James Lee, the former premier of Prince Edward Island who was in office when both the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Atlantic Veterinary College opened, has died at the age of 86.
Premier Dennis King released a statement on Wednesday regarding the death of James Lee, who served as the 26th premier of P.E.I. from 1981 to 1986.
“Throughout his political career, Jim (James) Lee had a front-row seat to history for key moments in the growth and development of Prince Edward Island,” King said.
Who was James Lee?
James Lee was a Canadian politician who was the 26th premier of Prince Edward Island from 1981 to 1986. He was the leader of the PEI Progressive Conservative Party from 1981 to 1987.
Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on March 29, 1937, the son of James Matthew Lee and Catherine Blanchard. Lee was educated at Saint Dunstan’s University.
After a successful career in real estate and development, Lee ran in 1974 as a Progressive Conservative but failed to win a seat in the provincial legislature.
Lee was elected to the PEI Legislature one year later after winning a by-election in 1975. Lee was re-elected in 1978, 1979 and 1982.
James Lee ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of PEI in 1976 and narrowly lost to future premier J. Angus MacLean.
When MacLean was elected Premier in 1979, Lee served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Social Services and Minister of Tourism, Parks and Conservation from 1979 to 1980 and as Minister of Health and Social Services from 1980 to 1981.
In 1981 Premier Angus MacLean resigned as PC leader and James M. Lee won the PC leadership convention held to choose MacLean’s successor, thus becoming the 26th Premier of Prince Edward Island.
Lee led his party to re-election in 1982. In April 1982, he was sworn into the Privy Council of Canada by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
A major accomplishment by the Lee government was the successful negotiation with the federal government to obtain the establishment of a school of veterinary medicine at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Lee’s government was defeated in the 1986 election which also cost him his seat in the legislature to Wayne Cheverie.
James Lee was appointed to be a commissioner on the Canadian Pension Commission and in 1998 became chairman of the PEI Workers’ Compensation Board.
James Lee cause of death
James Lee died in October 2023, at the age of 86. Jim was predeceased by his wife and lifelong partner Patricia (Laurie) Lee, and together they raised three children.
James Lee’s obituary was posted to the Hennessey Cutcliffe Charlottetown Funeral Home on Wednesday.
“He was a man of remarkable accomplishments, a dedicated public servant, and a beloved member of the community,” the obituary says. “His life was marked by a profound commitment to the betterment of Prince Edward Island, and his contributions will be remembered for generations to come.”
At this time, the cause of James Lee’s death has not been publicly disclosed.
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