Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly, Tuesday 12 May 2026
The sitting opened with recognition of guests, including the Carver clan and Project SEARCH PEI participants, acknowledgements of National Nursing Week, Family Violence Prevention Week, and the renaming of the Charlottetown airport, along with members' statements honouring Mount Allison women and Shelter Movers' charitable work. Members tabled documents including letters from the Early Childhood Development Association on staffing cuts, Maritime Electric correspondence on Bill 108, a federal Labour Market Bulletin, and the Victims of Crime Act annual report. The House then moved into Committee to consider supplementary supply and departmental estimates, completing Tourism PEI estimates—covering research and analytics, regulatory affairs, visitor services, and advertising including the NHL sponsorship contract and international marketing—before beginning Health and Wellness estimates focused on a $4.2 million PCH Foundation grant and staffing and revenue matters.
Members' Statements
Recipients of Mount Allison Honours
C. Simpson
The Member for Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park recognized the Grace Annie Lockhart Sesquicentennial Pin honouring 113 women, including PEI's Hon. Catherine Callbeck and others with Island connections.
Shelter Movers
K. Bernard
The Member for Charlottetown-Victoria Park highlighted Shelter Movers, a national volunteer charity providing free moving services to people fleeing abuse, noting PEI's new inclusion in its coverage and encouraging Islanders to volunteer.
Routine Proceedings
Recognition of Guests
Hon. D. Compton
The Minister of Land and Environment recognized guests Barbara and Brian Gillis in the gallery.
Tabling of ECDA correspondence on support staff cuts
C. Simpson
The Member for Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park tabled, by leave, several letters from the Early Childhood Development Association, including correspondence to the Minister of Education, the Premier, and department/regulatory board letters asking the sector to stand down over concerns about cuts to support staff.
Tabling of Victims of Crime Act annual report
Hon. B. Thompson
The Minister of Justice tabled, by Command of the Lieutenant Governor, the 2024-2025 Victims of Crime Act annual report.
Tabling of Labour Market Bulletin
G. McNeilly
The Member for Charlottetown-West Royalty tabled the national Labour Market Bulletin (January to March 2026), highlighting that total hours in health care rose 20 percent while employment did not follow, resulting in longer hours and overtime for workers.
Tabling of Maritime Electric letters re Bill 108
P. Bevan-Baker
The Member for New Haven-Rocky Point tabled two letters from Maritime Electric executive director Jason Roberts—one to the Premier dated April 29, 2026, and one to himself dated May 4, 2026—both relating to Bill 108, amendments to the Electric Power Act.
Orders of the Day
Committee of the Whole - Supplementary Supply, Tourism PEI
Hon. B. Thompson
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider the grant of supplementary supply, with M. MacKay chairing and director of finance Stephen Mutch taken to the floor as a stranger alongside Minister E. Hudson.
Estimates debate - Research and Analytics
C. Simpson
Members questioned the drop in professional services (federal short-term rental enforcement funding for CRM upgrades ending), the five-year tourism strategy now in year three with 28 initiatives, and whether the budget adequately supports strategic planning; the section carried.
Estimates debate - Research and Analytics evaluation and climate/air strategies
M. MacFarlane
The Leader of the Third Party questioned the climate change strategy ($66,418, an assessment and adaptation plan by ICF Consulting), the exit survey program, and the air access strategy that led to the PAL Airlines agreement; R. Henderson challenged the premature announcement of the $840,000 air access commitment.
Estimates debate - neuro-inclusive tourism
K. Bernard
The Member for Charlottetown-Victoria Park asked whether any funding or consideration existed for making PEI a neuro-inclusive tourism destination; the Minister said none currently but committed to raising it with Tourism PEI.
Estimates debate - Regulatory Affairs and Operator Advancement (QTS transition)
M. MacFarlane
The Leader of the Third Party questioned the bringing in-house of tourism inspection services formerly done by Quality Tourism Services, including staffing (four FTEs plus five seasonal tourism standards officers and two fire inspectors), the ending $1.68 million federal short-term rental enforcement fund, 2,397 licensed operators, licensing fees, professional services and CRM/Granicus software costs, and the intent to formally evaluate year one; the section carried.
Estimates debate - Visitor Services and Mount Pleasant VIC
Multiple
C. Simpson asked about a salary reduction (attributed to prior collective agreement retro pay, not staffing cuts), while R. Henderson raised concerns about reduced weeks and the status of the Mount Pleasant visitor information centre and its solar farm property ownership; the Minister committed to bringing back information.
Tourism PEI – Visitor Services estimates
Hon. E. Hudson
MacFarlane questioned the future of the Borden Visitor Information Centre and possible lease changes; the minister was unaware of funding changes and undertook to bring information back, and confirmed there are five visitor information centres (Souris, Wood Islands, Charlottetown, Borden, West Prince), with Wood Islands, Borden, and Charlottetown open year-round. Total Visitor Services of $1,445,100 carried.
