Alex Campbell (politician)

Alexander Bradshaw Campbell PC OC OPEI (born December 1, 1933) is a former politician of Prince Edward Island, Canada. He is the son of former premier Thane A. Campbell and Cecilia L. Bradshaw. He entered politics by winning a seat in the legislature through a 1965 by-election in 5th Prince. Later the same year he was elected leader of the PEI Liberal Party and, in 1966 took the party to power becoming, at 32, one of the youngest premiers ever elected in Canada. He also held the position of Attorney-General from 1966 until 1969.^[1]

Campbell attended Dalhousie University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a law degree, and, in 1959, he passed the bar in Prince Edward Island. In 1971 he was recognized as a "Significant Sig" by the Sigma Chi fraternity, of which he is a member.

Campbell's government attempted to strengthen the province's economy and improve social conditions by instituting programs such as assistance to homeowners and homebuilders. His government also revamped the educational system and established the PEI Heritage Foundation. He also started the Land Development Corporation and the PEI Lending Authority to help develop the economy. The government also brought in controls on absentee ownership of land.

Campbell left politics in 1978 to sit on the province's Supreme Court. Campbell delivered judgment in Government of P.E.I. v Walker in 1992, whose 1995 appeal has been cited in more than fifty subsequent cases.^[2]

A long-time resident of his hometown of Summerside, Campbell was a member of Scouts Canada and later served as a Scout Leader. In his retirement, Campbell now resides in Stanley Bridge during the summer months and is a part-time winter resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, where he has organized a "Prince Edward Island Picnic" at Desoto Park on the second Sunday of March every year since 2000.

Campbell was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2013.^[3]