Summerside Council has been presented with the final report from the Mayor’s Task Force on Attainable Housing.  The Task Force on Attainable Housing was established by Mayor Dan Kutcher in March 2023, and this week it presented its report with 30 recommendations.  Those recommendations include reviewing Official Plan policies for areas to strengthen support for mixed density and higher density.  Council will take the final report and will vote on the next steps later in November.

The annual Indigenous Veterans Day Remembrance Service was held Wednesday at Abegweit First Nation.  It was a day to pay respect to the brave Indigenous Veterans who have served, and are currently serving our country.  The PEI RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces, representatives from Veterans Affairs Canada and the Abegweit First Nations community joined together to remember and acknowledge the sacrifices made by Indigenous veterans.  

For a second day in a row, the Liberal Opposition grilled the Dennis King PC Government in the legislature about the Community Outreach Centre.  The Liberals focused on the Outreach Centre issues through the entire Question Period on Wednesday, and asked the individual cabinet ministers if they would want to have an Outreach Centre in their districts.  The Opposition has said that simply changing locations and operating the Outreach Centre as is, without addressing the pressing issue that the services are not effectively helping those in need, is another failure by the King Government.  Last week, Premier Dennis King announced a plan to relocate the Centre to Park Street, putting it alongside the Emergency Shelter.

Due to high winds Thursday morning, traffic restrictions are in place on the Confederation Bridge. 

Northumberland Ferries has cancelled the 7:00am crossing from Wood Islands and the 8:30am crossing out of Caribou on Thursday.  Updates will come later regarding crossings scheduled for later in the day.

An active transportation path separate from the roadway is now complete around the outskirts of Charlottetown, and advocates say it's now time to focus on building connections inside the city.

A Progressive Conservative backbencher says he's concerned about how the province is disposing of debris from post-tropical storm Fiona at a site in Borden-Carleton. 

A director with the Insurance Bureau of Canada is recommending homeowners speak with their insurance broker and contractor before installing a heat pump to make sure there are no surprises down the road.

Virginia Doucett says her mother and aunt would surely be pleased with — and humbled by — a new interpretive panel unveiled in their honour Wednesday.

Western Hospital in Alberton is dealing with an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, that has caused officials to close down common spaces within the facility.

Western Hospital has declared an outbreak of MRSA. MRSA is a bacteria resistant to certain types of antibiotics. Visitors to the hospital are not being restricted at this time, however common spaces have been closed as a precaution. Visitors are reminded of the importance of frequent hand-washing and are discouraged from visiting multiple rooms within the hospital.

Hospital staff are working with Health PEI Infection Prevention and Control to prevent further spread within the facility.

P.E.I.'s housing minister says the delay in setting up and servicing an emergency shelter for Summerside is because staff are trying to avoid the problems that have been haunting the government in Charlottetown.

Public meetings on a proposed rezoning plan for P.E.I.'s six french language schools wrapped up in Charlottetown Tuesday night.

Summerside will have to create more mixed housing density to help make homes more attainable in the city according to a report by the mayor’s task force on attainable housing.

Health PEI says the Evangeline Health Centre (Wellington) Primary Care Clinic will be closed Wednesday due to  a lack of available staff.  If you have any health concerns or need immediate health information, call 811 to speak to an experienced registered nurse for advice on the best course of action.

A 30-year-old Charlottetown man has been remanded in custody as he faces charges of attempted murder and arson.  The charges are in regards to an incident about 6:00am Monday when a tent was set on fire as a man was sleeping inside.  The tent was across the street from the Park Street shelter, and Shelter staff were able to rush over and extinguish the blaze and get the victim out of the tent.  The victim was treated by Island EMS for smoke inhalation and then later released.  Through video surveillance, the suspect was identified and arrested late Monday afternoon when police located him on St Peters Rd.  Police say it was an isolated incident and the suspect and victim know each other. 

P.E.I. Housing Minister Rob Lantz says the provincial government is not busing clients of the Community Outreach Centre to the inn in eastern P.E.I.

Little surprise that the first day of the fall sitting of the PEI legislature focused on the situation surrounding the Community Outreach Centre in Charlottetown.  Both the Opposition Liberals and Third Party Greens grilled the government about the Outreach Centre.  The Opposition Liberals said the King Government’s oversight of the Centre has been a tragic mishandling that’s created tension in the neighbourhood and impacted area residents and students in the nearby schools.   The Greens questioned what Government expected would change by doing little else other than moving the service to another nearby area of the city.  Premier King responded to the questioning by saying his government is working as fast as it can to relocate the Centre.  Government wants to temporarily relocate the Centre to Park Street next to the emergency shelter.  That relocation plan is dependent on the City approving a zoning variance.

