Prince Edward Island Premier and new cabinet sworn in today

Prince Edward Island’s 33^rd Premier Dennis King and new members of Executive Council were sworn in during a ceremony in Georgetown today.

“I am honoured to serve as Premier of Prince Edward Island, and I look forward to working with the new members of cabinet,” said Premier King. “We have been presented with a unique privilege to serve the people of Prince Edward Island each and every day. As we move forward, together, we will fulfill our commitment to working hard for, and with, Islanders to strengthen our province.”

The ceremony was presided over by Her Honour Antoinette Perry, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island. Premier King named the following members to Executive Council:

• Honourable Dennis King, Premier and President of the Executive Council, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister responsible for Indigenous Relations, Minister responsible for Acadian and Francophone Affairs
• Honourable Darlene Compton, Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister responsible for Status of Women
• Honourable James Aylward, Minister of Health & Wellness
• Honourable Steven Myers, Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy
• Honourable Jamie Fox, Minister of Fisheries and Communities
• Honourable Matthew MacKay, Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture
• Honourable Brad Trivers, Minister of Education and Lifelong Learning, Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Change
• Honourable Ernie Hudson, Minister of Social Development and Housing
• Honourable Bloyce Thompson, Minister of Agriculture and Land, Minister of  Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General

Additionally, Premier King has tasked MLA Sidney MacEwen with a special commission to work with the 21 members of the Partnership for Growth and other community organizations to realize the vision for sustainable economic growth in Prince Edward Island. In this capacity, MLA MacEwen will work with his Cabinet colleagues and all members of the Legislative Assembly. The Honourable James Aylward will also serve as Minister responsible for Greater Charlottetown and the Honourable Matthew MacKay will serve as the Minister responsible for Greater Summerside.

“Islanders have made it clear that they want a government that does things differently, one that works collaboratively and in partnership with all members of the legislative assembly for the betterment of Islanders,” said King. “I have confidence that our new cabinet will work together to put the needs of Islanders first in every decision that we make.”

Media Contact:

Amanda Hamel
Executive Director, Communications and Public Affairs
Premier’s Office
(902) 314-2721
ajhamel@gov.pe.ca

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Cabinet member biographies

Dennis King

Dennis King grew up in Georgetown, graduating from Montague Regional High School in 1990. After studying journalism in Ontario, he returned to PEI knowing that he wanted to live, work and raise a family here. His first full-time job was as a reporter with the Eastern Graphic and then moved on to be the editor of the Island Farmer and Atlantic Fish Farming publications, earning several awards for his journalism.

Dennis later joined government, working in communications and eventually serving as Director of Communications for Premier Pat Binns. During those years, he gained a keen insight into how government operates and impacts people’s lives. He later worked as Director of Communications and Business Development with the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island and as Executive Director of the PEI Seafood Processors Association. In 2013, he embraced entrepreneurship, starting his own communications business. He later joined forces with public affairs company M5, providing strategic advice to a range of clients.

Dennis and his wife Jana are proud parents of Jacob, Camdyn, and Callum and live in Brookfield.

James Aylward

James Aylward was first elected as the MLA for District 6, Stratford-Kinlock in 2011 and was re-elected in 2015. In 2019 he was once again re-elected in the new District 6 of Stratford-Keppoch.

James has held many roles, including Leader of the Opposition, Opposition House Leader, Chair of the Public Accounts, opposition critic for health, finance and tourism. He has also been a representative on numerous Standing Committees including legislative management, rules and regulations, private bills and privileges.
James worked in the hospitality and tourism industry for 34 years, first for Canadian Pacific Hotels and Resorts in Charlottetown and Alberta, followed by 12 years at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, and four years at the University of Prince Edward Island.

James continues to demonstrate his commitment to community through volunteer work, which includes serving as a Board Member of the Canadian Cancer Society and Chair for the Queens County Relay for Life. He also volunteers with various other organizations including the Terry Fox Foundation, Upper Room Food Ministry, Camp Gencheff, Habitat for Humanity, Holland College Advisory Committee, Atlantic Presenters Association Board, Parkdale / Sherwood Lions Club, Stratford Citizens on Patrol and Our Lady of Assumption Liturgical Ministries.

James lives in Stratford with his wife Cece and their son Connor.  

Steven Myers

Steven Myers was first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015. Steven has served as Leader of the Opposition, Opposition House Leader and as Opposition Critic for Education, Economic Development and Tourism, Transportation, and Rural Development. As Opposition Education Critic, he was instrumental in helping prevent the closure of several schools across Prince Edward, including Georgetown Elementary.

