The spring sitting of Prince Edward Island’s (P.E.I.) legislature concluded on Tuesday, April 23, after 28 days of often heated debates. This marked the earliest end to a spring sitting in at least three decades. Throughout the session, health care remained a contentious topic. Despite promises from Premier Denis King to reduce the waitlist for family doctors by 1,000 people, the number on the Patient Registry has only decreased by 23. During Tuesday’s sitting, Deputy Premier Bloyce Thompson expressed optimism, stating that the province is at a turning point and has hired almost as many doctors in the first quarter of this year as in all of last year. However, interim Liberal leader Hal Perry remained skeptical, noting that at the current rate of decline, it will take 134 years to clear the waitlist. Collaboration among the three parties was notably absent, with debates becoming more heated and personal. For instance, Green MLA Peter Bevan-Baker’s questions about transparency in government funding for long-term care homes prompted Premier King to label him an “ambulance chaser” and a “headline chaser.” Despite the contentious atmosphere, eleven government bills received royal assent, including measures related to off-highway vehicles, crowdfunding, and healthcare costs. A private member’s bill was also passed, declaring April 25 as Cyberbullying Awareness Day. The next sitting of the legislature is scheduled to begin on November 5.
Spring Sitting of P.E.I. Legislature Concludes Amidst Debate and Royal Assent for Bills
