Health P.E.I. is reporting better conditions at the province's hospitals Wednesday morning, after warning that all four were over capacity generally and in their emergency departments on Tuesday evening.

P.E.I.'s French School Board, the Conseil scholaire de la langue française, is in the middle of planning its first rezoning in almost 20 years.

On Wednesday night, the provincial government hosts the second of four in-person workshops it’s holding as it’s seeking feedback from Islanders to help develop a long-term plan for use of the Confederation Trail.

Islanders are encouraged to attend one of these workshops to share recommendations, personal stories, and comments about the trail. 

Wednesday’s workshop is in St Peters Bay from 6:00-7:30 pm at the St. Peter’s Complex.

Margaret Stewart Ellis home has declared a facility wide outbreak of COVID-19.  For the time being, visitors are restricted to three partners-in-care for each resident, with only one partner-in-care present at a time. Visitor restrictions will remain in place until the outbreak is declared over.

Health PEI is advising that due to increased patient volumes, the Health PEI Emergency Departments and hospitals are over capacity.

As a result, anyone going to the emergency department with less severe illnesses should expect longer waits to see a physician. 

As always, people will be assessed when they arrive at an emergency department by a triage nurse. 

People with more serious illness or injuries will be seen more quickly and should stay in the emergency department once triaged until seen.

The increased volumes also mean more patients are waiting in the emergency department for a hospital bed.

Health PEI says the overcapacity level 3 policy is being implemented, which increases the number of beds available across the system. They’re also working to move patients in hospital back to their community hospitals, long-term care or community care if possible.

With record damage to P.E.I.'s shoreline from post-tropical storm Fiona, the provincial government and researchers are looking at new ways of protecting the Island shoreline. There have been some successes, including offshore, or intertidal reefs.

Some people who live near a gravel pit in Charlottetown say they’re concerned about dump trucks hauling material without coverings. 

Lane Hinkley has been reflecting on his hockey career after a doctor told him he should retire from competitive hockey.

A 69-year-old Kensington, P.E.I., man pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing and making child pornography. 

Public Schools Branch students on Prince Edward Island have a new online tool to report incidents that negatively impact them or the school climate.

Even with a break on the federal carbon tax, Canadians who heat their homes with heating oil will still be paying significantly more than those with access to cheaper alternatives like natural gas.

SAF‘Ile, a non-profit group that protects French language and culture on P.E.I., says the recent cancellation of its AGM is a symptom of a non-profit sector being stretched to its limits.

Kings District RCMP responded to a minor collision in Montague on Sunday night at around 8:15 pm, involving a parked car and a pick-up truck. Police say there were no injuries reported. The driver of the truck was located a short distance away and was arrested for impaired driving. The 61-year-old Murray River man is facing an appearance soon in court.

As millions of taxpayer dollars pour into the harness racing industry, critics have been calling for more transparency in how racing commissions work in Atlantic Canada. CBC's Steve Bruce explains how it got to this point, and why people want the Atlantic region to model itself after the Ontario racing commission.

Police across PEI will be out on patrol Tuesday night to help ensure a safe Halloween night for everyone. 

In the meantime, the RCMP is reminding everyone of some key safety messages.  Trick-or-treaters should wear visible costumes, and costumes that don’t hinder their visibility; travel in groups; carry a cell phone; and be aware of curfews.  Homeowners should make sure their home is well-lit; secure your pets; and consider LED candles for a safer option in your pumpkins.  Obviously, for motorists, the key is to slow down, especially in residential areas; and always be ready for the possibility of young trick-or-treaters darting onto the road.

The government of P.E.I. is asking residents to share how they use the Confederation Trail, as well as offer suggestions on how the system of paths built along the routes of the province's historic railway lines could be improved.

The harness racing industry receives millions of dollars from taxpayer support and gambling revenues each year. Critics want to see more accountability and transparency in the governing bodies responsible for harness racing throughout the region.

The first snowfall of the season is making for a chilly end to October for Prince Edward Island. Here are some of the sights around downtown Charlottetown.