Steven’s community involvement includes Past President of Cardigan Minor Ball and Montague Minor Hockey, Chair of the Cardigan Ball Field Renovations Committee and the 2011 Midget Female Atlantics Host Committee, as well as Board Member of the Cardigan Communities Development Association and the PEI Minor Hockey Council.

Myers has two children Brad and Luke, and lives with his partner Sheryl in Cardigan.  

Darlene Compton

Darlene Compton was first elected as the MLA for Belfast-Murray River in 2015, and has served as Opposition House Leader and Opposition Critic for Finance, Family and Human Services, and the Status of Women. She has sat on the Standing Committees of Legislative Management, Public Accounts, and Health and Wellness.

Darlene earned a business degree from Casco Bay College before living and working overseas for many years. Prior to being elected, she worked as administrator of the Dr. John Gillis Memorial Lodge. She sits on the board of the Belfast Development Corporation and the Belfast Recreation Centre. She also serves as a director of the Belfast Historical Society.

Darlene has two grown children, Katie and Glen, and lives in South Pinette with her husband Russell.

Jamie Fox

Jamie Fox served in the military and as a local law enforcement officer on Prince Edward Island. He has also owned and operated small businesses in both P.E.I. and New Brunswick.  Jamie is a community volunteer and an active supporter of school breakfast programs in his district of Borden-Kinkora.

Since being elected in 2015, Jamie has served on the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries and the Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Energy.

He lives in North Carleton with his wife Deborah and their three sons, Johnathan, Joey and Jacob.

Matthew MacKay

Matthew MacKay grew up in a fishing family in French River and graduated from Kensington Intermediate Senior High School and Holland College. He has worked in both the shell fishery and the lobster fishery. Matthew also worked in the tourism industry, owning and operating his own business and managing Reuben’s Seafood Restaurant in Darnley before becoming an award-winning real estate agent with Century 21. He is also a member of the Prince County Horsemen’s Club and the PEI Real Estate Association.  
 
Matthew was elected as MLA for Kensington-Malpeque in 2015. Since then, he has taken on many roles such as Opposition House Leader and opposition critic for Education, Economic Development and Tourism. Matthew has sat as a member of several Legislative Standing Committees, including Education and Economic Development, Infrastructure and Energy, Legislative Management, and Rules, Regulations, Private Bills and Privileges.

Matthew and his wife Alisha live in North Granville with their children Kennedy, Charlotte and Wyatt.

Brad Trivers

Brad Trivers is a graduate of the University of Waterloo. For the last fifteen years, he and his wife have owned and operated an information technology consulting and web development company, working with business owners and organizations in PEI, across Canada, and internationally. He worked as a senior systems analyst at the Canada Revenue Agency through Deltaware Systems.  Brad spent most of his early career with Alcatel Canada during the high-tech boom.

First elected to the provincial legislature in 2015, Brad is active in his local community of New Glasgow, a member of Central Queens United Church, as well as a minor hockey and soccer coach. Brad also enjoys volunteering his time and musical talents at community ceilidhs, concerts and events.

He lives in New Glasgow with his wife Karen and their two children, Annika and Alex.

Ernie Hudson

Ernie Hudson, a graduate of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and the University of Guelph, worked in West Prince for a number of years with the Department of Agriculture, and operated the family dairy farm in Cascumpec for 27 years.

He has worked as constituency manager for Egmont MP, Hon. Gail Shea, and as chief of staff in the Opposition Office. He is a steward and trustee of O'Leary United Church and a board member of the Rev. WJ Philips Residence, a community care facility in Alberton. He previously served as chair of the West Prince Health Board.

Ernie and his wife Marilyn live in Fortune Cove. They have two adult daughters and two grandchildren.

Bloyce Thompson

Bloyce Thompson is a third generation dairy farmer who is the owner and operator of the family farm, Eastside Farm Inc. on the Frenchfort Road. His family farm also sells dairy cattle breeding stock to local, national and international markets. He is a graduate of both Charlottetown Rural High School and Dalhousie Agricultural Campus.

Thompson has a demonstrated record of community service. He has been active as a coach in the Sherwood/Parkdale Minor Baseball Association, served as vice president of Old Home Week and as a board member of the Dairy Farmers of PEI. He serves as an elder in the York-Covehead United pastoral charge. Bloyce and his wife Terri are the proud parents of three children Alyson, Jenell and Taylor.