Darlene Compton (born January 21, 1961)[2] is a Canadian politician who became the 33rd Speaker of the Prince Edward Island legislature in 2023. She served as the second deputy premier, and minister of finance and the status of women of Prince Edward Island from 2019 to 2023. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2015 provincial election.[3] She represents the electoral district of Belfast-Murray River as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.[3]

Darlene Compton
33rd Speaker of the Prince Edward Island legislature
Assumed office
May 23, 2023
PremierDennis King
Lieutenant GovernorAntoinette Perry
Preceded byColin LaVie
2nd Deputy Premier of Prince Edward Island
In office
May 9, 2019 – April 3, 2023
PremierDennis King
Preceded byGeorge T. Webster (2015)
Succeeded byBloyce Thompson
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island for
Belfast-Murray River
Assumed office
May 4, 2015
Preceded byCharlie McGeoghegan
Personal details
Born (1961-01-21) January 21, 1961 (age 63)
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Residence(s)Pinette, Prince Edward Island[1]

She was previously the party's candidate in the same district for a by-election in 2007, following the resignation of Pat Binns from the legislature, but lost to Charlie McGeoghegan. She ran again in the 2011 provincial election, again losing to McGeoghegan by a margin of just eight votes.[4] She was subsequently a candidate in the party's 2015 leadership election,[1] finishing third behind Rob Lantz and James Aylward.

On May 9, 2019 Compton was appointed deputy premier, following Premier Dennis King's recommendation. She was re-elected in the 2023 general election.[5]

As of June 2022, Compton is a shareholder in several energy and tobacco companies, including Halliburton and Phillip Morris.[6]

Electoral record edit

2023 Prince Edward Island general election: Belfast-Murray River
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Darlene Compton 1,510 58.7 +6.1
Liberal Katherine Bryson 520 20.2 -0.7
Green Laverne MacInnis 420 16.3 -10.2
New Democratic Michelle Hodgson 124 4.8
Total valid votes 2,574 100.0
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +6.2
Source(s)
2019 Prince Edward Island general election: Belfast-Murray River
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Darlene Compton 1,545 52.5 +7.4
Green James Sanders 781 26.6 +20.9
Liberal Ian MacPherson 615 20.9 -20.2
Total valid votes 2,941 100.0
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +7.4
Source: Elections Prince Edward Island[8]
2015 Prince Edward Island general election: Belfast-Murray River
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Darlene Compton 1,203 45.12 -0.42
Liberal Charlie McGeoghegan 1,095 41.07 -4.79
New Democratic Alan Hicken 216 8.10
Green Jordan MacPhee 152 5.70 +1.09
Total valid votes 2,666 100.0  
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +2.18
[9]
2011 Prince Edward Island general election: Belfast-Murray River
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charlie McGeoghegan 1,135 45.86 -9.09
Progressive Conservative Darlene Compton 1,127 45.54 +9.39
Green John Burhoe 114 4.61 +0.99
Island Andy Clarey 99 4.00 -0.67
Total valid votes 2,475 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -9.24


Prince Edward Island provincial by-election, 15 October 2007: Belfast-Murray River
On the appointment of Pat Binns as Ambassador to Ireland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charlie McGeoghegan 1,259 54.95 +14.14
Progressive Conservative Darlene Compton 828 36.15 −19.01
Independent Andy Clarey 107 4.67
Green Ahmon Katz 83 3.62 −0.42
New Democratic Jane McNeil 10 0.44
Total valid votes 2,287 100.0  
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +16.58
Source: Elections PEI

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Pinette resident Darlene Compton joins PC leadership race". The Guardian. January 16, 2015. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  2. ^ "Minding the House: a biographical guide to Prince Edward Island MLAs (Volume 2), 1993-2017 (Cassandra Bernard & Sean McQuaid, Eds.)" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. July 18, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Darlene Compton slogs to victory". The Guardian. May 5, 2015. Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  4. ^ "Darlene Compton, PC leadership candidate, calls province 'adrift'". CBC News, December 10, 2014.
  5. ^ Ross, Shane (April 4, 2023). "Who's in, who's out: Meet the new Legislative Assembly of P.E.I." CBC News.
  6. ^ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT R.S.P.E.I.1988 CAP. C-17.1 - Hon. Darlene Compton, MLA's PUBLIC DISCLOSURE STATEMENT (PDF) (Report). June 20, 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "2023 Election Results". Elections PEI. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  8. ^ "2019 Election Results". Elections PEI. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  9. ^ Elections Prince Edward Island (May 4, 2015). "Provincial General Election - Unofficial Results 2015-05-04". Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.