You can now get help at Access PEI locations to apply for health care related services.
Health and Wellness Minister Mark McLane says the additional assistance being offered province-wide will make it easier than ever to apply for a health card, be added to the registry, and register for virtual care.  Those Islanders looking to register for the patient registry and virtual care must have a PEI health card.

Charlottetown Police charged two alleged impaired drivers over the weekend.  At about 3:20am Saturday, Officers responded to a call about a possible impaired driver on Allen Street.  They located the vehicle and determined the driver was impaired by alcohol.  The driver was taken to the Police Station and refused to provide breath samples.  The 30 year old Charlottetown man has been charged with refusing to provide a breath sample upon demand.  At 5:15 pm Sunday, police were called about a possible impaired driver on Orlebar Street.  Officers located the vehicle sitting on Summer Street.   The 66-year old Charlottetown man was arrested for impaired but later refused to provide breath samples. He’s been charged with refusing to provide a breath sample upon demand.

The maximum allowable rent increase in PEI for 2024 was announced on Monday by the Director of Residential Tenancy for PEI.  Effective January 1st of 2024, landlords can raise the rent by three per cent on all rental units, heated or unheated.  They can also apply to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission for an additional three per cent increase.  To gain approval for the additional three percent, the landlords would have to present and argue their case as to why that additional three percent is necessary.

The wildlife is returning to Moore's Pond in Stratford, P.E.I., after years of the pond being filled with sediment, mainly runoff from nearby construction projects. The town is working with developers to keep it and another pond clear in the future.

The P.E.I. Nurses Union says it's concerned an incentive to help fill nursing shifts has expired while vacancies remain high.

An external review of the P.E.I. government's response to post-tropical storm Fiona is expected before the end of October, says Premier Dennis King.

The P.E.I. Crafts Council is hosting the work of 17 local artists at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Most of the art was created using materials found after post-tropical storm Fiona hit the island on Sept. 23 and 24, 2022.

More than 20 people rallied in Charlottetown as part of Canada-wide protests calling for action on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls Monday, the same day P.E.I. police confirmed they have found the body of Summer Kneebone.

The maximum allowable rent increase on Prince Edward Island in 2024 will be three per cent — unless landlords apply for and receive permission to charge up to six per cent more than the 2023 rate.

RCMP arrested three people for impaired driving over a six hour period in three different Island communities last Friday.

Shortly before 1:30pm, RCMP made a traffic stop in Woodstock and found the driver to be impaired. A 75-year-old man was arrested.

Then, close to 5:00pm, officers responded to a 911 call about an impaired driver in Cornwall. RCMP located and arrested the 65-year-old man for impaired driving.

Finally at 7:40 p.m., RCMP followed up on a tip and arrested a 56-year-old man in East Bideford for impaired driving.

All three men will soon be appearing in court.

As post-tropical storm Lee has now passed the province, PEI EMO has deactivated the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre from Level 1, back to regular operations and routine monitoring. The provincial government has reached out to neighbouring provinces who were harder hit by Lee to offer assistance and support. Provincial and EMO officials remind you to stay prepared as hurricane season runs from June through November.  You should be preparing by:

• making a household emergency plan so that everyone knows what to do in case of emergency;
• updating your preparedness kits, including extra food, pet supplies, water, masks and hygiene products;
• bringing in or tying down furniture, play equipment, barbeques or anything that can become projectiles in the event of high winds;
• ensuring you have fuel for generators and vehicles, as well as propane for outdoor cooking devices such as barbeques;
• replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms;
• never operating a generator or barbeque anywhere inside a home, including a garage. Best practice is to keep a generator 20 feet from the home and pointing the exhaust away from the home;
• ensuring a generator is not operating in heavy rain unless the generator has a top cover protecting the electrical system; and
• keeping up with the latest information from reliable sources such as following PEI Government, local media, and law enforcement social media channels.

The P.E.I. government is taking a close look at a federal government request that it remove the provincial portion of HST on new rental housing construction.

This is Sexual Assault Awareness Week — a time to raise public awareness about sexual assault and educate Islanders on how to better respond to and prevent sexual violence.

