Premier Dennis King says Canada’s efforts to push back on looming tariff threats by U-S president elect Donald Trump won’t be derailed by the resignation of one person.  King says while things seem chaotic in Ottawa in the aftermath of Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from Parliament, there is a really good case to put forward with a lot of people working on it.  His comments come after a meeting of provincial and territorial premiers Monday in Toronto, where one of the top agenda items was Trump’s tariff threats. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says now is the time for the premiers to step up and make sure that they tell the world there is stability in Canada. 

Government House Leader Karina Gould tabled the Fall economic statement document — hours after Chrystia Freeland’s resignation showcasing a deficit for 2023-2024 at 61.9-billion-dollars.  That’s almost 22-billion-dollars more than forecast last spring.   The deficit is projected to fall to 48.3 billion-dollars for the current fiscal year.  Among the highlights of new measures included in the plan is a decision to reinstate a temporary change to the capital cost allowance.  That allows businesses to make larger tax deductions for capital costs up front. 

Former Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc has been sworn in as the finance minister following Chrysita Freeland’s surprise resignation from her post Monday morning.  Freeland also stepped down as deputy prime minister, saying she and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau found themselves at odds for weeks about “the best path forward for Canada.”  The resignation has reignited calls for Trudeau to step down and call an election as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Trudeau has lost control of the government and repeated calls for an election.  

Hal Perry sits down with CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin in the first of our year-end interviews with leaders of P.E.I.'s political parties.

The free-falling Canadian dollar may send shivers through snowbirds heading south this winter, but it’s good news for some exporters on P.E.I. and others who benefit from a stronger U.S. dollar.

The Liberal government unveiled $21.1 billion in new spending in its Fall Economic Statement, FES,  Monday detailing how it will invest new money in border security, the GST tax break and other measures. The FES also contained smaller nuggets of information regarding lesser known policy decisions and economic measures on a range of issues.

Barb Gallant, the former Summerside city councillor who stole thousands of dollars from a veterans’ group after getting caught up in an online romance scam, was sentenced Monday to 90 days in jail.

The case against a P.E.I. school guidance counsellor accused of sex crimes against a minor will be heard by a judge and jury in P.E.I. Supreme Court — if it goes to trial.

Ontario’s Doug Ford is playing host to the latest meeting of Canada’s premiers, including Premier Dennis King.  The main topic for today’s discussion is the looming threat by Donald Trump to slap 25 per cent import tariffs on goods coming from Canada and Mexico when he takes office.  While Ford has publicly talked about taking a retaliatory approach, other premiers, like Alberta’s Danielle Smith, say they would prefer a more diplomatic route that doesn’t include cutting off Alberta’s oil and gas exports. 

Federal Finance minister and deputy prime minister Christia Freeland is stepping down.   Just hours before the fall economic statement is set to be introduced Freeland announced that she will leave cabinet immediately. 

In a letter published on social media Freeland said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked her to step aside from the finance minister post late last week and offered her another cabinet post. She says she will stay on as a Liberal Member of Parliament and will run again in the next federal election.

A Prince County woman is dead after a head-on collision Sunday in central Prince Edward Island, police say. 

Queens District RCMP are investigating a fatal two vehicle head-on collision Sunday on Route 9 (Colville Road) in Hampshire.  It happened at about 5:00pm and involved an SUV and a pick-up truck.  The driver and lone occupant of the SUV, a 47-year-old Prince County woman, was pronounced deceased while being taken to the hospital. A youth from the truck suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and a woman in the truck also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.  Police say no one else was seriously injured in this collision.  An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

The Charlottetown Fire Department responded about 4:45pm Sunday to a fire in a duplex on Upper Hillsborough Street.  There was heavy smoke when firefighters arrived but they were able to get the fire under control shortly after 5:00pm.  No word yet on the cause of the blaze.

Route 9 – the Colville Rd., between Route 225 (Kinkora Highway) and Route 235 (Kingston Rd.) was closed to all traffic for a couple hours Sunday night due to a 2-vehicle collision.  The RCMP advised for the collision and closure shortly before 6:00pm and the road was reopened after 8:00pm.  RCMP, Island EMS and the North River Fire Department all responded to the scene.  RCMP have not released any further details on the collision, including any word on injuries.

The Liberal government releases its fall economic statement today, but Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has already given a preview.

She’s said it will include tax reforms of a program that aims to encourage businesses to do research and development in Canada.

The government estimates those reforms will amount to 26-billion-dollars in tax incentives for Canadian businesses.

The statement is also expected to show a larger-than-promised deficit and offer details on how Ottawa plans to tackle threatened tariffs by incoming U-S president Donald Trump. 

Canadians should expect to start receiving their mail again this week.

Canada Post says operations will resume on Tuesday after the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered some 55-thousand striking postal workers back to work.

