Premier Pat Binns found himself on the defensive Thursday as the major political debate of the P.E.I. election campaign focused on such touchy issues as patronage and soaring insurance rates.

Canadian Press

CHARLOTTETOWN — Premier Pat Binns found himself on the defensive Thursday as the major political debate of the P.E.I. election campaign focused on such touchy issues as patronage and soaring insurance rates.

Binns, seeking a third term for his Conservative government, looked uncomfortable as Liberal Leader Robert Ghiz and the NDP's Gary Robichaud attacked the Tory record in their hunt for votes in Monday's election. "Mr. Ghiz shouldn't twist my words around," Binns said plaintively during a lively exchange on automobile insurance.

While Binns maintained a sedate, measured explanation of what his government has and hasn't done, Ghiz and Robichaud went for broke, accusing the Tories of allowing political patronage to flourish and electricity and insurance rates to skyrocket.

"We need a government in this province that can anticipate change," said Ghiz, leader of the Island Liberals for less than a year.

"We believe things can be better here on Prince Edward Island."

Robichaud, who is hoping only to win some NDP representation in the legislature, appealed to Binns to seriously address patronage, which seems ingrained in Island life.

"Patronage is the dark side of our Island political culture," the 40-year-old NDP leader said in the televised debate.

Standings in the 27-seat P.E.I. legislature at dissolution were 26 Tories and one Liberal.

The New Democrats fell short of their goal of a full slate of 27 candidates in the campaign. The consistently third-place party has candidates in all but three ridings.

While pundits doubt Binns will fail in his goal of a historic third consecutive win, there are indications the race is tightening up.

Ghiz, 29, the son of late premier Joe Ghiz, has run a relatively smooth campaign, working hard at presenting the Liberals as real alternative to the Tories, who have had a stranglehold on power.

Although Ghiz and Robichaud jabbed at the premier and his record, the debate was generally well-mannered and there was no blood on the floor at the end.

Binns, 54, maintained his composure and staunchly defended his Tory government's record.

"We have a positive and comprehensive plan to keep building," he said, promising to keep a steady hand on the ship of state. "We're proud of our accomplishments."

Binns bristled at a suggestion by Ghiz that a public service classification system designed to get rid of patronage was just a front for hiring Tory friends.

"He hired Tories and then he classified them," Ghiz said, dismissing the program.

But Binns said political stripe played no role in the hiring process.

"When we classified people, we didn't ask them if they were Liberal or Conservative," the premier said.

Binns also didn't like a comment by Ghiz that the Tories had dismissed auto insurance as a non-issue on the Island.

The premier accused Ghiz of twisting his words, saying he only said it wasn't as big an issue as in neighboring New Brunswick, where the problem almost toppled Premier Bernard Lord's Tory government.

All three political leaders said a public insurance system may be the only answer on the Island, although Binns and Ghiz both favour giving companies time to respond to regulatory changes.

Robichaud said the Island should move quickly to implement a public system.

"This government is simply proposing a copy-cat of the Lord plan in New Brunswick, which has failed miserably," Robichaud said of a plan by Binns to cap claim awards for minor injuries.