Monday is election day in District 19 Borden-Kinkora.  The byelection is being held to fill the seat in the legislature left vacant with the November resignation of MLA Jamie Fox.  The polls are to be open from 9am to 7pm.  If you aren’t sure where to vote on Monday, you can check the Voter Information Card you would have received in the mail or visit electionspei.ca

Elections PEI says 1,126 people voted in the advance polls, which is roughly 26 percent of the eligible voters in the district. If you are in the district and have a mai-in ballot, it must be returned to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer by noon Monday.

Obviously weather is a concern for Monday’s vote.  Elections PEI CEO Tim Garrity says that in the event of inclement weather, electors in District 19 who haven’t voted yet should monitor the local media and Elections PEI social platforms on Monday morning for further information in case the weather affects the vote on Monday.

Both Kings and Queens Counties are now under Winter Storm Warnings, while Prince County is under a Blowing Snow Advisory.

For Kings and Queens Counties, hazardous winter conditions are expected through until Monday, and it will be about noon before we really see diminished winds.  

Environment Canada says an additional 15 to 35 cm of snow is possible for central and eastern PEI, combined with maximum wind gusts of up to 80 km/h.  Conditions will deteriorate further today as the winds increase and snowfall rates intensify, with blowing snow reducing visibilities.   The highest snowfall amounts are expected over eastern PEI where up to 35 cm are possible, while parts of Queens county may only see 15 cm by Monday morning.  The snow will taper to flurries throughout the day on Monday.  But today, visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow.

For Prince County, poor visibility in snow and blowing snow can be expected to continue with maximum wind gusts of 70 to 80 km/h.  Visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero.  Another 15 to 20 cm of snow is possible through tomorrow in parts of Prince County.

Plows have been out all night working the main roads in Kings and Queens Counties, and some side roads in areas as well. But it’s tough going.  Blowing and drifting snow is making it very difficult with whiteout conditions and heavy drifting filling in the roads shortly after they’re plowed.  Some of the main roads, though they’ve been worked on all night are down to one lane.  Transportation crews are turning to V-Plows to clear out some roads where they have thick, heavy banks that have developed outside the minimal lanes that are open.  Blowers may also have to be used later today to clear this up.

Prince County is fairing off better, although the roads are snow covered and slippery with lots of blowing snow.  It is worse in areas of East Prince than it is in West Prince.  Visibility is just fair in areas of East Prince.

Due to continued storm conditions, UPEI will be closed for the day on Sunday, February 4, 2024.  The AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital will remain open for emergencies.

All Holland College locations will be closed today, Sunday, Feb 4th, due to inclement weather.

The opposition to Charlottetown's Community Outreach Centre and a proposed supervised consumption site has been vocal. At the heart of the issue is how to help P.E.I.'s increasingly visible population of drug users — and whether drug use is a public health issue at all.

From rent to food and gas, the cost of pretty much everything has gone up. If you've got a story about just how hard it is to get by, CBC P.E.I. wants to help you tell that story. Here's how.

Saturday was a big night for PEI as the 35th Annual O’Brien Awards were held in Charlottetown, honouring the best in Canadian Harness racing.  PEI native James MacDonald won his third consecutive Driver of the Year Award.  PEI native Dr. Ian Moore was named Canada’s Trainer of the Year.  PEI’s Andrew Ward was the winner of the Outstanding Groom Award.  Premier Dennis King was the recipient of the Cam Fella Award for his profound impact on Standardbred horse racing.  Also, Jason Hughes of Stratford was a finalist for the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship.

The top performers in the Canada’s harness racing industry are being honoured in Charlottetown this weekend.

Prince Edward Island is getting hit with a wintery, blustery mess this weekend as Kings and Queens Counties are under a Special Weather Statement.

Environment Canada has been projecting total snowfall amounts of 20 to 40 cm this weekend for central and eastern PEI.  A prolonged period of snow and blowing snow is expected through the weekend into Monday.  Along with the snow, winds gusting top 70kh are expected through to Monday as well, causing blowing snow and reduced visibility.