The Crown corporation says it has agreed with the union to implement a five per cent wage increase, which is retroactive to the day after the collective agreements expired.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon directed the board to order the striking employees back to work if a deal wasn’t doable before the end of the year

Ron Matheson has celebrated a harness-racing milestone in October at Red Shores Racetrack in Charlottetown. According to the industry association, he is just the fourth person to surpass 1,000 wins as a trainer. People who know him hail his patience and his love of horses. Nancy Russell went to Matheson Stable to find out more.

LAST FULL WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY:   Sunny. Wind SW gusting to 40. High 0

TONIGHT:  Clear. Low -2

TOMORROW:  Clouding over with showers starting near noon. Windy. High 8

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The Occupational Therapist Assistant / Physiotherapist Assistant program at Holland College has received national accreditation.  

National accreditation serves as an assurance to students that they are receiving appropriate training, including at least 500 practicum hours, to prepare them to enter the health care field. The accreditation lasts for six years, at which time the program will undergo a review from the accreditation board to ensure that it is still meeting all the required standards.

A new program is aimed at helping PEI’s agriculture industry build capacity and improve training for those working in it.  Ottawa and the province are investing over $300-thousand in the Agriculture Labour Sub-Program. The new program stream will provide farmers and agricultural organizations with access to funding for initiatives focused on improving the workforce. Those initiatives could include Recruitment missions; Developing on-farm resources for employees with English as a second language; Workforce training and professional development opportunities; Developing models and strategies for employee childcare and transportation; and taking part in job fairs and trade shows.  .

A direct ATV trail will now connect the communities of O’Leary and Tignish allowing ATV club members to access 15 km of unpaved, low-volume provincial roads.  The trail will be open in summer, fall and winter, offering an extra six months of riding.   The provincial government and the federation started the pilot road project to expand safe and legal ATV trails. These pilot trails are on unpaved or decommissioned low-traffic roads, ensuring they are safe for both the public and the environment. PEI now has 65 kms of ATV pilot roads across the province. Overall, the federation and its clubs have over 650 kms of private ATV trails.

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has referred the month’s long Canada Post labour dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board.  The board has to determine if a deal is within reach between the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Crown corporation before the end of the year.  MacKinnon says since a federally appointed mediator withdrew themselves two weeks ago the negotiations have been–quote– “going in the wrong direction.”  The ruling could send nearly 55-thousand workers back to work and extend their current contract until May of next year.

Canadians are expressing mixed feelings as the federal government’s two-month GST holiday kicked off Saturday.  Some retailers say it was not easy to figure out what’s covered with the GST break, calling it very laborious and quite ambiguous.  The goods and services tax is waived on restaurant meals, children’s clothes and toys, as well as wine and beer — but there are plenty of exemptions to the list.  Items like food and drinks from vending machines, magazines, clothing for sports activities, and some collectibles and toys did not make the cut.  The break is set to last until mid-February. 

Prince Edward Island had a record-breaking year for golf in 2024, according to Golf P.E.I., which represents 18 member courses in the province.

The powerhouse United States scored three unanswered goals in the third period to defeat Canada 4-1 on Saturday in the Para Cup hockey tournament's gold-medal game at Bell Aliant Centre in Charlottetown.

Demand on food banks and community fridges is up across P.E.I. this holiday season, but some organizers say Islanders’ generosity is keeping them going.

Two to three people come in each week looking for a warm coat, but right now there are fewer than 10 available, says John Burton, a corps officer with the organization.

The Chief Public Health Office says there are many bugs and illnesses making people sick on the Island right now.

The RCMP is asking that anyone with information that may assist in a search operation being conducted near the Confederation Bridge to contact their local police.  On Friday at 3:00 a.m., RCMP received a report of a man who jumped from the Confederation Bridge.  The Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, New London Fire Department, PEI Ground Search and Rescue, Town of Borden-Carleton, RCMP Boats, and RCMP Air Services have all been engaged in the search effort.  Police say it is now considered a recovery operation and the identity of the man has yet to be confirmed.

The RCMP successfully executed two unrelated arrest warrants on Wednesday in West Prince.  A 29-year-old man, who was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for parole violations, was apprehended in St. Louis.  The man has been returned to Correctional Service Canada for the completion of his sentence.  In a separate matter, a 28-year-old man was arrested in Alma on a warrant for dangerous driving and flight from police. His next court appearance will be December 18th in Summerside Provincial Court.

Islanders have once again stepped up to Make The Season Kind. While the CBC campaign to help Island food banks has officially wrapped up, the need is only growing. CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin checks in with Mike MacDonald, executive director of The Upper Room Food Bank and Soup Kitchen.

With some P.E.I. patients expecting to wait two years for an appointment to get a magnetic resonance imaging scan, the Atlantic Veterinary College has stepped forward to say it's open to sharing its MRI machine. 

