It never fails. Every election campaign follows the same formula, almost as if sitting MLAs and political candidates are following a script written specifically for them.

Every few years or so, Islanders are treated to a tirade of the same old accolades and promises. before being sworn into office, the next batch of politicians swears that they’re going to be better then those going out: more transparency. Better accountability. electoral reform. The list of empty promises goes on and on.

For those of us who live here, and for people the world over who visit Prince Edward Island every year or yearn to be here, Canada’s smallest province – the birthplace of Confederation, is a very special place indeed.

While PEI has much more potential than we often give this little island credit for, even in the first decades of the 21st century, our political system and culture continues to be set in the past, making it that much harder for us to evolve.

It is a known fact amongst Islanders that the political affairs of this province are conducted largely not by elected officials but by a group of mostly unseen individuals often referred to as the ‘backroom boys.’

While every country in the world as well as every Canadian province has issues with corruption and malfeasance within government, it seems that we truly take the cake when it comes to allowing corruption and shadiness to flourish.

In recent years, as Island politicians and Islanders themselves have struggled to bring the province into the modern age, and bring more accountability to government, many solutions have been proposed, most of which to date have barely gotten off the table.

The promise of electoral reform brought with it the prospect of mixed member proportional representation (MMPR), a sure-fire way to give smaller political parties better representation in the provincial legislature.

Others (including myself) have been more inclined to promote direct democracy, which would give the average citizen more say in the goings on within government.

The $1,000,000 question remains unanswered: will a champion for the people emerge and institute these badly needed changes – including a whole new economic vision for Prince Edward Island – or will we be content with the status quo?

While the province’s population has been growing steadily over the past 15 years or so, this growth has in many ways not resulted in the ‘red hot’ economy envisioned by previous premiers, including Wade MacLauchlan.

As we speak, PEI has the highest rate of inflation in the country, a housing crisis which is showing no signs of abating anytime soon, and a health care system which deteriorates by the day.

Again, we must ask, why isn’t there more action on the part of our government – not to mention the Official Opposition – who over the past few years, while certainly doing a good job, have not been more aggressive in asking the tough questions?

Is a government that has a long-term vision for the province’s economy, land use, population growth, the procurement of doctors so that people are not waiting an entire day at the emergency room too much to ask for?

It has been said that you don’t get what you deserve; you get what you put up with. Have we as a society become too comfortable with our own existence that we no longer care about the bigger picture, and therefore are content to continue to elect leaders who will continue down the failed road of the existing state of affairs, meaning we are perpetually doomed to mediocrity?

Your comments, suggestions and ideas await.