Prince County is to see a lesser amount of snow, but will still be dealing with messy conditions with blowing snow.

The weather resulted in a number of cancellations and closures on Saturday, including UPEI and all Holland College locations.

Environment Canada has updated its special weather statement for Queens and Prince counties on Prince Edward Island this weekend as some businesses posted cancellations and delays Saturday morning. 

The last decade has seen a big shift in crime on P.E.I., from physical to online attacks, and to attacks from abroad, and it is creating huge challenges for police.

We explore the feasibility of a P.E.I. bulk-buying warehouse store in the latest episode of the new CBC podcast Good Question, P.E.I.

For Islanders interested in the tiny-home phenomenon, what does it take to actually get into one? P.E.I. land use officials explain the process behind procuring a permit.

Kings and Queens Counties are under a Special Weather Statement advising of what Environment Canada is terming “Prolonged winter weather” to impact PEI into early next week. The agency said Friday that central and eastern PEI had the potential to see 20 to 40 cm of snow over the period stretching from Friday night until Monday. Those significant snow amounts will be combined with increasing northeast winds that will result in blowing snow and reduced visibility on the roads. While Prince County is not included in the Special Weather Statement and is to get less snow than the rest of P.E.I., it will still be messy with strong winds causing blowing and drifting snow and reduced visibility.

Both workers and the former chair of Health P.E.I.'s board say the province is not doing enough to bring health professionals to the Island, despite the government's assertions that stories about lax recruitment efforts are "false."

Voters in District 19, Borden-Kinkora, will go to the polls Monday, Feb. 5 for a byelection to determine who will fill the P.E.I. legislature seat vacated by Jamie Fox. CBC’s Kerry Campbell profiles the issues at play in the district.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Friday afternoon for Queens and Kings Counties in P.E.I.  From Friday evening until Monday, between 20 and 40 cm of snow may fall.

Derek Key publicly criticized the province's recruitment efforts at a packed town hall on the state of health care in P.E.I. The former Health P.E.I. board chair talks about why he spoke out and why he believes the Prince County Hospital is at risk.

Hundreds of people crammed into a town hall on the state of health care in P.E.I., leaving some to sit in the aisle and others lined up outside. Here's a look at what happened as residents directed their questions and their outrage directly at provincial health leaders.

A reduction in services at Prince County Hospital in Summerside led to a fiery town hall with residents and health officials. CBC News spoke with Health Minister Mark McLane prior to that meeting.

The former chair of Health P.E.I.’s board spoke up at a Summerside town hall to criticize the state of the province's health-care system and challenge the current health minister on staff recruitment efforts. 

Islanders are paying more for heating oil, gas and diesel Friday morning.

The final of the three Advance Voting Days for the District 19 Borden-Kinkora By-Election is Friday.  The Advance Poll is open from 9am to 7pm at Bedeque United Church.  The first two Advance Polls saw about 14 percent of eligible electors cast their ballots.  Election Day is Monday and eligible voters can check the Elections PEI website or the Voter Information Card they received in the mail for the details on where they vote on Monday.

The Veteran’s Convention Centre inside Credit Union Place was overflowing Thursday night as hundreds turned out for the Town Hall meeting hosted by Mayor Dan Kutcher and The City of Summerside on the situation at Prince County Hospital including the suspension of ICU services.  More than 15-hundred more were watching a stream online.  Health Minister Mark McLane, Interim Health PEI CEO Corinne Rowswell and Health PEI chief medical officer Katherine McNally all attended the meeting to address the concerns raised by those in attendance.  Minister McLane stressed that there is no plan to reduce services at the Prince County Hospital, and both he and Rowswell detailed the recruitment and retention efforts for the PCH.  Residents, health care workers, and municipal officials from across western PEI all voiced their concerns about the situation at PCH.

A man who wants to build a golf course on the site of the Confederation Bridge fabrication yard is disappointed that options for the property haven't played a larger role in the current provincial byelection campaign in Borden-Carleton.

