The Globe and Mail is suggesting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce his resignation sometime over the next two days.  Trudeau has faced increasing calls to step down as leader of the Liberal party, with mounting calls from MPs in his caucus and the public.  The Globe report says it spoke with three sources who weren’t authorized to speak about the matter publicly.  Those sources did not know a specific timeline, but say if he is going to announce his resignation it would be ahead of the national caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday. 

Islanders can expect school delays and restrictions on the Confederation Bridge amid a winter storm that began Sunday evening and continued into Monday morning. 

Due to weather and road conditions, all Public Schools Branch schools and French Language School Board schools are on a one hour delay Monday morning (January 6th), with a further announcement to be made by 8 AM.

Kings County has seen the most snowfall with this system and as a result has the worst road conditions on the Island Monday morning.

Roads in Kings County are snow covered with some drifting and blowing snow.  The Transportation Dispatch Office says Route 2 from Morell to areas past Souris is especially bad this morning with blowing snow and poor visibility.  Ploughs have been out since about 2:00am.

Queens and Prince Counties have seen less snow, but the winds are still strong causing some blowing snow.  Roads are snow covered in areas and there are some slippery areas with icy patches, so drive carefully.

There are traffic restrictions in place Monday morning on the Confederation Bridge as high-sided vehicle are not being allowed to cross because of the strong winds.  Winds have been gusting to 108kh in the Strait.  The restrictions have been in place since shortly after 5:00pm on Sunday.

P.E.I.'s opposition parties are calling on the province's finance minister to release the government's usual fall fiscal update, though winter is well underway.

The Monday where all begins anew….

PEI WEATHER

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PEI RCMP is asking for assistance from the public in its investigation of a recent hit and run.

The Emergency Department at Western Hospital reopened today at 8am, as scheduled, after being closed to new patients by noon on Saturday.  Health PEI announced at about 11:50am on Saturday that the Emergency Department at Western Hospital was closing for the day to new patients due to overcapacity.

An outbreak of respiratory illness has been declared at Beach Grove Home on Harbour and Sunset households. Residents of those households are limited to one visitor at a time. Visitors will be asked to follow the current infection control measures and should not visit if they are experiencing any symptoms of respiratory illness. 

The Liberal caucus is set to meet on Wednesday as calls mount for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign.  The meeting was convened on the same day Manitoba MP Ben Carr posed a letter on social media saying he wants to see Trudeau resign.  

In the letter Carr wrote he does not arrive at the decision easily, but constituents tell him they feel alienated by the Liberal Party leadership.  Two Liberal MPs told The Canadian Press that the meeting will take place in Ottawa, with the option for attendees to participate virtually.

A Special Weather Statement has been issued for Kings and Queens Counties with snow, strong winds and blowing snow expected from this afternoon (Sunday) into Monday.. Eastern PEI will see the most snow. Kings County could see upwards of 15 centimetres of snow, while about 5 centimetres is possible for Queens County. That snow will be whipped around with strong wind gusts of 70 to 80 km/hr, with the strongest winds in Kings County. Prince County will see a couple centimetres of snow with winds gusting to 70km/hr.

P.E.I.’s Chief Public Health Officer is raising concerns about the use of compressed-air horns in ice arenas.  

More than 630,000 times in 2024, Prince Edward Islanders borrowed something from the province's public library service — and books were far from the only choice. 

Parts of Prince Edward Edward Island could receive up to 15 centimetres of snow Sunday and into Monday.

The emergency department at Western Hospital in Alberton, P.E.I., due to lack of capacity.

The much-anticipated ferry slated for service between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S., is crossing the Atlantic Ocean on its way to the Maritimes, Transport Canada says.

 Health PEI advises the Emergency Department at Western Hospital is closing for the day to new patients, effective immediately, due to overcapacity. The Emergency Department will reopen tomorrow, January 5, at 8 a.m. as scheduled.

After today (Saturday, January 4th), the Kings County Memorial Hospital is temporarily suspending emergency services on Saturdays due to staffing challenges. 