The P.E.I. RCMP say they are working with the coast guard and other first responders as they work to recover the body of a person who jumped from the Confederation Bridge Friday morning.

The Town of Stratford is offering homeowners a rebate of up to $2,000 to upgrade their sump pumps so the outflow doesn’t enter the sewer system. The rebate program also includes a battery backup system for those who participate.

PEI RCMP have stopped 12 impaired drivers this week, including 2 on Wednesday.  On Wednesday night at about 8:00 p.m., RCMP received a 9-1-1 call reporting an erratic driver in Newton PEI.  Police located the driver in Kinkora and arrested a 61-year-old man for impaired driving by alcohol. Police say the Ontario man provided breath samples that were 2.5 times the legal limit.  Just after 12-noon on Wednesday, RCMP were conducting a checkpoint in Stanchel when a vehicle came through with the smell inside of fresh burnt cannabis.  A 41-year-old Prince County woman failed a roadside test and was given a blood demand.

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has approved an increase of 3.0 cents per litre overnight in the price of regular gasoline.  The price of furnace oil went up by 1.0 cent per litre, while the price of diesel increased by 2.0 cents per litre.  Including taxes, pump prices for regular self-serve gasoline now range from 160.3 to 161.5 cents per litre.  Diesel costs between 181.8 and 183.0 cents per litre.  The maximum price for furnace oil is 120.8 cents per litre.  Propane price adjustments ranged from no change to an increase of 1.0 cent per litre.  Propane prices now sit between 86.2 and 87.0 cents per litre.

In Court in Georgetown on Thursday, a 61-year old man was given a $750 fine and 10-year weapons prohibition after entering a guilty plea to unsafe storage of a firearm, in a case that’s connected to the December 2023 shooting death of 17-year old Tyson MacDonald.  The man cannot be named due to a publication ban.  Thursday’s sentence followed a joint recommendation from the Crown and defence. 

Two years after post-tropical storm Fiona demolished thousands of trees on Prince Edward Island, residents on the North Shore worry that the tattered debris still sitting in the forests could be a massive fire hazard.

Former NHLer Forbes Kennedy shared stories and laughs with two friends and fellow Flyers alumni Al MacAdam and Joe Watson in Charlottetown recently. It was part of a new program called Alumni House Calls. Former members of the NHL team visit other alumni who can’t travel to team events anymore. It was a special time for everyone that took part.

Canada's Mark Arendz continued his winning ways to open the Para biathlon World Cup season on Thursday, claiming gold in the men's standing 7.5-kilometre sprint in Vuokatti, Finland.

Former Charlottetown Guardian editor Gary MacDougall speaks with CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin about his first retirement project: a 400-page book about Tyne Valley, P.E.I.

The food bank in Montague is raising alarm bells about its long-term sustainability, as some former donors become food bank users themselves.

Alberton mayor Brian Poirier has resigned after just over a year in office, saying he felt he had 'lost confidence' of three of the town's councillors.

While shoppers and diners in P.E.I. will get some relief at the checkout starting this weekend, small businesses on the Island may bear the brunt of a two-month tax holiday. 

The father of a teenager who pleaded guilty to killing Tyson MacDonald in 2023 has been handed a $750-fine and a 10-year weapons prohibition after himself pleading guilty to unsafe storage of a firearm in connection with the case.

The Irish singer-songwriter will headline the third music and culinary event, held in the North Shore community of Cavendish.

The RCMP says it has charged a Kings County man with Attempted Murder.   Kings District RCMP, with the assistance of the RCMP Major Crime Unit, say they have charged 25-year-old Owen Daniel MacDonald of Albion Cross after a person known to him was seriously assaulted.   RCMP are releasing very few details as the investigation may be subject to a publication ban.  Police say they learned of an incident that occurred on November 28th that sent the victim of an assault to hospital. After several days of investigation, police made an arrest and have charged MacDonald with Attempted murder; Aggravated assault; Assault causing bodily harm; Dangerous driving causing bodily harm; and Dangerous driving.  He was held in custody and is to appear in court today in Georgetown. 

A 25-year-old eastern P.E.I. man has been charged with attempted murder and RCMP are releasing few details as the investigation may be subject to a publication ban, according to a news release sent out Thursday morning.

Thursday means the weekend is near!

PEI WEATHER

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The weather conditions Thursday are resulting in some issues for travellers.  There are traffic restrictions in effect on the Confederation Bridge because of the strong winds.  They went into effect about 4:15am as winds have been gusting over 100kh in the Strait at times.  Northumberland Ferries has cancelled the 7:00am and 10:00am sailings from Wood Islands, and the 8:30am and 11:45am crossings from Caribou.  The ferry company will monitor the conditions and make an announcement regarding the status of sailings scheduled for the afternoon.