It is the end of an era for a well-known volunteer group on Prince Edward Island. After 90 years and $1.1 million dollars raised, Wo He Lo is merging the QEH Auxiliary at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.

After decades of proponents calling for the service, Health P.E.I. has hired its first two midwives to provide care both before and after new births on the Island.

An adjournment Thursday in a Charlottetown courtroom in the Byron Carr murder case.  The lawyer for 56-year old Todd Joseph Gallant of Souris appeared on his client’s behalf and told the court they were not ready to proceed at this time.  The defence and Crown agreed to adjourn the case until March 7th to allow for time to review the evidence.  Gallant, who is also known as Todd Joseph Irving, was arrested on Thursday of last week and formally charged last Friday with First Degree Murder and Interfering with Human Remains.

A townhall meeting will get underway at Credit Union Place in Summerside Thursday evening, letting residents share concerns about recent cuts to Prince County Hospital.

The Pan-African flag has been raised in Charlottetown. Black Cultural Society of P.E.I. executive director Tamara Steele talks about what it means to see the flag raised and how Islanders can celebrate this month.

The lawyer representing the man charged with killing P.E.I. school teacher Byron Carr 35 years ago appeared in a Charlottetown courtroom on his client’s behalf Thursday morning.

CBC's Island Morning brought together three candidates in P.E.I.'s byelection in District 19, Borden-Kinkora for a roundtable Wednesday, and local issues took second place to provincial matters.

The City of Summerside is hosting a public Town Hall meeting Thursday night at Credit Union Place regarding the Prince County Hospital – and the City says Health Minister Mark McLane and  Interim Health PEI CEO Corinne Rowswell are to join the meeting. 

Last week, Mayor Dan Kutcher and Summerside Council sent letters to McLane and Rowswell requesting action be taken on the suspension of ICU services at the PCH, and that they attend the Town Hall meeting.  In their letters, they said that the decision to suspend all ICU services at the Prince County Hospital will jeopardize the health and outcomes of the citizens in Summerside, Prince County and the entire Province.  The City advises that parking may be limited due to the fact there’s a convention and Maritime Junior Hockey League game being held at Credit Union Place at the same time.  Doors to the Veteran’s Convention Centre inside Credit Union Place open at 6:15pm and the Town Hall meeting will begin at 7:00 PM.

No serious injuries are reported after a collision on the St Peters Highway in the St Andrews area Thursday morning.  The RCMP says a vehicle collided with some livestock shortly before 7:00am. Two people in the vehicle were taken to hospital as a precaution, but police say their injuries were minor. The East River Fire Department responded, and Police reduced that stretch of highway to one lane of traffic to allow crews to attend to the scene.  It was re-opened shortly after 8:30am.  

It was announced Wednesday that Chief Superintendent Kevin Lewis has been promoted to that rank and named the new Commanding Officer of PEI RCMP.   Lewis joined the RCMP in 2002 and has been in Prince Edward Island (L Division) since 2020. Lewis and his wife, Inspector Beryl Lewis, both serve with the RCMP.  Lewis says that having been posted on the Island for the past three years as the Criminal Operations Officer, he is aware of the challenges and opportunities facing policing on Prince Edward Island.  Lewis has 21 years of experience in policing, most recently in the roles of L Division’s Acting Commanding Officer and Criminal Operations Officer.

February is Black History Month and there are a number of Flag Raising ceremonies being held today and over the next week on PEI to mark the opening of Black History Month. 

There’s a Flag raising at 9:00am this morning at Charlottetown City Hall; at 10:15am at the Provincial Government Shaw Building in Charlottetown, and at 11:15am at Stratford Town Hall. 

On Friday, there are flag raisings at Three Rivers Town Hall at 12:00pm and UPEI at 2:00pm. 

Then, next Monday, Flag Raisings will be held in Kensington and Borden-Carleton, and then in Cornwall on Tuesday.