Throughout the week, the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre is creating safe and welcoming spaces where Islanders can come together to learn, share, heal and be empowered.  

On Thursday, Islanders from across the province will join at Beaconsfield Historic House Carriage House in Charlottetown for the annual Take Back the Night march against sexual and gender-based violence. Take Back the Night is the oldest worldwide movement to stand against sexual violence. Funding for Take Back the Night activities in PEI is provided through the Interministerial Women’s Secretariat. 

Provincial Housing Minister Rob Lantz says he will meet with cabinet colleagues in the coming
days to discuss taking on a complementary program to remove the provincial portion of HST on new rental builds.  Lantz said Friday that the province will pick up on the plan by Ottawa to remove G-S-T on construction of new rental apartment buildings. Lantz called the removal of the tax “a positive step forward,” and says he’s happy to see the federal Liberals are listening.

He indicated the province would take the initiative a step further by “looking at” a complementary program to remove the provincial portion of HST on new rental builds.

Post-Tropical storm Lee left the Maritimes with a trail of downed trees and debris that caused wide-scale power outages in two provinces. 

Residents in parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick spent yesterday clearing tree branches, leaves and other debris. 

In Bridgewater and other towns along Nova Scotia’s South Shore, fast-food outlets did a roaring business as residents stopped for a coffee, a hot meal and wifi access.  

In Halifax the cleanup continued as the city dealt with as many as 130 downed trees.

As of 4:00am Monday, Nova Scotia Power was reporting more than 1,400 power outages affecting more than 23,000 customers.  Many of those customers are not expected to get their power restored until 11:00pm Monday night.

NB Power, meanwhile, has been reporting more  than 270 outages this morning, affecting more than 1,400 customers.

Here in PEI, Maritime Electric says power has been fully restored.  Crews were working through the storm on Saturday restoring power in widespread scattered power outages across the province, mostly in Charlottetown, central and eastern PEI, although there were some in Prince County as well.  At peak times of the storm, there were as many as 4.600 customers without power.

Finance minister says there’s no current plan to launch an online casino, but new strategy provides ‘solid foundation’ for future decision

Weather forecasters predicted post-tropical storm Lee would be nowhere near as devastating as Fiona or Dorian, and they were correct.

Post tropical storm Lee was located 23 kilometres northwest of Summerside this morning at 6.00 and heading out to sea toward Newfoundland.  Lee travelled from the southern tip of Nova Scotia before crossing into the Bay of Fundy heading up southeastern New Brunswick before crossing the Northumberland Strait overnight into western PEI.

Power outages were caused on the mainland with Lee’s high winds affecting more than 150,000 electric customers across the Maritimes.

PEI had outages throughout the day with over 46-hundred at one point during the mid afternoon.  There were just a few outages left this morning, reported by Maritime Electric.

Rainfall was not as heavy as expected.

About 8 mm in Charlottetown, 15 mm in Summerside and just over 7 mm in St. Peters Bay.

Wind gusts up to 80 or more blew across the Island. Peak winds gusting to around 115 K hit the Confederation Bridge.

Traffic was restricted most of the afternoon and over night but traffic is running smoothly this morning with a wind advisory in affect.

Northumberland Ferry crossings at Wood Islands and Caribou are cancelled this morning through the 12 noon crossing.

The Terry Fox runs scheduled for today are cancelled.  The Charlottetown run will go on Tuesday evening in Victoria Park beginning at 5.30 with registration.

The Downtown Charlottetown Farm Market is cancelled today.

A new group called the UPEI Kerala Federation hosted its first event at the school on Friday. Students and staff were invited to learn more about the southern India community at Aaravam 2023, a cultural festival called Onam.

The exhibit is part of Sexual Assault Awareness Week and is set to run at the Hilda Woolnough Gallery at The Guild in Charlottetown from Sept. 17 to Oct. 7.

Due to the forecast of continuing strong winds in the region, Northumberland Ferries is cancelling the 7:00am, 8:30am, 10:15am, and 1:200pm crossings for Sunday, September 17th from Wood Islands and Caribou.

