The Provincial Government has received the Fiona After-Action Review, which examined how all levels of government and non-government agencies responded to Hurricane Fiona.  The review gathered public feedback and included consultations with over 140 partner and stakeholder organizations.  Officials say the consultations helped identify over a dozen areas of strength in the Fiona response that should be sustained moving forward.  They also identified areas for improvement in areas that include Resource Management; Training and Exercise; Information Management and Distribution; Operational Concepts; Business Continuity; and Decision Centre and Situational Awareness Tools.  The Department of Justice and Public Safety says it has accepted the report’s recommendations and has already taken some action.  It points to establishing a Major Incident Readiness Team (MIRT) that works with PEI EMO and other Government Departments; generators being secured for seniors living complexes across PEI; funding for NGOs across PEI to access generators; and increased funding and formal agreements with Community Reception Centres.

Corey and Ron James chatting about shows, laughs and life.

Summerside Police say a 34-year old man is in custody and facing charges after multiple assaults and a break-in over a period of two days. The first incident occurred Wednesday, just after 10:00 am, when Summerside Police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a woman had been assaulted by a man in the Bayview Drive area, and that the man had fled the area on a bicycle. Then, on Thursday just before 12:30 pm, police received a 9-1-1 call from a home on Central Street where the same suspect had forced his way in and assaulted two people inside; caused damage to property and uttered threats. The suspect fled the area again but was apprehended by police later in the afternoon when he returned to the home.  He’s facing charges that include two counts of assault, one count of assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief, uttering threats, one count of break and enter and one count of resisting arrest. Police say that two of the assault victims suffered what are believed to be minor injuries.

Prices for fuel on P.E.I. were lower on a Friday morning.

Island Nature Trust has announced an expansion to its 182-acre protected Crown Point – Wjikijek Natural Area in Alexandra thanks to the generous contribution of the 117-acre Judson Salt Marsh Natural Area. The Nature Trust says the remarkable gift from the Judson family is a testament to their commitment to safeguarding an area of PEI that’s been loved and cared for by their family for generations. The initial acquisition of Crown Point – Wjikijek Natural Area Crown Point headland in March 2020 was made possible through support from Environment Canada, the MapleCross Fund, and about 100 individual donations from Islanders.  Its protection was of paramount importance because of the expansion in development in Charlottetown and Stratford.  

Politicians asked questions in the P.E.I. legislature Thursday about the province's series of consultations about the future of the Confederation Trail — specifically when it comes to allowing more access for motorized vehicles. 

Many businesses and services on P.E.I. will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 11, for Remembrance Day — a statutory holiday on the Island.

The Island Peace Committee is supporting a Pan-Canadian Day of Action organized by more than 200 organizations across Canada for Sunday, calling on the Canadian Government to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.  In Charlottetown there will be a rally and walk for peace beginning at 1:30 pm at Boulder Park on Grafton Street which is near the cenotaph and adjacent to Province House.

The province and City of Charlottetown held a public information session this week unveiling plans for a completely revamped Eastern Gateway into the city.  The plans include a displaced left turn intersection where Grafton Street meets the Hillsborough Bridge.  That’s the same kind of intersection that’s at the bypass and St Peter’s Rd.  The plans would also see a section of West Street closed, with a new road opened, which would run through the current Charlottetown Events Grounds and Maritime Electric properties.  The total cost of the projects would be about $19 million, with work starting this week on upgrades to Grafton Street and next spring on the new intersection..

Green Third Party Leader Karla Bernard has tabled legislation that would extend the moratorium on renovictions by another year to November 2024.

The renoviction moratorium was first introduced by the Green caucus in 2021 to protect tenants from evictions for reasons of renovations or repairs that were not necessary to protect the health and safety of people or promote the preservation of property.

The Third Party says the proposed legislation will give tenants much-needed relief while government does the necessary work to tackle the housing crisis including building more affordable housing and increasing density within our cities and towns

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has approved decreases in gas, diesel and furnace oil prices.  The price of gasoline went down Friday morning by 2.5 cents per litre, while the price of furnace oil decreased by 2.0 cents per litre, and the price of diesel dropped by 5.0 cents per litre.  Including taxes, pump prices for regular self-serve gasoline now range from 158.6 to 159.7 cents per litre and diesel costs between 202.9 and 204.0 cents per litre. The maximum price for furnace oil is 160.0 cents per litre. 

The P.E.I. Greens sought clarity in the legislature Thursday about what constitutes a 'reasonable' return on a landlord's investment when it comes to rental properties, while also recommending legislative changes they say would give landlords more insight into a property's financial risk.

The Judson family donated a parcel made up of freshwater marsh, salt marsh and woodland to save it from development in perpetuity.

A sentencing date of Nov. 22 has been set for a P.E.I. man who had been facing charges in connection with a man’s drug-related death.

Kings District RCMP have arrested and laid 11 charges against a 33-year-old Murray Harbour man after an assault at one home; a theft at another home; and an assault on a Police Officer.

Shortly before 11:00am on Wednesday, the RCMP responded to the initial call about an assault at a home in Murray Harbour – but the suspect had run off before police arrived. Police continued to search for him for much of the day, and say they learned in their investigation that he had broken into a garage at a home in Murray Harbour where some items were taken.

At about 7:30pm, Kings District RCMP located the suspect in Murray Harbour.  During his arrest, police say he resisted arrest and struck an officer, and damaged a police vehicle once in he was custody.  The officer who was assaulted was injured and taken to hospital and released a short time later.

The man is facing charges that include two counts Break and Enter; Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose; Utter threats to Cause death; Resist Arrest; Assault Police Officer and cause bodily harm; Mischief; and Possession of stolen property.

A 33-year-old man from Kings County, P.E.I., is in custody after a series of events in Murray Harbour Wednesday that left a police officer hurt and a cruiser damaged, RCMP say.

The rates of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections on P.E.I. is holding relatively steady compared to other parts of the country, according to the province's Chief Public Health Office. 

Cities and towns across Prince Edward Island will be hosting Remembrance Day events this weekend. We checked in with many of the organizers to bring you a list.

Two major projects — one by the province, the other by the city — will dramatically change the way people drive through Charlottetown's eastern end, near the Hillsborough Bridge.

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.