View source for Pat Binns

{{short description|Canadian diplomat (born 1948)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix     = 
| honorific-suffix     = [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Arts|MA]]
| smallimage           =
| caption              = 
| order1               = 27th [[Canadian Ambassador to Ireland]]
| office1              = 
| term_start1          = August 30, 2007
| term_end1            = November 19, 2010
| predecessor1         = [[Carl Schwenger]]
| successor1           = [[Loyola Hearn]]
| order2               = 30th
| office2              = Premier of Prince Edward Island
| term_start2          = November 27, 1996
| term_end2            = June 12, 2007
| monarch2             = [[Elizabeth II]]
| lieutenant_governor2 = [[Gilbert Clements]]<br />[[Léonce Bernard]]<br />[[Barbara Oliver Hagerman|Barbara A. Hagerman]]
| predecessor2         = [[Keith Milligan]]
| successor2           = [[Robert Ghiz]]
| office3               = Leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island]]
| term_start3          = May 4, 1996
| term_end3            = August 30, 2007
| predecessor3         = [[Pat Mella]]
| successor3           = [[Olive Crane]] <small>(interim)</small>
| office4          = Assemblyman of the [[Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island]] for<br />[[4th Kings]]
| predecessor4     = [[Charles Fraser (Canadian politician)|Charles Fraser]]
| successor4       = [[Stanley Bruce (Canadian politician)|Stanley Bruce]]
| term_start4      = April 24, 1978
| term_end4        = August 3, 1984
| office6          = Member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island]] for<br />[[Belfast-Murray River]]<br /><small>[[Belfast-Murray River|Murray River-Gaspereaux]] (1996-2007)</small><ref>represented [[Belfast-Murray River]] from May 28, 2007 – August 30, 2007</ref>
| predecessor6     = ''Riding Established''
| successor6       = [[Charlie McGeoghegan]]
| term_start6      = November 18, 1996
| term_end6        = August 30, 2007
| riding7          = [[Cardigan (electoral district)|Cardigan]]
| parliament7      = Canadian
| term_start7      = September 4, 1984
| term_end7        = November 21, 1988
| predecessor7     = [[Bennett Campbell]]
| successor7       = [[Lawrence MacAulay]]
|birth_name            = Patrick George Binns
| birth_date           = {{birth date and age|1948|10|8}}
| birth_place          = [[Weyburn]], Saskatchewan, Canada
| spouse               = {{marriage|Carol MacMillan|1971}}
| party                = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island]]
| otherparty           = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]]
| relations            =
| children             = 4
| residence            = [[Boston, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| alma_mater           = [[University of Alberta]]
| occupation           = development officer, civil servant, farmer and businessperson
| profession           = Politician, Diplomat
| cabinet              = '''Provincial''':<br />Minister of Municipal Affairs (1979–1980) <br /> Minister of Labour (1979–1980) <br /> Minister of Environment (1979–1980) <br /> Minister of Community Affairs (1980–1982) <br /> Minister of Fisheries (1982–1983) <br /> Minister of Industry (1983–1984)
'''Federal''':<br />Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries (1986–1988)
|}}
'''Patrick George Binns''' (born October 8, 1948) is a Canadian [[diplomat]], the 30th [[premier of Prince Edward Island]] from 1996 to 2007 and Canadian Ambassador to [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] from 2007 to 2010.<ref>Diplomatic Appointment, 30 August 2007, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada news release No. 121 [http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=347349&] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181651/http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=347349&|date=2016-03-03}}</ref>

Binns has a long history of public service, most notably being the [[List of premiers of Prince Edward Island|30th]] Premier of PEI for 11 years, during which time he was the leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island]].

During his premiership, Binns was known as the province's "affable and unassuming premier."<ref>[http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=149dbab5-5bfa-4c7e-91dc-7e131b8fc17d  Chris Morris, CP as reported in Canada.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025074838/http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=149dbab5-5bfa-4c7e-91dc-7e131b8fc17d |date=2012-10-25 }}</ref>

He also served as Canada's Consul General in [[Boston, Massachusetts]].

==Before the premiership==

Binns was born in [[Weyburn, Saskatchewan]], and graduated from the [[University of Alberta]] in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts. In 1971, he earned a [[Master of Arts]] in Community Development while working for the government of [[Alberta]] as a community development officer.<ref name="pcbiobinns">Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island: [http://www.pcparty.pe.ca/biography.cfm Hon. Pat G. Binns Biography]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430123411/http://www.pcparty.pe.ca/biography.cfm |date=April 30, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="ualberta">University of Alberta: [http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/newtrail//pdfs/ntspring08.pdf Pat Binns '69 BA, '72 MA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327115255/http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/newtrail//pdfs/ntspring08.pdf |date=2009-03-27 }}</ref> In 1972, Binns began working for the Prince Edward Island Rural Development Council<ref name="canadianencyclopedia">''The Canadian Encyclopedia'': "[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/patrick-george-binns Binns, Patrick George]".</ref> and met and married Carol MacMillan of [[Stratford, Prince Edward Island|Stratford, PEI]]. While working for the P.E.I. government from 1974 to 1978, Binns helped create and run the Regional Service Centres in the province's east.<ref name="canadianencyclopedia" /> In 1978, he received the Queen's Silver of Jubilee for Outstanding Public Service.<ref>[http://www.tcm-mec.gc.ca/China/background_info-en.asp Team Canada 2001: Canadian Provincial Premiers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050414131018/http://www.tcm-mec.gc.ca/China/background_info-en.asp |date=2005-04-14 }}</ref>

