition leader
    Roger Grimes admits he would applaud. Due to the popularity of
    Williams' position on revenue sharing, Grimes and the two NDP
    members have been forced to instead zero in on Williams'
    personal style of one-man showmanship, hence their new name for
    the Premier, the "Daniator."

    Prince Edward Island
    ---------------------
    ¶6.  Lt. Governor J. Lionce Bernard (Appointed for a five year
    term on May 28, 2001)
    Premier: Patrick George Binns (Party: Progressive Conservatives)
    Most Recent Election: September 29, 2003
    Party Standings in the House (27 seats in total)
            Conservatives
                    (Leader: Patrick George Binns since May 4, 1996
            Liberals
                    (Leader:  Robert Ghiz since April 5, 2003)

    Election History:  Pat Binns and the Conservatives have been
    governing Prince Edward Island since 1996 when they overturned a
    10-year incumbent Liberal government

    Current political scene: Premier Pat Binns is enjoying continued
    support from Islanders, making it difficult for Liberal
    Opposition Leader Robert Ghiz to make many inroads.  In fact,
    pundits believe that it would take the eventual retirement of
    the popular Binns to open up any opportunities for Ghiz. As for
    the NDP, the party has never elected a member either federally
    or provincially, and still appears unprepared to make any
    headway.

    ¶7.  COMMENT:  In the last decade the Atlantic Provinces have
    borne witness to the almost universal defeat in provincial
    legislatures of the previously dominant Liberal Party in favor
    of the Progressive Conservatives.  At the federal level,
    however, the story has been different: in the June 2004 election
    the Liberals took a significant majority of the region's seats
    in the Parliament in Ottawa.   The question to ask while
    watching the Atlantic Provinces in future will be whether this
    "spell" of Conservatism was simply an attempt on the part of
    Atlantic Canadians to express their dissatisfaction with the
    perceived financial irresponsibility of provincial Liberal
    governments or whether this is indicative of a general shift in
    ideology.

    ¶8.  The decline in the popularity of the Conservatives in Nova
    Scotia and New Brunswick indicates that the former may be the
    more accurate analysis, however the situation is less clear in
    the other two Atlantic Provinces.  If the past few years were
    just a warning, then watchers will likely see a return to the
    center following a restructuring and redefinition of the
    alternative parties.  As mentioned, the province to watch will
    be New Brunswick, both because the politics are interesting in
    themselves, but also because N.B. could be the bellwether for a
    more general trend away from the Tories in provincial
    legislatures.
    END COMMENT

    HILL

`