The RCMP issued an emergency alert Monday for Pictou, Antigonish and Colchester Counties – and it stems from an incident in Thorburn where residents are being told to shelter in place.  The RCMP is searching for 61-year-old John Douglas Cress in regards to an assault with an axe at a home on Greenwood St. in Thorburn. Police say one person suffered serious injuries, and the victim and suspect do know each other.  Cress fled into woods and is believed to be on foot.  Cress is described as five feet ten inches tall, with grey hair and blue eyes.  He may be wearing a long sleeve grey sweatshirt and shorts.  The RCMP asks that you stay away from the area, as officers have seen people driving through the area trying to see what is happening.  The search is being assisted by the RCMP’s Colchester County District, Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services and Air Services.

Nova Scotia RCMP say they are searching for a 61-year-old man in relation to an assault with an axe in Thorburn.

Equestrians donned their favourite Halloween costumes Sunday in central P.E.I. for an event inspired by traditional British fox hunts.

Charlottetown Police say a 45-year old man has been arrested and is facing arson charges after an early morning fire Sunday at a home on Bayfield Street.  It was about 3:00am when police officers patrolling the area spotted the smoke and were able to use a fire extinguisher on the blaze and help evacuate the building.  Six people were forced out of the home by the blaze.  Charlottetown firefighters also responded to fully extinguish the flames.  An investigation by the fire inspector determined that it was a case of arson and led to the arrest of the suspect.

Dreaming of a white Halloween?

Snow is on the way.  A Special Weather Statement is in effect for all of PEI with up to 5 cm in snow possible in inland areas away from the coast from Monday morning through the evening.  Environment Canada says the snow is expected to be wet in nature, and mix or change over to rain completely for areas near the coastline. Accumulations will be mainly confined to inland areas away from the coast. It is expected that road conditions could become slippery as a result.

Some students at East Wiltshire Intermediate School were given a challenge: how to update school signs to make them more accessible for future visually impaired students. Their volunteering paid off with 3D printed signs, including braille, posted outside all of their school rooms to help others navigate the halls.

A controversial ruling by the commission that governs harness racing in Atlantic Canada has prompted calls for more transparency and better oversight of an industry which receives millions of taxpayer dollars and gambling revenues each year.  

Police in Charlottetown say one person has been arrested after a fire forced six people out of a home early Sunday morning.

After getting up to over 21  on Saturday under sunny skies, it’s a cool morning with temperatures in the single digits. 

And some snow is coming on Monday to parts of New Brunswick and the Cape Breton Highlands which could see 5-10 cm.  PEI will get rain. 

This comes just a week before we go back to standard time next weekend.

Western Hospital in Alberton  closed its emergency department  early at 3.00 on Saturday afternoon due to higher than normal volume of critical patients.  The  ER has re-opened this morning.

Islanders and Atlantic Canadians are getting a break from the cost involved with the carbon tax.

Charlottetown MP Sean Casey says the federal government will pause the carbon tax on home heating oil for the next three years.

In addition, there will be an upfront payment of $250 for eligible households as a rebate.

More money will also be spent to support residents switching to heat pumps instead of depending on oil to heat their homes.

An outbreak of COVID-19 in two long term care homes has been declared over in the Gable and Terra Rose households at Summerset Manor and the Lighthouse household at the Prince Edward Home. 

The Blue Heron and Valor Households at the Prince Edward Home outbreaks of COVID continue.

There is also a new outbreak in the Harvest View Household at the Margaret Stewart Ellis Home.

A time of great loss has led to a collaboration by members of 2 of P.E.I.'s best-known bands, with voices from Vishtèn and The East Pointers merging on the 1st single from a project being called Vishtèn Connexions.

An emergency department at a hospital in western P.E.I. closed early Saturday after admitting “numerous critical patients,” a Health P.E.I. spokesperson said.

Residents in Charlottetown protested Saturday outside of a provincial government building. Many say they're fed up with the inaction by government to close an facilty that helps with homelessness.

People who use PEI public libraries won’t be able to hold or reserve books for three days next week, and the computers will be closed down for one day, as the service updates its software.

The public library service says it’s updating its library software from Monday until the end of Thursday.

For the first three days, there won’t be any reserving of books and on Thursday, the library’s entire software system will be unavailable for the day.

On that day, the public will not be able to place holds or access the library’s online catalogue, but the libraries will be available to do manual checkouts during the upgrade period.

