Arrests have been made and charges laid in regards to the incidents of arson this past weekend in Scotchfort, Donaldston, and Stanhope .  A 19-year-old man was charged on Monday with arson in connection with the incident at a home in Scotchfort. He has been remanded in custody and will be facing additional charges in relation to the cottage fires in Donaldston and Stanhope.  Meanwhile, a youth was arrested and appeared in court Tuesday on charges of break, enter and arson in regards to the cottage fires in Donaldston and Stanhope. The investigation is continuing.

Much of the focus in the PEI legislature on Tuesday was on Maritime Electric’s rate increase application with the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission. The utility is looking to recover the $37-million in costs it faced as a result of damage from Hurricane Fiona, and has applied to IRAC for rate hikes of about 2.4 per cent by March 1st, 2024, for residential clients. In the legislature, both the Liberal Opposition and Third Party Greens raised questions suggesting Maritime Electric could have better protected its power lines before the storm, and said that Islanders should not have to bear the costs of the Fiona recovery for the utility.  Energy Minister Steven Myers says it’s ridiculous to fault Maritime Electric for every tree that fell on power lines during Fiona.  He also voiced disappointment with the federal government’s rejection of the PEI Government’s request for assistance under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program.

Despite some calls for a full ban of the practice, Environment, Energy and Climate Action Minister Steven Myers says it seems unlikely P.E.I. will put an end to all trapping of animals.

The Atlantic Chapter of the Canadian Congress of Black Parliamentarians met in Charlottetown this week, with one member saying the goal is to tell the region 'We're here, we're organized and we want to be part of the solution.'

Maritime Electric's rate increase proposal was a hot topic in the P.E.I. legislature Tuesday as opposition parties asked the provincial government to intervene and make the utility fund its own post-Fiona costs.

Government amendments mean Islanders will qualify for one paid sick day after 12 months on the job, two days the next year and three days after three years of service.

A 19-year-old man and a person under the age of 18 have been charged with arson following fires in northern Queens County, P.E.I., over the weekend. 

Hikers and cyclists sharing P.E.I.’s Confederation Trail with ATVs may be possible in theory, but Island Trails is concerned that practically it is not.

Some Charlottetown city councillors continue to express doubts about the Native Council of P.E.I.'s harm reduction program, which for four years has been providing services for Islanders with drug addictions.

A group on P.E.I. wants the provincial government to ban snaring and trapping in the province, citing the number of people and pets who have been caught in the devices in recent years.

Outbreaks of COVID-19 have been declared on the Sunset household of Charlottetown’s Beach Grove Home and at the Seascapes Harbour household of Alberton’s Maplewood Manor.

Patients on those households will be limited to three partners-in-care, with one visitor at a time. All partners-in-care will be asked to follow the current infection control measures. 

The RCMP is offering some safety tips as you plan for your holidays.  It says you can protect yourself from frauds and scams by protecting your PIN when using bank and debit machines; monitor your bank and credit card statements daily for any unauthorized transactions; and be cautious of unsolicited emails or calls, especially those requesting personal information.  Also, keep your vehicle from becoming a target by not leaving valuables in your car; park in well-lit areas and busy parking lots; and lock your vehicle.

A coroner’s inquest into the death of 47-year-old Kenny Hoddinott wrapped up on Monday with five recommendations from the jury.  The Newfoundland man died at the Provincial Correctional Centre in Sleepy Hollow in December 2021 from a cardiac event, just hours after being
detained for public intoxication.  The recommendations from the jury include one that there should be a defibrillator available in all wings of the correctional centre, and that consideration be given to having a camera in all cells.  There had been no inquest planned after Hoddinott’s death, but Justice Minister Bloyce Thompson said in January 2022 an inquest was needed to provide transparency and prevent future deaths at the correctional centre. 

Maritime Electric is seeking approval from the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission to increase electricity rates to recover costs associated with Hurricane Fiona damages.  Maritime Electric estimates its costs for the Fiona restoration were $37-million and it’s filed an application with IRAC seeking approval to recover these additional costs from ratepayers beginning March 1st of 2024. If approved, the Fiona-related costs will result in an incremental annual cost increase of approximately 2.4% for customers effective March 1, 2024 until February 28, 2029.   In its application, Maritime Electric indicates that to this point, there’s been no support from the PEI Government after the federal government denied it access to a disaster relief fund.  The Utility says that if any government funding is received to help with recovery costs, that would be used to offset costs so that customers don’t have to pay as much.

Maritime Electric has applied to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission to recover $37 million in Fiona restoration costs through a customer rate increase that would come into effect in March.

One man is in custody in relation to an attempted arson in Scotchfort, P.E.I., on Saturday evening. No charges have been laid yet, police say.