As of 1:45pm: Maritime Electric is reporting there are currently 53 customers without power due to wind-related issues.  The number had been as high as 389 earlier on Saturday.  Areas currently affected by outages include Cardigan North, Charlottetown, Cornwall, Elliotvale, Georgetown Royalty, Greenvale, Huntley, Melville, Murray Harbour, and Murray River. To report outages, call 1-800-670-1012 or report online with Maritime Electric.

The City of Charlottetown Emergency Measures Organization met Saturday morning, and the City says it’s prepared to open reception centres on Sunday if there are extended power outages. For use as primary reception centres, the City currently has four community centers, five city schools, and the Eastlink Center.   Several other key locations in Charlottetown also have agreements in place and can be opened as secondary reception centres, if necessary. The locations of the opened centres will be determined as the storm progresses.

Meanwhile, additional fire, police and public works crews will be brought in overnight as a precaution.

The Provincial Government is asking Islanders to make final preparations as the remnants of Lee approach the province.

PEI EMO remains in Emergency Level 1 Activation as the storm approaches, which is basically a level of enhanced monitoring.

The province says the most up-to-date forecast from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Canadian Hurricane Centre indicates that Islanders can expect winds around 60km/h with gusts reaching 80km/h, rainfall amounts ranging from 20mm-40mm throughout the weekend with heavy downpours at times, as well as higher than normal waves and water levels around coastal areas.

In the event reception centres are needed in PEI, you can find information on reception centres across the province, here: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/justice-and-public-safety/reception-centres. As certain communities may be impacted differently, Islanders are asked to reach out directly to their respective municipality for status on opening.

Islanders are encouraged to take the following steps when preparing for hurricanes or other emergencies by:

• making a household emergency plan so that everyone knows what to do in case of emergency;
• updating your preparedness kits, including extra food, pet supplies, water, masks and hygiene products;
• bringing in or tying down furniture, play equipment, barbeques or anything that can become projectiles in the event of high winds;
• ensuring you have fuel for generators and vehicles, as well as propane for outdoor cooking devices such as barbeques;
• replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms;
• never operating a generator or barbeque anywhere inside a home, including a garage. Best practice is to keep a generator 20 feet from the home and pointing the exhaust away from the home;
• ensuring a generator is not operating in heavy rain unless the generator has a top cover protecting the electrical system; and
• keeping up with the latest information from reliable sources such as following PEI Government, local media, and law enforcement social media channels.

Hockey PEI has a new executive director. Tammi Lewis of Brackley replaces Connor Cameron who has become President of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

Lewis served in administration and finance roles with Hockey PEI for  21 years. She left the organization in 2019 but returned last June to become Coordinator of Membership Services.  She is also a hockey mom and has a strong background in hockey and baseball.

Hurricane Lee is still a Category 2 storm as it approaches  the southern tip of Nova Scotia near Yarmouth. The storm will make landfall by mid afternoon. 

Lee will track across Western PEI after midnight, tonight. Rain at times heavy and strong winds can be expected.  Up to 20 mm of rain expected for Queens and Kings but up to 30 possible for Prince County.

Winds should peak between 10 tonight and dawn on Sunday, according to PEI Stormchaser.  Wind gusts 70 to 80 and maybe 90 in higher areas and along the south shore.

Power outages are possible.

Northumberland Ferries is not sailing today.

There is a wind advisory on the Confederation Bridge between 3.00 this afternoon and 6.00 tomorrow morning.

Islanders are hunkering down to prepare for the storm as Hurricane Lee makes landfall in the Maritimes Saturday morning.

Similar events are taking place around the world this weekend, all organized by local grassroots groups.

The suspension comes after horses trained by Marc Campbell tested positive for banned drugs a total of four times in the past year. His supporters say he hasn't been given due process — or a chance to explain.

The two men who have accused John (Jan) Vanderzwaag of sexually assaulting them two decades ago both testified at his judge and jury trial in Charlottetown Friday. 