“Community as the Way Forward” is the theme of Black History Month this year.

RCMP across the Island have made seven arrests for impaired driving this week.  Three of those incidents involved vehicles in ditches in New Perth, Cardross and Alexandra.  RCMP say the driver in Alexandra provided breath samples that were three times the legal limit.  Traffic stops and checkpoints resulted in arrests in Montague, Valleyfield and St Louis.  In Coleman, a tip from the public led to an arrest.  There were no injuries reported as a result of any of the incidents.

Numbers from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation show the vacancy rate for apartments for all of PEI was up slightly last year.
A higher rate means it’s somewhat less difficult to find a home to rent for some parts of the Island.
The rate rose from 0.8 per cent in 2022 to 1.1 per cent, based on an annual survey done in October.
But although it went up, that 1.1 per cent vacancy rate is tied with Nova Scotia for the lowest in the country.
Nationally, the vacancy rate was 1.5 per cent.  Also of note is that the vacancy rate in Charlottetown went down from 0.8 per cent in 2022 to 0.5 per cent is 2023. 

More than a week after the federal government’s decision to cut the number of student permits it issues, college and university officials on P.E.I. say they have many questions — and few answers.

Some P.E.I. daycare operators say they'd love to expand, but are finding the process difficult despite new grants being offered by the province. The result: A waitlist that's 2,000 strong.

Harm reduction services like needle exchanges and supervised consumption sites have been a topic of heated debate on P.E.I. CBC's Tony Davis talks to advocates and public health officials about what harm reduction is, and how those services are intended to work.

At about 6:00 am on Wednesday, Charlottetown Police responded to a complaint of a man checking cars on Newland Crescent.

Several police units went to the area and located the suspect inside a vehicle.  He was arrested and police say a search during the arrest revealed items that were stolen from other vehicles.

A 41 year old Charlottetown man has been charged with theft under $5000, possession of property obtained by crime and breach of probation.

RCMP across the Island have made seven arrests for impaired driving this week.  Three of those incidents involved vehicles in ditches in New Perth, Cardross and Alexandra.  RCMP say the driver in Alexandra provided breath samples that were three times the legal limit.  Traffic stops and checkpoints resulted in arrests in Montague, Valleyfield and St Louis.  In Coleman, a tip from the public led to an arrest.  There were no injuries reported as a result of any of the incidents. 

The vacancy rate for apartments on P.E.I. was up a little in 2023, but the average rent increased by 8.5 per cent, according to numbers released Wednesday by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

People who live near a beach in western P.E.I. where human bones have been uncovered say it's not the first time, and they don't believe it will be the last. CBC's Wayne Thibodeau has more from West Cape, where some say the bones could be from a burial site related to a shipwreck in the 1800s.

Health P.E.I.'s former CEO Michael Gardam says patient medical homes would help more people see a doctor, but doubts there's enough space or people to staff them.

The human remains found in western P.E.I. on Saturday weren't the first to be found in the area — and local residents believe they won't be the last.

West Prince RCMP arrested a 20-year-old man for impaired driving in Coleman following a tip from the public.

The Holland College Foundation has named Penny Walsh-McGuire and Jennifer Driscoll as recipients of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Penny Walsh-McGuire graduated from the Event and Conventions Management program in 2000.  Since graduation, she has worked with the Capital Commission of Prince Edward Island; the Young and Rubicam advertising agency in New York City; Confederation Centre of the Arts; and PEI 2014 Inc. She also was the CEO of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, and is the Executive Director of the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences.

Jennifer Driscoll graduated from the Police Science program at the Atlantic Police Academy in 1998, and began her career as a Constable in General Patrol with the Summerside Police Services the very next day.  In 2010, she took a two-year leave of absence to work with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.  In 2015, she made history when she became the first female Corporal of the Summerside Police Services, and has since received numerous honours and awards for her service and career achievements

Five major sporting events, including the women's under-21 Baseball Canada national championship this August, are coming to Summerside, P.E.I., over the next three years.