A woman from P.E.I.’s Queens County is dead after being found in the water near Brackley Beach on Monday night, according to RCMP.

Holland College has announced the closure of all its campuses Tuesday due to the forecasted freezing rain, while UPEI has delayed the opening of its Charlottetown and St. Peter's Bay campuses until noon.

A Freezing Rain Warning is in effect across Prince Edward Island on Tuesday.

The entire province will see the day start with rain.  In Prince County, the rain will change to freezing rain or ice pellets in the morning and then to snow in the afternoon.  Up to 10mm in rain and 5 to 10cm in snow can be expected in Prince County on Tuesday.  In Queens and Kings, the rain changing to freezing rain late in the morning or in the afternoon.  Up to 20mm in rain possible in central and eastern PEI.   

All Holland College locations will remain closed Tuesday due to the forecasted freezing rain. 

UPEI is delaying opening until 12:00 pm (noon) at both the Charlottetown and St. Peter’s Bay campuses with a further update at 10 am.

The Special Olympics PEI Team Canada members arrive home Tuesday.  They’re scheduled to arrive at YYG Charlottetown Airport at 1:17pm, and everyone is invited to welcome them home and help celebrate their success.  At the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy, PEI’s Ellen MacNearney won three gold medals and Tommy Ling won a silver medal, both in cross-country skiing.  Callum McEwen won bronze in figure skating.

Wildfire season is upon us.  PEI’s wildfire season is underway as it runs from March 15 to November 15 each year.

Anyone planning on burning brush outdoors must check for burning restrictions by calling 1-800-237-5053 or visiting the province’s wildfire information page. Restrictions are updated daily at 2 p.m.

The Liberal Party of PEI has announced that October 4th of this year is the day the Party will choose a new Leader.  The last provincial election was held on April 3, 2023. The fixed election date for the next provincial general election is scheduled for October 4, 2027.  The Leadership Convention will be held at the Delta Prince Edward, and the Party says advance polls will be held across the province in September, while Satellite polling locations will be available on Convention Day.

HAPPY DAY AFTER ST PADDY’S DAY!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY:  Freezing rain starting late this morning. 20mm.  Wind North gusting 40. Falling to Zero this afternoon

TONIGHT: Freezing rain or ice pellets ending this evening then clearing. Low -2°

TOMORROW:  Sunny. High 1°

TEXT YOUR ANSWER TO 902-368-1720!

Ray Campbell walks by the little pond near Government House in Charlottetown every day. When he looks at the snow, garbage and pavement pucks piled up right beside the pond, he sees one thing: 'An eyesore.'

While there are still practising nuns on P.E.I., some orders haven't had new members join in years. CBC's Taylor O'Brien spoke with two Roman Catholic sisters to explore their thoughts about the future of religious life, and what will happen to their mission in the years ahead.

With many Islanders committed to buying Canadian products in the midst of a trade war with the United States, some are learning that figuring out what country a product is from can be complicated. 

People turn to the internet for all kinds of things these days, so it's probably no surprise that many are going online for help with mental health, even using it to self-diagnose different conditions. P.E.I. psychologist Dr. Brent Macdonald stopped by CBC News: Compass to talk about some of the risks and benefits of using social media for that purpose.

P.E.I. health officials are celebrating the results of recent overseas trips to recruit new nurses, but the union that’s supposed to be representing them says the province isn’t providing any information about who they are or where they’re working.

The Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island has moved up the date for the event where they’ll pick a new permanent leader, originally scheduled for May 2026.

The provincial government is providing funding to LungNSPEI to upgrade equipment and expand its Program helping low-income Islanders with sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  $50,000 will support the initiative aimed at providing life-changing medical equipment. Sleep apnea affects about 10,000 Islanders, and an estimated 3,000+ people are uninsured or underinsured for the cost of the equipment.  LungNSPEI will use the funds to purchase new CPAP and BiPAP machines to meet urgent demand. They will also expand their refurbishment program to restore and redistribute donated equipment. All machines will be distributed to low-income Islanders to help eliminate the program’s long waitlist.