At approximately 11:40 am Friday, detectives from Charlottetown Police located human remains in a remote area of Kings County. The remains are believed to be those of 27-year old Summer Kneebone, who went missing on August 7th from Charlottetown.  Police say the remains were found outdoors on a rural property, and police have declared the area a crime scene.  Early Thursday afternoon, Charlottetown Police arrested two people from Pembroke in connection with the case for indecently interfering with human remains.  Police say they plan to give a further update later in the day on Friday.

A body found in a remote area of Kings County, P.E.I., is believed to be the remains of 27-year-old Summer Kneebone, Charlottetown police said Friday.

Atlantic Liberal MPs say they want an additional rural carve-out on the carbon tax to ease cost-of-living pressures specific to Canadians living outside of major urban centres.

The COVID-19 outbreak at Wedgewood Manor’s Land household has been declared over.   The outbreak was declared on September 6th.  Health PEI is thanking the staff for their efforts in managing and limiting the COVID-19 outbreak within the facility.  

RCMP continue to investigate the September 1^st sword attack in Seacow Pond.

The RCMP Major Crime Unit is conducting the investigation, and they say the primary focus is public safety and stress that if there’s any information that police can share that would enhance public safety, they we will do so.  RCMP say many details of such an investigation cannot be shared publicly as it could have serious impacts on possible court outcomes.  Police do say that no new information has come forward showing any intent towards any other individual or group.

Islanders are being encouraged to follow good home security practices like locking doors and windows, and keeping outside lights on.

Due to the forecast of strong winds in the region, Northumberland Ferries is cancelling all crossings for Saturday, Sept 16th from Wood Islands, PEI and Caribou, N.S.

Liberal Opposition Leader Hal Perry is calling on the provincial government to move quickly and remove the provincial portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax from new rental builds in PEI.  He says it would serve as a critical and immediate solution to address the pressing housing crisis faced by Islanders. Perry says that by removing the provincial portion of the HST from new rental builds, the government can incentivize developers to prioritize the construction of rental units, thereby increasing the housing stock available to Islanders. The Opposition Leader adds that the reduction in tax burden would make such projects more financially feasible, encouraging investment in much-needed rental housing.

The Province has released a responsible gambling strategy for Islanders.  It’s a 5-year strategy that was created using the guiding principles of harm reduction; accountability; informed and healthy play; equity and inclusion; and supporting vibrant communities.  The Strategy outlines five priorities, which are Safe, Healthy and Positive Play; Increased Literacy Around Safer Gambling; Balance Access with Player Protection; Inclusive Programs and Services; and Minimize Harms from Gambling.   The strategy was developed by independent consultant, MRSB, contracted by the PEI Lotteries Commission. They spoke and consulted with mental health and addictions professionals, government partners, the harness racing industry and other stakeholders, and the people who are most affected by gambling across the province. Public input was gathered through a series of virtual meetings and online surveys.  The strategy updates and replaces the previous strategy that was created in 2008.

Municipal politicians and private developers were on hand for a ceremonial groundbreaking on a Summerside development that will bring 40 homes and new commercial space to the city's downtown.

Prince Edward Island will start feeling the impact of Hurricane Lee overnight Friday, and the winds will not subside until Sunday.

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission approved increases overnight in gasoline, diesel and furnace oil prices.  The price of gasoline increased by 4.0 cents per litre, putting pump prices for regular self-serve gasoline in the range of 190.8 to 191.9 cents per litre.  The price of diesel went up by 6.0 cents per litre, while the price of furnace oil increased by 5.0 cents per litre.  Including taxes, prices for diesel now range from 212.1 to 213.2 cents per litre.  The maximum price for furnace oil is 164.7 cents per litre.

Forecasters say Hurricane Lee will transition from a Category 1 hurricane to a post-tropical storm when it makes landfall late tomorrow night. 

But meteorologists say it will remain a threat because it will expand and maintain much of its strength across an area expected to extend 300 kilometres from its centre. 

The agency has issued hurricane watches for counties in southwestern Nova Scotia, while most of mainland Nova Scotia is under a Tropical Storm Warning, along with separate wind and rainfall warnings.

