Matt MacFarlane, newly elected leader of the Green Party of Prince Edward Island, took to social media to thank supporters and acknowledge his opponent following a decisive victory in the party’s leadership race.
“I am incredibly humbled to have received such support from the members of the Green Party of Prince Edward Island,” MacFarlane wrote in a Facebook post published Sunday. “Thank you so very much to those who have placed their trust in me to lead this Party forward towards positive change for Prince Edward Island.”
MacFarlane, the MLA for Borden-Kinkora, won the race with 507 of the 647 votes cast—nearly 80%—defeating former MLA Hannah Bell in a contest that generated rare competitive energy within the PEI Greens.
He made a point to praise Bell for her role in the race: “Thank you to Hannah Bell for throwing her hat in the ring and helping to generate the interest and excitement that comes from a contested race.”
The new leader also extended gratitude to his campaign manager, Charlotte Sullivan, and the broader team of volunteers and organizers who supported his campaign.
“Thank you to Charlotte Sullivan for agreeing to serve as my Campaign Manager, and to everyone else who pitched in, in so many ways, to support my campaign.”
MacFarlane now takes the reins of a party that has both a historic record—forming the first Green official opposition in North America in 2019—and a set of fresh challenges ahead. In his message, he signaled an eagerness to get to work.
“Islanders are facing a lot of challenges that will require a lot of work to address. For me, as your new Party Leader, that work begins now.”
With two by-elections expected this year and a general election potentially as early as 2026, MacFarlane will now have to translate his leadership momentum into electoral results—and rebuild the party’s grassroots infrastructure across the island.