A 61-year-old PEI man has been charged under the Tobacco Tax Act after a traffic stop on November 16th in New Brunswick.  Officers from New Brunswick’s  Department of Public Safety seized about 115-thousand contraband cigarettes in the Campbellton area. The minimum penalties for having illegal tobacco range from just under 300 dollars to four thousand dollars depending on the quantity seized.  The tobacco seized has a provincial tax value of about 29-thousand dollars and a federal excise tax value of 18-thousand dollars.

Charlottetown Police are looking for the public’s assistance and witnesses in the investigation of a collision at the intersection of Belvedere and University Avenue.

It happened at about 6:15pm on November 17th – a cyclist traveling north on University Ave on the sidewalk, proceeded to cross Belvedere Ave. and was struck by a vehicle that was turning right from Belvedere Ave. onto University Ave.  Police say the cyclist sustained minor injuries.

A burgundy/red sedan, that appears to be a Mazda, is captured on video at the intersection of Queen St and Belvedere Avenue in the left turning lane. It proceeds to University Avenue, turns right then turns right again into the Superstore parking lot.

Two Islanders are among dozens of people across Canada and many more in the United States made ill by cantaloupe contaminated with salmonella.

Queens District RCMP are investigating 5 suspicious fires that occurred over the weekend.  At about 11:00 p.m. on Friday, RCMP responded to two cottages on fire in the Donaldston area. East River, Charlottetown and North Shore Fire Departments were also dispatched to the scene. The PEI Fire Marshal was called in, along with RCMP Forensic Identification Services, and RCMP Major Crime Unit.  Then, on Saturday at approximately 6:30 p.m., Queens District RCMP responded to another fire at a cottage in the Stanhope area. Witnesses called 9-1-1 after seeing the cottage fully engulfed in flames. North Shore Fire Department was on scene and again the PEI Fire Marshal, RCMP Forensic Identification Services, and RCMP Major Crime Unit were asked to assist, along with RCMP Police Dog Services.  Also, on Saturday night, the RCMP responded to a home in the Scotchfort area after a homeowner called 9-1-1 to report suspicious burn marks around their home. The home sustained only minor damage and no fire services were called in.  Then finally, RCMP were advised by Parks Canada early Sunday morning that a lifeguard building was destroyed by fire at Stanhope Beach. All of the incidents are being investigated by Queens District RCMP, RCMP Major Crime Unit, RCMP Forensic Identification Services, and the Office of the Fire Marshal.

There is a Wind Warning Advisory in effect on the Confederation Bridge.  It indicates wind conditions expected Monday may result in traffic restrictions on the Confederation Bridge from about 9:00am to about 8:00pm.  Due to weather conditions, Northumberland Ferries has cancelled all sailings for Monday.

Northumberland Ferries has cancelled all crossings Monday, with high winds forecast to continue all day.

A new federal report is calling for better monitoring of the commercial fishery in Canada, saying DFO's failure could put some stocks in danger. The P.E.I. Fishermen's Association says timely data will become even more critical because of the impacts of climate change.

Originally, no inquest was going to take place, but justice Minister Bloyce Thompson said in early 2022 he had changed his mind.

Thousands of spectators bundled up along the streets of Charlottetown Saturday night for the annual Santa Claus parade.

A wind warning advisory has been issued by the Confederation Bridge on Monday morning at 9.00 until 9.00 in the evening.  Wind gusts of 50 to 80 are expected tomorrow and 10-15 mm of rain is possible as a system heads up from the south.

The Charlottetown Christmas Parade on Saturday evening down University Ave. was another huge success despite the very cold evening. Santa Claus made his first appearance of the Holiday Season in front of thousands including many youngsters who were waiting to get a glimpse of Santa. 

The Christmas Parade and official tree lighting at Confederation Centre held on Friday night ushers in the start of the joyous season.

Xandra van der Geer has been thinking about creating a garden for mental health for the past few years.

The provincial government is looking at how often motor vehicle inspections should be held.  Right now it’s annually for all  vehicles in the province. 

In some places like Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, inspections happen every two years.

Minister of Transportation Ernie Hudson says a review is underway but there are some things to consider such as insurance rates.

Some motor vehicle repair places believe the annual inspection should be kept which keeps older vehicles safe for PEI highways.

A motor vehicle inspection costs $30 each year.

Islanders can have their say on the 2024-25 operating budget by taking part in pre-budget consultations.  You can submit your ideas by emailing [email protected]; or by taking part in an online survey; or by registering for virtual consultations.

  Finance Minister Jill Burridge says it’s an opportunity to share your thoughts and potential solutions, whether it’s about housing, healthcare, education, our economy, or anything else you think that government should be prioritizing.  The deadline for submissions is December 22nd.