As the Community Outreach Centre was the focus inside the Legislature, outside the Legislature and the Coles Building, it was the focus of a rally organized by the group ‘People for Safe Neighbourhoods and Communities.’  The group called for the immediate closure, not relocation, but closure of the Community Outreach Centre.   

Canadian flags are flying once again at the gravesites of war veterans in Summerside after hundreds were torn down in recent weeks.

Health P.E.I. says the primary care clinic at the Evangeline Health Centre in Wellington will be cancelled on Wednesday because of a lack of available staff.

In the first day of the fall sitting of the P.E.I. Legislature, the Opposition Liberals used all their time to press the King government on the Community Outreach Centre in Charlottetown.

A 30-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and arson after a tent was set on fire near the province’s Park Street emergency shelter in Charlottetown. 

Merrin Burns knew exactly what to do when she laid poppies on the headstones of fallen veterans in Charlottetown on Tuesday 

The City of Charlottetown and the Province are hosting a Public Information Session on the realignment of Water Street as part of the Eastern Gateway Waterfront Master Plan.   That session is 

 Wednesday night from 6 to 8pm at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre.  Phase 1 of the project includes the redevelopment of Grafton Street from Cumberland Street towards the intersection of the Hillsborough Bridge, with upgrades to the water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure along Grafton Street.  There will also be a Multi-Use Paved Pathway added along the south side of the street, and a new signalized intersection that will connect to the new Water Street.  Work on Phase 1 begins this week.

Charlottetown Police charged two impaired drivers on Saturday morning. 

First, at about 12:30am, police responded to a call about a man, possibly impaired, slumped over the steering wheel.  An officer located the vehicle and the driver sitting on Pownal Street, and was able to wake him up.  Police determined that he was impaired by alcohol and he was arrested and later provided breath samples that were over the legal limit.  A 44 year old Ontario man  has been charged with impaired.

Then, shortly after 2:00 am, Charlottetown Police spotted a vehicle being driven erratically and pulled the driver over on Queen Street.  Police determined that the driver was impaired by alcohol and placed them under arrest.  A 46 year old Charlottetown woman was charged with impaired.

The Province is encouraging Islanders to share their opinion on potential changes to the Planning Act. The Planning Act governs provincial and municipal planning including how land is used, what structures are allowed within zones, and development in coastal areas. The changes would clarify the appeal process for planning decisions of municipalities and the provincial government.  People can view the proposed changes and provide their input by written submission until November 20th.  Further legislative and regulatory changes in regards to accessory dwellings, open space requirements, and minimum development standards are also being considered. Consultation on the proposed changes are also being planned.

The P.E.I. government has published proposed amendments to the province's Planning Act, which it says will clarify the appeal process and reduce barriers to development.

About 250 people gathered at Glen Stewart Primary School in Stratford Monday night to share a slew of different thoughts on the future of the Confederation Trail. 

Members of the PEI legislature are preparing for the start of the fall sitting.
The work of the legislature resumes Tuesday afternoon with Premier Dennis King’s government poised to introduce a revamped Mental Health Act.
As well, the Progressive Conservative government plans to replace the province’s Child Protection Act.
Both bills have been in development for years.

The province says more than 500 nurses and care support workers have been hired to work in health care settings across PEI to help address staffing shortages and alleviate staff workloads.  Health PEI reports that since January of this year, it has hired 547 staff into permanent, temporary, or casual positions, including 9 nurse practitioners; 201 registered nurses; 72 licensed practical nurses; and 265 resident care workers, personal care workers and home support workers. 

 Of the 547 staff hired to date, 147 are new graduates. 

A housing advocate is among those saying that P.E.I.'s new rent-to-own program will help Islanders, but he feels home ownership shouldn't be the only way to access housing.

Audited financial results for PEI show the province recorded a surplus of 14.4 million dollars for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.  Finance Minister Jill Burridge says that’s a decrease of almost 68 million dollars from the previous fiscal year.  The government had forecast a deficit for the 2022-2023 fiscal year of about 66 million dollars.  Burridge says the surplus came from higher-than-expected tax revenue.

Canada’s premiers presented a rare unified front as they took turns saying Ottawa’s recent changes to its carbon pricing measures were unfair to the country.  Following a meeting in Halifax, premiers from across Canada, including Premier Dennis King, called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ensure that federal policies, like carbon pricing, are delivered in an equitable way.  Last week, Trudeau announced his government would pause for three years the carbon price on home heating oil to make it easier for users of that fuel to switch to electric heat pumps.  But the move immediately drew criticism from premiers in Western Canada, where few residents and businesses use home heating oil.