Shops on P-E-I that sell tobacco and vaping devices can now be fined up to 25-thousand dollars for violating the province’s rules.  The higher fine is aimed at cracking down on youth vaping.  P-E-I raised the minimum age to purchase nicotine vaping products to 21 back in 2020 — and the province banned the sale of flavoured products in 2021. The latest changes came into effect last month. 

Hermanville Wind Farm has been running at reduced capacity since the end of December after a storm took down a large part of a blade on one of its turbines.

Environment Canada has issued special weather statements across Prince Edward Island, warning of significant amounts of freezing rain on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is taking his first foreign trip as leader of the country, visiting Europe before returning to Canada for a stop in Nunavut.  Carney will work to strengthen ties with France and the U-K while reaffirming Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.  Discussions in Paris and London are expected to cover security, economic and trade ties.  Canada’s ambassador to the U-S says Prime Minister Mark Carney is interested in starting a conversation with President Donald Trump.  Ambassador Kirsten Hillman says the Canadian side has reached out to the U-S since Carney was sworn in on Friday.  She says Carney is seeking to “forge a good and solid relationship” with the president, and that he “respects” what Trump is trying to do for the U-S economy. 

ST PATRICK’S DAY HAS ARRIVED! SLAINTE!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY: Chance of showers. Wind SW gusting to 50. High 16.

TONIGHT: Chance of showers this evening with rain overnight. Low 10

TOMORROW: Rain changing to freezing rain then snow or ice pellets. 10mms followed by 2cms. Falling to 1 in the morning.

TEXT YOUR ANSWER TO 902-368-1720

Unlike most high school valedictorians, Brandon MacKinnon gave his graduation speech 11 times. Each time, there was a different group of Charlottetown Rural High School students and parents in the audience. 

The University of Ottawa defeated the UPEI Panthers in the bronze-medal game of the U Sports men's basketball championship tournament on Sunday in Vancouver.

Spirits were high at Gillis Lodge in Belfast, P.E.I., on Saturday as dozens celebrated the 101st birthdays of two women. 

Early on Tuesday morning, shortly after 5:30am, Summerside Police received a report about a vehicle being stolen from the Palmer Street area.  Early Tuesday afternoon, police got a call about a suspicious vehicle in the East Drive area that matched the description of the stolen vehicle.  Officers located the stolen vehicle in a parking lot, and two people, a 25-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were arrested nearby. Both are facing charges of possession of stolen property and a further charge of theft of gas for an incident that occurred earlier in the day.

With a goal of building upon PEI’s already exceptional reputation for hospitality, the Tourism Industry Association of PEI has partnered with the Cronk Group consulting firm to develop a customer service excellence program.   The initiative will see the creation of an online video version of the Association’s current in-person training program.   They will also be establishing a certification process for businesses completing the training.  It’s expected to launch at the Tourism Industry Association of PEI’s Annual General Meeting in early November.

Premier Lantz says he is deeply concerned about the lack of representation for Prince Edward Island in the new federal cabinet. Lantz says that as the province is facing serious challenges due to the ongoing trade dispute that threatens 25% of our GDP, Islanders deserve a strong voice at the decision-making table.

The Premier stresses that without that representation, key issues for the province risk being overlooked. Premier Lantz adds that ending the tolls on the Confederation Bridge and Wood Islands ferry remains a priority for his government, but without a dedicated advocate at the federal table, advancing the issue becomes even more difficult.

Some low-income Islanders will be sleeping easier thanks to the provincial government giving Lung Association of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island $50,000 to upgrade their equipment and expand a refurbishment program. 