Binns entered politics in 1978 when he was elected as a [[Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island|MLA]] for the district of [[4th Kings]].<ref name="pcbiobinns" /><ref name="canadianencyclopedia" /> He was subsequently re-elected in 1979 and 1982, serving various portfolios as Minister of Industry (1983), Community Affairs (1980), Fisheries (1982–83), Environment (1979), Labour (1979), and Municipal Affairs (1979) under Premier [[James Lee (Canadian politician)|James Lee]].<ref name="canadianencyclopedia" />

From 1984 to 1988, Binns was the [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|MP]] for [[Cardigan (electoral district)|Cardigan]], serving as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries in the [[Brian Mulroney]] government.<ref name="canadianencyclopedia" /> Binns subsequently established an edible [[bean]] farm in [[Hopefield, Prince Edward Island|Hopefield]] (Island Bean Limited) and operated a management consultant firm, Pat Binns & Associates.<ref name="canadianencyclopedia" />

==Premiership==

===First term (1996 to 2000)===

Binns entered the provincial [[Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island|PC Party]] leadership race to succeed [[Pat Mella|Patricia Mella]] in 1996 and won a convincing first ballot victory on May 5<ref name="canadianencyclopedia" /> over Charlottetown businessman [[Wes MacAleer]] and O'Leary Veterinarian Dr. Gary Morgan. He immediately set about organizing the party for an election expected within months. Binns took over a party with only a single member in the 32 seat Provincial Legislature. Binns campaigned on a platform of strengthening health care and education, encouraging economic development, and energizing communities. A provincial election was planned for late May by Premier [[Catherine Callbeck]], only to be called off by Callbeck at the last minute at a nominating convention on the night of the planned election call. Subsequent media polls showed a surge in popularity for the PC Party. Callbeck resigned shortly afterwards and a leadership convention was held in the fall, electing provincial Cabinet Minister Keith Milligan as Callbeck's successor as Liberal leader and Premier.

Binns' PC Party defeated the Liberal Party led by Milligan in the general election on November 18, 1996, gathering 18 seats to the Liberals' 8, and the NDP's 1. This was the first provincial general election contested under a new single member, 27 seat system, replacing the previous dual member, 16 seat system.

===Second term (2000 to 2003)===

Binns' won a second mandate in 2000 when his PC Party swept 26 of 27 seats, leaving a single opposition Liberal in the legislature. Both Liberal Party Leader [[Wayne Carew]] and NDP Leader Dr. [[Herb Dickieson]] were defeated.

The second term of the Binns government saw continued economic growth with new business investment, economic diversification, export and tourism growth, and construction of the Atlantic Technology Centre in Charlottetown as a catalyst for development of the burgeoning IT sector. Investments continued in education and health care for extensive school construction and repair, creation of the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre in Charlottetown and Prince County Hospital in Summerside. The province's first Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act was also passed. During this time Prince Edward Island launched Waste Watch, becoming the first Canadian province to offer waste management services to every home and business resulting in a 65% waste diversion rate and closure of many community landfills. Investments were also made to expand renewable energy use with the development of the North Cape Wind Farm in West Prince, strengthening Prince Edward Island's credentials as a national leader in environmental sustainability.

Among the major issues during this period included major financial pressures in the farm sector as a result of plant disease, overcapacity and closure of the US border due to trade issues. The tourism industry also experienced a downturn in the face of post-9/11 travel concerns and rising energy prices.

In 2001, Binns' government inaugurated the Disability Support Program intended to provide assistive devices and social integration assistance to Islanders with disabilities. A Human Rights complaint questioned whether the program was "a service in the context of the Prince Edward Island Human Rights Act".<ref>[http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/hrc_jenncoady.pdf File #1123-02: Pat Coady on behalf of Jennifer Coady, complainant, and Queens Region Health and Department of Health and Social Services, respondent], The Prince Edward Island Human Rights Panel, heard September 29, 2004.</ref> In 2003 Binns' government commissioned the Baker Report.<ref>[http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/hss_dis_sup_for.pdf  Formative Evaluation: P.E.I. Disability Support Program Final Report]</ref> The report documented complaints under the DSP. Funding was restored to the DSP in 2007.

===Third term (2003 to 2007)===

The 2003 provincial election was held on September 29, 2003. The election date coincided with [[Hurricane Juan]], a category 2 hurricane which swept over the central part of the province during the early morning hours, causing several million dollars in property damage and disrupting electricity service for days. The election date was not delayed or canceled, although the decision to do so rested with the Chief Electoral Officer and not the premier. Despite the weather, there was a customary high voter turnout (83%).