 Officials say pausing these services will allow Health PEI to stabilize the situation and continue to develop a long-term plan to ensure sustainable emergency care.  That includes now having three physicians working Monday through Friday in the Emergency Department.  The final emergency department Saturday shift is today from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The normal weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. remain unchanged.

A 30-year old Stratford man has pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking after Charlottetown Police reported one of the province’s largest seizures of the powerful drug.  Charlottetown Police say they arrested the man June 14th after an investigation led to the discovery of 339 grams of fentanyl and about one-thousand pills.  The man will be sentenced in Charlottetown provincial court in March.  The Island’s public health office warned Islanders about fentanyl circulating in the community twice in 2024: once in February, after there were seven overdoses in one day; and then after six overdoses were reported on another day in June.

When Wade Lynch went to the store with his mother recently, he didn't expect to have his faith in the kindness of Islanders renewed. But when his 87-year-old mother experienced a crisis while shopping, that's just what happened. 

Despite some cold spells over Christmas, the weather has been too warm to make ice on most rinks in Stratford and Charlottetown, and an expert say climate change is the clear culprit.

The Provincial Fire Marshal is investigating Friday morning‘s fire at a seniors’ apartment complex on St. John Avenue in Stratford, but it’s not believed to be suspicious.  The Cross Roads Fire Department responded to the call at about 2:30am and arrived to find a fire on the exterior of the building.  Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the flames and there were no injuries, although one resident was taken to hospital for other medical concerns.  Fire damages were contained to a small section of the building with smoke affecting larger areas.  Stratford RCMP and Island EMS also responded, with mutual aid from the Charlottetown Fire Department.

After this weekend, the Kings County Memorial Hospital is temporarily suspending emergency services on Saturdays due to staffing challenges. 

 The Kings County Memorial Hospital Emergency Department is experiencing a shortage of staff at a time when demand for emergency services is increasing. Officials say pausing these services will allow Health PEI to stabilize the situation and continue to develop a long-term plan to ensure sustainable emergency care.  That includes now having three physicians working Monday through Friday in the Emergency Department to provide timely care while the Emergency Department is open.  The final emergency department Saturday shift is today from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The normal weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. remain unchanged. Health PEI will reassess the situation in April.

A 30-year old Stratford man has pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking after Charlottetown Police reported one of the province’s largest seizures of the powerful drug.  Charlottetown Police say they arrested the man June 14th after an investigation led to the discovery of 339 grams of fentanyl and about one-thousand pills.  The man will be sentenced in Charlottetown provincial court in March.  The Island’s public health office warned Islanders about fentanyl circulating in the community twice in 2024: once in February, after there were seven overdoses in one day; and then after six overdoses were reported on another day in June.

Charlotte and Theodore were the top baby names in P-E-I in 2024, with 10 babies in P-E-I being named Charlotte and another 10 named Theodore or Theo.  Evelyn was the second-most-popular name last year, followed by Nolan, Luke, Henry, Liam, Owen, Thomas, Ava and Sophia.  Charlotte also topped the list in 2022, while Theodore was the third-most-popular name in 2023.

Aggressive dogs roaming at large have people concerned in the area of Johnstons River, P.E.I., just past Mermaid.

People in central and eastern P.E.I. can expect some snow and high winds this weekend. 

All 21 residents at a seniors' apartment complex in Stratford are safe after reports of a fire around 2:30 a.m. Friday. 

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has approved 1.0 cent per litre increases overnight in the prices of regular and premium gasoline.  The price of furnace oil went up by 3.5 cents per litre and the price of diesel increased by 2.5 cents per litre. Including taxes, pump prices for regular self-serve gasoline now range from 164.3 to 165.5 cents per litre.  Diesel costs between 188.7 and 189.9 cents per litre.  The maximum price for furnace oil is 130.2 cents per litre.  