The Charlottetown Y Service Club Food Drive “drive thru” is on Saturday  from 9 this morning until 2 this afternoon in Charlottetown and Cornwall.  There are a number of designated locations in Charlottetown and Cornwall for you to drop off food donations, with donations going to the Upper Room Food Bank.  Needs include cereal, canned soup, canned meat, granola bars, and personal hygiene products.

As average home prices outpace household earnings, becoming a first-timer buyer on Prince Edward Island is much harder than it once was.

News of federal relief for Atlantic Canada home heating oil users made Friday 'a day to celebrate' for some on Prince Edward Island, but the looming threat of climate change dampened a bit of the joy. 

An association representing P.E.I's landlords warns that the housing crisis in the province is poised to get even worse, given that fewer new rental properties are being built, and large and small companies alike are selling off their rental units.

The University of Prince Edward Island is parting ways with a controversial vice-president, the campus community was told on Friday. 

P.E.I. Premier Dennis King says his government remains committed to providing supervised consumption services for Islanders struggling with addictions, but has no timeline on when or where that will happen after a plan for a Park Street site fell through.

Many people taking part in a P.E.I. government program designed to get child and spousal support payments to them say the system isn't working for them. 

The Opposition Liberals are calling for immediate action from the provincial government to begin the process of closing the Community Outreach Centre and establish a comprehensive plan to deliver alternative sources of support, staffed and operated by trained public sector workers. The Opposition is also calling for an independent review by the Auditor General of the centre’s operations.  Opposition Leader Hal Perry says Government has taken a do-nothing approach to the Community Outreach Centre and it’s led to an unsafe and unacceptable situation for those suffering with addictions and mental health challenges as well as area residents.  

The provincial government has appointed Jessie Frost-Wicks as the new Ethics and Integrity Commissioner to serve a five-year term.  In her role as Ethics and Integrity Commissioner, Frost-Wicks will provide oversight of accountability and governance matters within the provincial government. She previously worked as a lawyer for 27 years in various government departments and was the Public Trustee, Public and Official Guardian until she retired in 2021.  Frost-Wicks started in the role on September 18th, replacing Shauna Sullivan Curley, who for 8 years served as the first Ethics and Integrity Commissioner, and is retiring.  The role was established in 2015 as part of a series of measures to strengthen public confidence that the work of government is conducted with high standards of ethics and integrity. The Commissioner also provides advice to the Executive Division on conflict of interest matters within their departments or agencies.

The P.E.I. Teachers’ Federation is looking for what it is calling a Course Correction, following a survey of its members that found 62 per cent of them had considered leaving the profession.

"Shut the outreach centre down" was the pointed and often repeated message many people had for MLAs during a legislative committee meeting in Charlottetown.

Premier Dennis King says years of advocating have paid off.  He was responding to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement Thursday of a temporary three-year pause to carbon pricing measures on heating oil, beginning in two weeks.  Trudeau also announced that the federal government will be doubling the top-up to the carbon price rebate for rural Canadians, beginning next April.  King says it’s welcome news, saying they’ve long been calling on the federal government to listen to Atlantic Canadians about the disproportionate impact that the Carbon Tax has on our region and rural Canadians.  King says it will help Islanders reduce the cost of heating their homes. The federal government says the change will mean households that use heating oil would save about 250-dollars on average. 

Six Island seniors have been named Senior Islanders of the Year for their outstanding contributions to communities across the province. 

The Senior Islander of the Year Awards were created to recognize the contributions of Island seniors in areas like volunteering, artistic achievement, fundraising, sports/recreation, and business. 

The 2023 Senior Islander of the Year Award recipients are Betty Begg Brooks, of Charlottetown; Georgina Knockwood Crane, of St. Andrews; Mari Basiletti, of Canoe Cove;  Myron Yates, of Glencoe;  Bernadette Gallant, of St. Louis; and Anne Marie Richard, of Tignish.

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has approved decreases of 3.0 cents per litre in the price of furnace oil, and 4.0 cents per litre in the price of diesel.  There’s no change in the price of gasoline.  Including taxes, pump prices for regular self-serve gasoline remain in the range of 164.3 to 165.5 cents per litre.  Prices for diesel are now between 209.8 and 210.9 cents per litre.  The maximum price for furnace oil is 163.7 cents per litre.

Six seniors on Prince Edward Island have been recognized for various contributions in the areas of volunteering, artistic achievement, sports, and business.