PEI R-C-M-P have conducted mandatory alcohol screening on commercial vehicle drivers crossing the Confederation Bridge.  More than 100 drivers were screened for alcohol Thursday and police say there were no warnings or failed tests. The mandatory screening authorizes police to demand a breath sample from any driver, whether, or not they suspect alcohol impairment as a tool to deter impaired driving.  RCMP Corporal Gavin Moore says impaired driving in PEI is one of the top three leading causes of fatal crashes, pointing to why the screenings were conducted. 

UPEI will battle the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees for bronze at the U Sports men's basketball championship on Sunday in Vancouver. 

P.E.I.'s Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act, which was passed nearly three years ago, will take effect this year. But advocates say the legislation does not go far enough to address the systemic injustices faced by this vulnerable population.

More than 100 commercial vehicle drivers were checked for signs of impairment this week in surprise mandatory testing at the Confederation Bridge that links Prince Edward Island and the mainland. 

The University of Prince Edward Island men’s basketball team is moving forward to the semifinals in the U Sports men’s basketball championships in Vancouver after defeating the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. 

Changes to the P.E.I. Tobacco and Electronic Smoking Device Sales and Access Act came into effect on Feb. 1 after amendments passed during the fall sitting of the legislature.

Mark Carney has been officially sworn-in as the 24^th Prime Minister of Canada.

Carney was sworn-in during a ceremony this morning at Rideau Hall in Ottawa with Governor General Mary Simon.

Carney’s new, leaner Cabinet includes a number of returning ministers, and three new members.

None of the four PEI MPs have been named to this new cabinet, but there is an Islander who remains in Cabinet.  Gatineau MP Steven MacKinnon, who was born and raised in Charlottetown, is the Minister of Jobs and Families.

The new Cabinet includes:

Dominic LeBlanc – International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs

Francois-Philippe Champagne – Finance

Melanie Joly – Foreign Affairs and International Development

Anita Anand – Innovation, Science and Industry

Bill Blair – Defence

Patty Hajdu – Indigenous Services

Jonathan Wilkinson – Energy and Natural Resources

Ginette Petitpas Taylor – President of the Treasury Board

Stephen Guilbeault – Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada

Chrystia Freeland – Transport and Internal Trade

Kamal Khera – Health

Gary Anandasangaree – Justice, Cown-Indigenous Relations, Northern Affairs

Rechie Valdez – Chief Government Whip

Steven MacKinnon – Jobs and Families

David McGuinty – Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Terry Duguid – Environment and Climate Change

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith – Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Rachel Bendayan – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Elisabeth Briere – Veterans Affairs, responsible for Canada Revenue Agency

Joanne Thompson – Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Arielle Kayabaga – Democratic Institutions and Government House Leader

Kody Blois – Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development

Ali Ehsassi – Government Transformation, Public Services and Procurement.

For the first time in many decades, Prince Edward Island does not have an MP serving in a federal cabinet. 

The Prince Edward Island government's decision to pause new applications for its solar rebate program is raising concerns among some businesses that install solar panels.

PEI RCMP say they have made 4 arrests for impaired driving over the past week.  They include two drivers who were arrested in Roseneath who were arrested for impaired driving by cannabis. A 53-year old man was arrested for impaired driving by alcohol after being discovered asleep behind the wheel in the middle of the road in Blooming Point.  The fourth was a driver stopped in a traffic stop in Montague.

The Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, together with Innovation PEI and Stingray Radio, is presenting the first-ever PEI Business Summit April 9th at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown.  The PEI Business Summit will bring business leaders, innovators, and decision-makers together to shape the future of business in PEI.  Guest speakers will include national pollster and public opinion expert Nik Nanos; technology expert Amber Mac; and leadership consultant Steve Jones, President of Stingray Radio, the largest operator of radio stations in Canada, including Ocean 100 and HOT 105.5.  

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has decided on no changes this week in gasoline prices, regular or premium.  IRAC did approve decreases overnight in furnace oil and diesel prices.  The price of furnace oil decreased by 7.5 cents per litre and the price of diesel went down by 1.5 cents per litre.  Prices for diesel now range from $1.89 to $1.90 per litre. The maximum price for furnace oil is $1.23 per litre. 