The Cross Roads Fire Department responded to a fire call about 2:00am Friday at a multi-unit seniors building on St. John Avenue in Stratford.  Firefighters arrived to find an exterior fire and were able to quickly extinguish it.  Cross Roads Fire Chief Greg McCormick says all 20 residents of the building are accounted for and there were no injuries.  With the assistance of the Red Cross, they were taken to the Stratford Emergency Services Centre.  The Provincial Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating the cause and origin of the fire.  The RCMP, and Island EMS also responded, with mutual aid from the Charlottetown Fire Department. 

Health P.E.I.’s decision to temporarily stop offering Saturday hours at the emergency department at the Kings County Memorial Hospital is concerning some people who live in the area. 

People in P.E.I.'s beef industry are among those lobbying against Donald Trump's proposal to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all goods entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico starting Jan. 20.

Scott is back today.  Just in time for some Friday Fun!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY:  Sunny breaks. Chance of flurries this morning. Wind SW gusting to 50. Falling to -4° this afternoon

TONIGHT: Becoming partly cloudy after midnight. Low -7°

TOMORROW:  Sun and cloud. High -4°

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PEI News at 6 with regional, national and international stories.

Allan Hawco stars in Saint-Pierre, a new show coming to CBC next week. As the title suggests, it takes place in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the French territory just off the southern coast of the island of Newfoundland. CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin caught up with Hawco to talk about creating the show, , his co-stars, and what viewers can expect.

Flynn Sturrock had barely even skated before coming with his family from Australia and joining the North River Flames hockey team in Cornwall, P.E.I. Now he loves the sport and is determined to keep playing.

A 30-year-old Stratford man has pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl for the purpose of selling it after a seizure that Charlottetown Police touted as one of the province’s largest to date.

A woman in her 70s has died after a single-vehicle crash in Clinton, P.E.I.

On Wednesday, Prince District RCMP arrested a 73-year-old Stanley Bridge man after a single vehicle fatal crash in Clinton.   The RCMP, Island EMS and New London Fire Department responded to Route 6 at about 4:30pm.  Police say initial indications appear to show that an SUV failed to navigate a turn and went off the road into the ditch. A 70-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, died at the scene while a 73-year-old man was arrested for impaired driving. Police say the driver remains in hospital with serious injuries and the investigation is ongoing.

It’s Canada versus Czechia in the world junior hockey championship quarterfinals tonight in Ottawa. Canada finished second in Group A after losses to Latvia and the United States in round-robin play, while Czechia placed second in Group B. Sweden plays Latvia, the U-S takes on Switzerland and Finland faces off against Slovakia in the other quarterfinals today.

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Health PEI has declared the outbreaks of Gastrointestinal illness over at the Gable and Serenity households at Summerset Manor. Visitors are still encouraged to wear masks and to stay home if they are not feeling well.

The Prince Edward Island Crafts Council is expanding to a building next door to its current location to let artists learn from each other and inspire a new generation. 

While they might not have been able to feel their toes, some Islanders say they now feel ready for 2025 after doing the polar bear plunge in Summerside, P.E.I., on Wednesday.

For Oceane Xu, levee day was a brand new experience in her brand new home.

Millions of dollars in major renovations are being planned at Westisle Composite High School in Elmsdale, P.E.I., for the first time since it opened in 1979.

Charlotte reclaimed the top spot this year as one of the most popular baby names on P.E.I., alongside Theodore. 

The City of Charlottetown is hoping to get more children cycling to school next year, and is looking for adult volunteers to lead the pack.

A Chinese restaurant in Charlottetown is hosting its own kitchen party to celebrate New Year's Eve.

WOOHOO!  First show of the New Year!

PEI WEATHER

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The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says it’s in the process of determining whether debris found on the runway of a Newfoundland airport is connected with a plane fire in Halifax over the weekend.  A spokesperson says the debris was found on the runway at St. John’s International Airport on Saturday night but could not confirm whether it’s related to the aircraft in question.  An Air Canada Express flight arriving from St. John’s experienced a rough landing on Saturday at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.  The plane caught fire upon landing and was brought elsewhere on Sunday night for an investigation