But in PEI, Environment Canada has not issued any warnings or watches to this point.   We’ll see heavy rain at times through the day Saturday after it begins Saturday morning.  Those periods of rain will continue through Sunday as well.  We could see as much as 50mm of rain over the two days.  Upwards of 60 to 80kh winds are expected for PEI, and that is strong enough that with the foliage on the trees, and saturated ground, we could see trees or branches bring down some power lines and cause some power outages.

The Province held an update Thursday on the potential impact of Hurricane Lee, and is encouraging Islanders to be prepared and review their emergency plans ahead of the weekend.

PEI’s Emergency Measures Organization says it has activated to a level 1 response at this point, which is basically Enhanced Monitoring of the hurricane.  

Officials say that extra shelter beds have been put in place in Charlottetown, Montague, and Summerside.  EMO is also finalizing locations for reception centres. 

You’re being encouraged to: 

• make a household emergency plan;
• update your preparedness kits, with extra food, pet supplies, water, masks and hygiene products;
• bring in or tie down outdoor furniture or equipment;
• ensure you have fuel for generators and vehicles, as well as propane for your barbecue;
• replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Parks Canada says visiting PEI National Park during the hurricane is strongly discouraged for safety reasons. It points to limited emergency services, plus a number of hazards such as potential danger from rip currents, downed trees and localized flooding as well as potential coastal and cliff erosion.   Parks Canada also advises that it’s taking some steps to prevent damage.  That includes removing the accessibility ramps from Cavendish and Brackley beaches; as well as temporarily removing beach stairs throughout PEI National Park beaches.

Canadian Blood Services is asking those Islanders who have an appointment heading into the weekend to donate blood, to please keep that appointment.  If you can get to the Charlottetown donor centre on Fitzroy Street before the storm hits, they encourage you to do so to ensure hospitals have blood on hand over the coming days. Appointments can be made on Blood.ca or on the Give Blood app, and they have many same-day appointments.

Prince Edward Islanders are waking up to higher fuel prices across the board Friday morning.

After an enormous setback due to post-tropical storm Fiona last September, apple farmers on P.E.I. are anxious about what might happen with Hurricane Lee this weekend.

After seven decades, veterans with the 201 Wing are handing over the task of running the annual Battle of Britain memorial to a group of cadets. The young people say it's a privilege to be able to honour those who fought for their country.

The sexual assault trial against Jan (John) Vanderzwaag continued Thursday in Charlottetown, with one of the two alleged victims testifying. 

The Province held an update Thursday on the potential impact of Hurricane Lee, and is encouraging Islanders to be prepared and review their emergency plans ahead of the weekend.

While it is still too early to know Lee’s exact track, provincial officials say current forecasts indicate that the storm will bring winds ranging from 60 kilometres per hour to 80 kilometres per hour; heavy rain at times; and the possibility of storm surge in some areas.

PEI’s Emergency Measures Organization says it has activated to a level 1 response at this point, which is basically Enhanced Monitoring of the hurricane.

You’re being encouraged to:

• make a household emergency plan;
• update your preparedness kits, with extra food, pet supplies, water, masks and hygiene products;
• bring in or tie down outdoor furniture or equipment;
• ensure you have fuel for generators and vehicles, as well as propane for your barbecue;
• replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms;

To this point, Environment Canada has issued a Tropical Cyclone Information Statement for PEI, but not any watches or warnings in regards to Hurricane Lee for PEI

At about 12:30 pm on Thursday, two persons of interest were arrested and charged in relation to the disappearance of Summer Kneebone. The two people arrested are both Island residents, but were arrested in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.  Charlottetown Police say they are 44-year old Donald Roy Holmes of Pembroke, PEI, and 32-year old Samantha Jemima Parlee- Bell of Pembroke, PEI.  The two were arrested under a Section of the Criminal Code that Charlottetown Police say is for neglecting, improperly or indecently interfering with or offering an indignity to a dead human body or human remains.  Charlottetown Police say that at this point they have not determined the location of Summer Kneebone and the investigation is still very much ongoing. Police are asking anyone who has had contact with Holmes and Parlee-Bell since August 5th to contact Charlottetown Police Services.