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COMMENTARY: Leadership begins where announcements end

From the wind farm at North Cape to the lighthouse at East Point, every community on our Island is unique. And it’s that diversity of experience that embroiders the rich political culture of Prince Edward Island.

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Ask someone from Tignish, Miminegash or Wellington about the qualities that make for sound leadership and you will get a very different answer from someone in Charlottetown, Crapaud or 48 Road. And while all those answers may be different from one another, they will all be correct.

To my mind, this is the true source of our province’s strength. We have always valued unique voices and perspectives, and together, we have always managed to chart a successful and stable course. That sense of collective purpose is now in for its most significant test in many, many decades.

Let’s face it: We are now in a time of rapidly accelerating change.

First, our population is aging at a remarkable pace, and this is straining health-care resources and limiting access for thousands.

Next, housing is increasingly expensive, and daily questions of affordability are harming vast portions of our province. The pressure of deciding between medication and food is no mere political slogan. For thousands, it is a daily trial with no good answer.

Third, our collective resources are draining into a growing pool of debt — and like many other Islanders, I am very worried about our capacity to respond in the event of an emergency.

And, of course, there is the massive uncertainty surrounding our energy supply.

To provide a small amount of context: Population growth that once approached four per cent annually has slowed to........

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