The election resulted in 23 Progressive Conservatives and 4 Liberals being elected, returning the PCs to Government. The Liberals were led by new leader [[Robert Ghiz]] who had replaced Interim Leader [[Ron MacKinley]] that spring. Under the leadership of Binns the PC Party won its third consecutive majority government, becoming the first Conservative Premier to accomplish this feat in over a century.

Binns' popularity was tested as the government weathered challenges on many fronts. Unpredictability in federal equalization, coupled with rising health care and energy costs and weakness in the primary and tourism sectors, put pressure on provincial finances. Clashes with the federal government over the fiscal imbalance and fisheries management continued for several years. Binns launched a Program Renewal process to streamline duplication and improve delivery of public services. The provincial public service was reduced by several hundred people as services were reorganized and administrative overlap was reduced in the health sector, evidenced by the disappearance of doctors in [[Prince County, Prince Edward Island|West Prince]]. These measures, along with a steadily growing economy, have led to continued improvement of public finances.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}

Other reforms in health included expanded used of nurse practitioners and better utilization of ground ambulance services, increased use of technology to improve service delivery, focused strategies for recruitment and retention of health care professionals, and restructuring health care delivery to accommodate the needs of an aging population.

Binns' government waited for federal ruling on [[same-sex marriage in Prince Edward Island|same-sex marriage before allowing it in Prince Edward Island]] in 2004.

Binns sought an unprecedented fourth term majority during the [[2007 Prince Edward Island general election|2007 provincial election]], running on a policy of continued good governance and job creation, pointing to the Island's increased prosperity under his tenure. The Leader of the Official Opposition Robert Ghiz ran a campaign centred on the theme of change, as well as promising increased funding to health care and post-secondary education while reducing gasoline and property taxes. The Liberal Party won 23 of the 27 seats, reversing the standings in the legislature at the time of [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolution]].

Had Binns won the 2007 election, he would have tied the record set by former premier [[Alex Campbell (politician)|Alex Campbell]] who is the only Prince Edward Island premier to have been elected to four consecutive terms. Binns and his cabinet resigned June 12, 2007, being succeeded by the administration led by Robert Ghiz.

On August 30, 2007, Binns resigned as the PEI Progressive Conservative Party leader and Opposition leader, upon being named Ambassador of Canada to [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] by Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]]. In 2010 Binns accepted an appointment in [[Boston]], Massachusetts, as Canadian [[Canadian Consulate-General, Boston|Consul General]] to New England, replacing [[Neil LeBlanc]].

==Personal life==

He is the father of Rob, Mark, Brad, and Lilly Binns.<ref name="pcbiobinns" />

Binns has six grandchildren, Kristen, Andrew, Olivia, Jackson, Elodie and Lachlan<ref name="pcbiobinns" /> and resides with his wife Carol on the family farm in [[Hopefield, Prince Edward Island]].<ref name="pcbiobinns" />

==Electoral record (partial)==
{{Election box begin | title=[[2007 Prince Edward Island general election]]}}
{{CANelec|PE|PC|Pat Binns|1,527|55.15%|}}
{{CANelec|PE|Liberal|Charlie McGeoghegan|1,130|40.81%|}}
{{CANelec|PE|Green|Ahmon Katz|112|4.04%|}}
|}

{{CANelec/top|PE|2003|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|PE|PC|Pat Binns|1,584|70.28|+0.66}}
{{CANelec|PE|Liberal|Michelle Johnston|625|27.73|-0.94}}
{{CANelec|PE|NDP|Edith Perry|45|2.00|+0.29}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|2,254|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/hold|PE|PC|+0.80}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|PE|2000|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|PE|PC|Pat Binns|1,668|69.62|+16.04}}
{{CANelec|PE|Liberal|Andy Clarey|687|28.67|-13.16}}
{{CANelec|PE|NDP|Deborah Kelly Hawkes|41|1.71|-2.87}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|2,396|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/hold|PE|PC|+14.60}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|PE|1996|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|PE|PC|Pat Binns|1,309|53.58}}
{{CANelec|PE|Liberal|Barry W. Hicken|1,022|41.83}}
{{CANelec|PE|NDP|Alan Neil Hicken|112|4.58}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|2,443|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/note|<small>This riding was created from parts of the dual-member ridings of [[4th Queens]], [[4th Kings]] and [[5th Kings]].</small>}}
{{end}}

{{1988 Canadian federal election/Cardigan}}
{{1984 Canadian federal election/Cardigan}}

{{1978 Prince Edward Island general election/4th Kings Assemblyman}}

==References==

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{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gov.pe.ca/premiersgallery/patbinns.php3 Historical Premiers of PEI biography]
*{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=8478}}

{{PEIPremiers}}
{{Prince Edward Island Conservative and Progressive Conservative leaders}}
{{Binns Ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Binns, Pat}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Alberta alumni]]
[[Category:Premiers of Prince Edward Island]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Prince Edward Island]]
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:People from Weyburn]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island MLAs]]
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island leaders]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Canada to Ireland]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]