In prelude to election year, P.E.I.’s fall legislature sitting closes with more clashes than collaboration


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In what appeared to be a warmup to a fractious election year in 2023, several members of the Green Opposition caucus took aim at Premier Dennis King during the final question period of the fall sitting of the legislature on Dec. 1.

King was in the sights of several members of the Green Opposition in the final question period of 2022, who fielded questions on the province’s strained healthcare system, land developments and worker protection.

Opposition leader Peter Bevan-Baker accused King of leading a government that “cannot get things done.” He aimed several questions at King on the subject of childcare centres struggling to stay open, a shorefront land development that proceeded without a provincial permit and systemic problems in the health-care system.

Bevan-Baker noted that a flurry of government housing and efficiency announcements did not include any programs that would help the Child’s Play Daycare near Souris and the Merry Pop-ins childcare centre in Tryon. He suggested a low-interest government loan could help these centres, which are at risk of closing.

“Why isn’t your government getting this done by providing these loans immediately, before these childcare centres go under, taking children, families, and the affected communities with them?” Bevan-Baker asked the premier.

“We continue to work with those two individual childcare centres to try to find some ways to help them forward. There is a process in place. We don’t stand in the legislature and say we’re going to loan this company money,” King replied.

Green Opposition Leader Peter Bevan-Baker described the King government’s fall sitting as “unsatisfying” and “unambitious.” - Stu Neatby - Stu Neatby
Green Opposition Leader Peter Bevan-Baker described the King government’s fall sitting as “unsatisfying” and “unambitious.” – Stu Neatby – Stu Neatby

 

Land developments

Bevan-Baker then asked about a subdivision development in Fairview, construction for which has begun without a permit and without public consultation.

“Islanders are desperate for a government that is going to protect this precious Island from harmful and haphazard development,” Bevan-Baker said.

“To the same premier: Why isn’t your government getting this done, and why does your government continue to allow development to happen without following proper process?”

While the development has proceeded without a permit from the Department of Agriculture and Land, King chose to address the fact that the development has happened within a river buffer zone, which did not require a permit for the contractor.

“There are challenges. As the minister has indicated many times, there is some work around the rules and regulations that need to probably be a little bit clearer,” King said.

A Google Earth image of the Fairview Development - Stu Neatby
A Google Earth image of the Fairview Development – Stu Neatby

 

Little ‘collaboration’

The fall legislative sitting featured relatively few examples of the “collaboration” that King had made his trademark earlier in his tenure. No Opposition Green or Liberal bills passed during the sitting.

A Green bill, which sought to introduce 10 days of paid sick leave for workers, was defeated with all PC and Liberal members voting against.

Similarly, a Green motion seeking an inquiry into the province’s response to post-tropical storm Fiona, which also called on members to “condemn government for its failure” to plan for it, was defeated with all PC members voting against.

One exception to this was the passage of the Residential Tenancy Act, a revamp of tenancy law in the province. This bill passed with support from all three parties.

That bill will maintain a cap of zero per cent for rent increases in 2023 but could allow rent increases of up to 3 per cent in subsequent years.

A record $308 million capital budget passed easily on November 30 attracting the votes of two Liberal members – Hal Perry and Sonny Gallant.

Liberal Third Party leader Sonny Gallant said the King government spent the fall sitting “showing they have no plan for governing.” - Stu Neatby - Stu Neatby
Liberal Third Party leader Sonny Gallant said the King government spent the fall sitting “showing they have no plan for governing.” – Stu Neatby – Stu Neatby

 

Election talk

Next year is an election year, although it is unclear when a vote will take place.

King downplayed that he might call an election in the spring.

“I think if there’s election talk in this province, it’s from other parties. I’m focused on trying to deliver for Islanders,” King said.

“I think there’s an election in 2023. I think it’s scheduled for the fall. Unless something drastic happens in between, I think that’s when we’ll have the election.”

King also reiterated a commitment to holding a review of the province’s response to post-tropical storm Fiona. He called the motion calling for a post-Fiona inquiry to be “political theatre” but did not rule out the possibility of a formal inquiry.

When asked about the fall sitting, Green Opposition leader Peter Bevan-Baker said King’s government was “unsatisfying, unambitious, uninspiring.”

“We have a government that, I think, lacks vision, I think is unable to develop a plan. And even when they do develop a plan that they’re not very good at actually bringing that to fruition,” Bevan-Baker said.

Bevan-Baker said he saw little “ambitious” legislature in the 19 government bills that passed.

Liberal Third Party leader Sonny Gallant and his caucus spent much of the sitting raising health-care and cost of living issues.

He suggested planned relief payments to Islanders in January will not be enough to alleviate inflation woes on P.E.I.

“Five hundred dollars after Christmas, it seems like a lot of money. But it’s after Christmas, after people have filled their oil tanks,” Gallant said.

“They don’t have a plan, they didn’t have a vision. To give out gift cards and Denny dollars … it’s too little too late.”

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