To show support for ending gender-based violence, Islanders are encouraged to wear purple during the 16 Days of Activism from today until December 10th. Purple ribbons are worn in honour and remembrance of the 14 women murdered in Montreal on December 6, 1989, and the 10 women murdered in PEI since 1989 by someone who knew them. The ribbons are also a call for justice for the tragic number of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls in Canada. 

Chief Coroner Dr. Brandon Webber says there will be an inquest into the death of Kenneth Hoddinott while in custody at the Sleepy Hollow Provincial Correctional Centre on December 21st, 2021.

The inquest is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week.

It will be held at the Law Courts  on Water Street starting at 9.30 each morning.

The facts and circumstances of the death will be examined during the inquest.

The Holiday Season has begun in Charlottetown with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Confederation Centre last night and the Christmas Parade this evening.

The Christmas Parade will start at 5.00 at the UPEI entrance on University Ave. and traveling south toward Great George, turning west Grafton St. and finishing at the Provincial Government Parking Lot on Kent St.

Streets along the route will be closed from 3 this afternoon until 7 tonight.  Any vehicles parked on the closed streets could be given a ticket or towed.

Raider’s Road between Burns Ave. and Enman Crescent will be closing this afternoon between 2.30 and 4.30 to accommodate parade staging.

The Victorian Christmas Market on Victoria Row, Queen and Sydney Streets  continues today and tomorrow with some streets closed and there is no parking in that area until 9.00 Sunday night. 

Many people showed up to pitch in during the UPEI Faculty Association's food drive to help fill up the campus food bank right before exam season. Here's how the two-day event went and why it matters to students and professors this time of year.

A real estate company says it wants to make P.E.I. housing even more affordable through an innovative business model. But some housing advocates are questioning why the province is leaving it to the private sector to address the Island's housing woes.

Premier Dennis King is facing questions about what the province will do to help the community of North Rustico after construction of a still-unfinished rink came in at double the projected cost. 

Rental costs on P.E.I. are rising at one of the fastest rates in the country despite the fact that the provincial government has implemented rent controls to try to limit those increases.

Right now, cars on P.E.I. need to be inspected every year. In other provinces like Nova Scotia inspections are done every two years.

Public transit in eastern P.E.I. is set to expand with more routes on Saturdays between Dec. 2 and 23. 

The P.E.I. government is looking at all opportunities in the housing market in its efforts to get Islanders into affordable homes, says Housing Minister Rob Lantz, and non-profit groups are next up in that conversation.

After the final buzzer sounded, teammates piled on veteran Amy Burk, the joy evident in their celebration. Burk scored once while Emma Reinke added a hat trick as Canada's women's goalball team beat the U.S. 4-3 to win the Parapan Am Games gold medal — and qualify for the Paris Paralympics in the process.

The Charlottetown facility is still about a year out from opening, but crews are making a lot of headway in getting it built. It will include an NHL-sized ice surface, space for 600 spectators, an upstairs walking track and an outdoor six-lane swimming pool.

Some city officials got a sneak peak at the new Simmons Sports Centre in Charlottetown this week — a project they say is on track to open next year despite delays and cost overruns.

The expansion of P.E.I.'s medical residency program, from five seats to seven, is the culmination of a lot of hard work and co-ordination, says the Island's site director for Dalhousie's medical school.

Drivers in eastern P.E.I. could find themselves suddenly in difficult weather conditions overnight Friday.

The inpatient unit at Kings County Memorial Hospital has declared an outbreak of COVID-19.

For the time being, patients on the inpatient unit are restricted to three partners-in-care, with only one partner-in-care present at a time. Visitor restrictions will remain in place until the outbreak is declared over.

All visitors and staff at the hospital, including the emergency department, will be asked to follow the current infection control measures, which include wearing a mask at all times.

Work will begin Friday to replace the water line on Grafton Street from Cumberland Street to the Hillsborough Bridge.  As a result, Grafton Street will be temporarily modified to a one-way street, westbound into the city, and a detour will be in place. The changes will be in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until further notice. All local businesses on the street will remain open. 

It’s expected the initial water line replacement will take three to four weeks, with two-way traffic restored once the work is complete.  

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has approved a slight increase in the price of gasoline of 1.0 cent per litre,  The price of furnace oil went up by 2.0 cents per litre.  There’s no change in the price of diesel.  Including taxes, pump prices for regular self-serve gasoline now range from 162.6 to 163.8 cents per litre and prices for diesel are between 207.5 and 208.6 cents per litre.  The maximum price for furnace oil is 148.1 cents per litre.

An independent consultant brought in by the P.E.I. government has found North Rustico’s new rink has cost twice as much as expected, coming in at more than $22 million — and some major suppliers still have not been paid.

A COVID-19 outbreak in the in-patient unit of Kings County Memorial Hospital in Montague will mean some restrictions for visitors.