Heritage

THE GOVERNMENT of Prince Edward Island illustrates the operation of an elaborate constitution in a small place. The same system which functions in the large and populous parts of the British Commonwealth has developed in a tiny and isolated province which boasts few economic advantages and a population of only 90,000 people, and has resulted in an unusual example of local democracy. The turbulent political history of the Island in the early years and the nature of her institutions of government have resulted, not only from the normal growth of the parliamentary system, but also from the difficult process of adjusting that system to the local environment. The purpose of this book is to outline the development of the Island''s public affairs in the colonial period and to describe the political institutions and the characteristics of provincial government and politics.