Affordability and health care top concerns as P.E.I. spring sitting opens

Le drapeau provincial de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard flotte à Ottawa, le vendredi 3 juillet 2020. LA PRESSE CANADIENNE/Adrian Wyld

P.E.I. Members of the Legislative Assembly returned this week for the start of the spring sitting, facing familiar national pressures and unique local challenges.

The session began with a secret ballot vote for a new Speaker, with Brad Trivers, the MLA for Rustico-Emerald elected by his colleagues. The province’s Lieutenant Governor Dr. Wassim Salamoun then delivered the speech from the throne, touching on a wide range of subjects, from P.E.I.’s place in a changing world to building on federal priorities and strengthening local communities.

Liberal leader Robert Mitchell, whose party forms the official opposition, said the speech failed to address some of Islanders’ top concerns.

“I’ve been on many, many doorsteps. Cost of living has been a primary one. I didn’t hear alot on that today.”

Mitchell applauded a commitment to provide $20,000 to families accessing fertility services for their initial treatment.

Premier Rob Lantz defended his government, saying it has already introduced a long list of affordability measures, with more to come.

“You will hear more about that, I promise you, in the days ahead about how we’re addressing affordability and how we’re further investing in affordability for Prince Edward Islanders,” he said. “So, stay tuned on that front.”

Green Leader Matt MacFarlane said his party is looking forward to holding the Lantz government accountable.

“This government has had seven years to make life better for Islanders,” he said. “And unfortunately, we have not seen any movement or progress on so many things important for our access to health care, costs of living, controlling our electricity rates and land protection.”

P.E.I. has one of the most strained primary care systems in the country. The latest figures from Statistics Canada suggest the province has the lowest share of adults, at 73.1 per cent, and children, at 77.7 per cent, with a regular health-care provider.

More than 33,500 people are on the province’s wait list for a physician or nurse practitioner.

“We need to get patients, Islanders, affiliated with doctors and nurse practitioners,” MacFarlane said.

The Green’s plan to bring forward at least three bills this sitting, with one attempting to stabilize long-term care rates, giving Islanders in those settings, and their families, more predictability.

New NDP leader Thomas Burleigh said he was excited to be in the chamber for the first time. He echoed the importance of urgency on policies that improve access to health care, along with more affordable long-term care.

Burleigh called for more help for oyster harvesters hit hard by two diseases, MSX and Dermo.

“With the wild oyster industry as well, we’d like to see some action towards enhancement, towards pilot projects to kind of help revitalize that industry.”

He also noted the need for better internet and cell coverage across the Island, particularly in rural areas.

The spring sitting was delayed by a month while the province worked to finalize its operating budget. It is expected to be tabled in April.