James Aylward to seek federal Conservative nomination in Cardigan

A former P.E.I. cabinet minister and leader of the Island's Official Opposition is setting his sights on Parliament Hill.

James Aylward announced Thursday that he's seeking the federal Conservative nomination in the Cardigan riding, which has been held by Liberal MP Lawrence MacAulay since 1988.

"Recognizing the need for change to address the key concerns of Cardigan residents, it is also important to ensure we have a direct voice in a new government," Aylward was quoted as saying in a news release.

"I am ready to use my experience at the provincial level and my involvement in Cardigan to be that voice and serveas an effective Member of Parliament."

Aylward represented District 6, Stratford-Keppoch, as a Progressive Conservative MLA in the provincial legislature from 2011 to 2023.

He first campaigned for the provincialparty leadership in 2014, but was narrowly defeated by current Housing Minister Rob Lantz.

In 2017, Aylward was elected as the Progressive Conservative leader, and thus Opposition leader, defeating his lone competitor Brad Trivers.During his time as leader, the PCs adopted a stance against the federal government's impending carbon tax.

He resigned from the leadershiprole in 2019, and was succeeded by current Premier Dennis King.

Aylward won re-election as an MLA that year and served as health minister during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notably, during the early days of the pandemic, Aylward came under fire for failing to self-isolate after returning from a seven-day trip to Ireland.

He became the minister of transportation in 2021, before being shuffled out of cabinet in the summer of 2022.

He announced before the 2023 general election that he would not seek re-election following the death of his wife the previous fall.