Ontario’s leader expressed some optimism coming out of a meeting with one of U-S President Donald Trump’s cabinet members directing Washington’s trade policy.

Premier Doug Ford said conversations with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were “extremely positive” and that the “temperature has come down” amid recent retaliation in the current trade war.

Ford backed down from a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity to three U-S states after Lutnick called him and offered a meeting Thursday. 

The politicians are expected to have another meeting next week.

As Mark Carney prepares to be officially sworn in as prime minister today, the questions about who will be included in his cabinet are still swirling.

Sources say some portfolios could be combined to reflect their departments.

Former privy council clerk Michael Wernick said in a recent interview he expects several ministers will be “double-hatting” or carrying more than one portfolio for the time being.

In any case, it seems certain that the new cabinet will be smaller than Justin Trudeau’s last cabinet — which featured 37 members, including himself.   Carney is to be sworn-in during a ceremony at Rideau Hall today at 11am eastern time.

Diabetes Canada is excited about Prince Edward Island's new pharmacare deal with the federal government, but hopes the province will reevaluate copays on diabetes supplies, says a senior manager with the organization. 

MADE IN PEI WEEK CONTINUES TODAY!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY:  Sunny. High 5°

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Low -3°

TOMORROW:  Sunny. High 7°

TEXT YOUR ANSWER TO 902-368-1720

People from P.E.I.'s seafood industry will be at the Seafood Expo North America in Boston from March 16 to 18, hoping to land some new markets for their products. Buyers from around the world will be there and Island companies are hoping to replace the American business that they may lose because of tariffs. Nancy Russell spoke to James Power of Raspberry Point Oysters and Bethany McCarthy and Charlotte Campbell from Lobster P.E.I.

CBC:Compass host Louise Martin speaks with P.E.I.'s Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action Gilles Arsenault about capacity issues with the Island’s power grid.

The City of Charlottetown is warning Islanders to stay off ice floes after receiving a call about people who ventured out onto the ice in the Charlottetown Harbour area. 

Prince Edward Island’s Affordable Housing Development Program fell short of its intended purpose, the province's Auditor General says.

Prince Edward Islanders are in for a celestial treat tonight as a total lunar eclipse will be visible across P.E.I. and throughout Canada. Unlike last year's solar eclipse, it is safe to view with the naked eye.

With the warming temperatures this week, the Charlottetown Fire Department is warning of unstable ice conditions, and stresses that no ice is currently safe to be on.  It says fluctuating temperatures can make ice on local waterways unstable. Slippery banks and fast-moving cold water can also be hazardous. Residents are asked to take safety precautions for themselves, their families, and pets by avoiding any recreational activities on ice surfaces including harbours, rivers, streams, creeks and ponds. 

Late Tuesday morning, Charlottetown Police responded to a two vehicle collision on Allen Street and arrived to find that a pick-up truck had rear-ended a small sedan.  There were no injuries, but Police say the pick-up truck had a young child in the rear seat and the driver was showing signs of being impaired by alcohol.  A 60-year old Charlottetown woman was arrested and has been charged with impaired after providing breath samples that were over three times the legal limit.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says she will be raising the issue of tariffs in every single meeting of the G-7 as ministers gather in Quebec.

Her counterparts from some of the world’s most powerful countries including U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be in attendance.

While Joly is looking to raise the issue of tariffs to co-ordinate a response with Europeans and to put pressure on the Americans, Rubio has said the meeting will focus on Ukraine and North American security. 

The two met early Thursday morning. 

U-S President Donald Trump is now threatening a 200 per cent tariff on European wine, champagne and spirits.

Trump took to social media saying the new tariffs will be imposed if the European Union goes forward with a planned 50 per cent tariff on American whiskey– expected to go into effect on April 1st.

The European tariff was unveiled in response to 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the United States announced yesterday.

In the post Trump called the E-U–quote– “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World… formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States.”