Port Charlottetown has wrapped up the 2023 cruise season and is setting its sights on a record-breaking 2024.   After three years of instability due to COVID-19  and Hurricane Fiona, Port Charlottetown welcomed 89 ships and more than 119,000 passengers to the Island this year — making it one of the Island’s biggest seasons ever. 

Port Charlottetown CEO Mike Cochrane says this year marked their largest ship count to date, with 89 calls to port and visitor numbers almost at par with pre-pandemic levels. 

The direct economic impact of this year’s cruise visitation was approximately $18.2-million.  It’s anticipated that there will be an unprecedented 100-plus cruise ship arrivals to Port Charlottetown next year.

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission is considering 11 recommendations on how fuel prices should be determined on P.E.I.

Canada's premiers lashed out at the federal government Monday, saying Ottawa is treading on thin ice by signing bilateral housing deals directly with municipalities while leaving provinces out of the mix.

Some restaurateurs on P.E.I. say they're struggling to break even as they grapple with rising costs and a change in customer habits.

Provincial and territorial premiers hold a news conference after meeting about health care and energy costs.

Health P.E.I. has hired nearly 300 nurses and hundreds more care support workers so far this year, the agency said in a news release Monday.

Lisa Cooper has been re-elected to another four-year term as chief of the Native Council of PEI. She won re-election on Saturday at the Native Council’s general assembly in Mill River.  Cooper has served in numerous different positions within the Council, including Director of Operations from 2011 to 2014.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says health care is the main agenda item as he hosts Canada’s premiers and territorial leaders, including Premier Dennis King,  at a meeting in Halifax Monday.  Houston says the discussions will focus on health care innovations in the hopes of producing ideas that can help provinces address the problems plaguing the health system.   

The premier says there will also be opportunity to discuss other issues such as federal carbon pricing and Alberta’s proposal to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan.   

The premiers and territorial leaders arrived yesterday and are set to have meetings throughout the day today. 

Dennis King’s PC government says it will bring forward new legislation during the fall sitting of the legislature. But it still has a significant backlog of unfinished business to attend to.

The chief of the Native Council of P.E.I. says she will continue to stand up for Indigenous people living off reserve on Mi’kmaw land, including those who use the controversial mobile harm reduction unit.

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are calling on the federal government to axe the carbon tax on fuel.

This comes after a virtual call was made with federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. 

Nova Scotia’s finance minister says the message was conveyed despite the fact there was no opportunity to have any discussion on the issue as provincial and territorial finance ministers spoke with her. 

Allan MacMaster, the finance minister of Nova Scotia says the carbon tax doesn’t allow people to move away from fossil fuels but simply adds to the growing cost of living.

Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta finance ministers also called for the end to the carbon pricing program. 

The carbon tax will come off the cost of furnace oil in the Atlantic Provinces including PEI beginning this Thursday, November 9th for three years as announced by the feds.  It will mean about 17 cent reduction in cost per litre. 

Canada’s premiers including PEI’s Dennis King are meeting in Halifax for a two-day health summit.

A news release says the discussions will focus on issues including housing, infrastructure and the health care workforce.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says the meeting will allow the heads of provinces to work together on key issues and discuss innovations in health care.

A news conference  will be held Monday following the summit.

The City of Charlottetown’s Short-Term Rental Licencing Bylaw came into effect this week.  All Short Term Rental owners/operator hosts in Charlottetown must register their property with the City annually.Operators can register at: [email protected] along with an application fee of $175;.  Those owners and operator hosts with a current provincial Tourism Establishment License don’t require a license from the City until the provincial license expires March 31, 2024.

The province says it’s actively recruiting for five physician assistants to join Health PEI and help with much-needed access to care for Islanders.  All five positions are currently being advertised.  The province says several physicians have expressed interest in working with a physician assistant and integrating them into their practice.  

Physician Assistants, under the supervision of a physician, can complete physical examinations, administer vaccinations, set or cast a fracture, gather patient history, develop treatment plans, and even assist in surgery.  

In June, regulations allowing them to practice in the province came into effect.

It started snowing on P.E.I. this past week, and that means some students are learning just how frosty the Island can be.

Cecily Erzuah moved to Canada from Ghana at the age of 18. After grappling with racism for the first time, she eventually learned how to be confident and speak up for herself.

The proposed move of the Community  Outreach Centre on Euston St. to Park St. comes as a public rally is being organized outside the Legislature at the Coles Building at 4.00 on Tuesday afternoon, as the Legislature opens its fall sitting.

The “Keep Our Neighbourhood Safe” rally is open to all citizens to address concerns about the present site of the Outreach Centre and the neighbourhood. 

Premier Dennis King says the temporary move of the Outreach Centre has to be approved by the City of Charlottetown and that plan is being submitted. It would move next to the overnight emergency shelter within 60 days of City approval.