Tourism PEI – Advertising and Public Relations estimates and NHL contract
Hon. E. Hudson
Members probed the $7 million advertising line, learning $1.95 million represents the final instalment of the three-year NHL sponsorship contract that expires end of December, with an October 1 deadline to indicate intent to negotiate a new contract. The minister said no decision on renewal would be made until metrics from evaluation firm IMI are received, and undertook to table advertising plans for prior and current years. Total Advertising and Public Relations of $8,553,400 carried.
Tourism PEI – Media Relations/Editorial, Fulfillment, and Publications estimates
Stephen Mutch
Officials explained media relations involves hosting media personalities and attending media marketplaces, while Fulfillment covers distribution of literature such as maps and visitor guides. MacFarlane raised a constituent's concern about no longer receiving print visitor guides; the minister undertook to bring back a listing of where guides are supplied. The three sections ($380,700, $271,100, $309,200) carried.
Tourism PEI – Travel/Trade Sales estimates and Japanese market
Hon. E. Hudson
Members questioned the reduced emphasis on the Japanese market, which did not rebound after COVID and led to ending the contract of PEI's representative in Japan as of March 31. Henderson and others expressed concern about giving up a valuable second-largest international market; the minister said resources are being focused on the eastern seaboard, Atlantic provinces, and Quebec/Ontario. Total Travel/Trade Sales of $499,500 carried, and Total Tourism PEI ($34,906,100) carried.
Health and Wellness – Departmental Management estimates
Karen Stanley
The finance director explained a grant line jump to $4.2 million reflects the first year of a $10 million commitment to the PCH Foundation's multi-use facility (a grant since PEI won't own the capital asset), and clarified mental health alliance funds are handled separately. Discussion covered an assistant deputy minister on secondment to Health PEI that was not backfilled, work redistributed among staff, and a $16 million revenue reduction attributed to expired federal agreements; the minister characterized the federal government's pattern as backing out of funding after starting programs.
Other business
Recognition of guests and Family Violence Prevention Week
Hon. R. Lantz
The Premier welcomed guests including the Carver clan and Florence Carver, noted the renaming of the Charlottetown Airport to the Alexander B. Campbell Airport, and highlighted Family Violence Prevention Week and the purple ribbon campaign.
Nursing Week and community recognitions
Hon. H. Perry
The Leader of the Opposition welcomed guests, thanked nurses during National Nursing Week, congratulated new nursing graduates, recognized hockey player Eddy Doyle, and noted PWHL playoffs and Family Violence Prevention Week events in Tignish.
Recognitions by Third Party Leader
M. MacFarlane
The Third Party Leader welcomed District 19 constituent Malcolm Ross (Project SEARCH), acknowledged the UPEI nursing and veterinary medicine graduates, recognized Nursing Week, and promoted the South Shore Watershed Association's family fishing day.
Additional guest recognitions
Multiple
Ministers and members including B. Thompson, K. Bernard, G. McNeilly, P. Bevan-Baker, R. Henderson, T. DesRoches and C. Deagle recognized constituents, veterinarian Kim Carver, Family Violence Prevention Week events, veterinary and nursing graduates, and Project SEARCH PEI participants.
CEDB equity tax credit program
Hon. H. Perry
The Leader of the Opposition pressed Minister Redmond on whether any review of the Community Economic Development Business equity tax credit's economic impact had been done and whether the program, expiring February 2027, would be extended; the Minister committed to bringing back information.
Permanent Daylight Saving Time
Hon. H. Perry
The Leader of the Opposition asked whether government supports permanent daylight time and any related analysis; Premier Lantz committed to raising the issue at the next Council of Atlantic Premiers meeting but confirmed no studies had been done.
Early learning and child care funding cuts
C. Simpson
The Member for Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park raised nearly 2,800 signatures opposing Education Department cuts and asked about impacts on spaces, closures, and a gender-based analysis; Minister Croucher said federal funding had not kept pace and pointed to a working group and forthcoming child care spaces.
Regional air service
R. Henderson
The Member for O'Leary-Inverness questioned the delayed regional air service, the $840,000 provincial investment, PAL's obligations, and a firm launch date; Minister Hudson promised details tomorrow and Premier Lantz said negotiations were ongoing and complicated by global airline pressures.
Status of government reviews (IRAC and inclusion report)
M. MacFarlane
The Third Party Leader criticized government's reliance on reviews without action, questioning the IRAC review timeline and the unimplemented school inclusion report; Premier Lantz committed to a mandate and timeline for the IRAC review and Minister Croucher said inclusion work was being released soon.
This is Tabled's summary of the sitting, written from the official record; Hansard is only ever quoted at the link above. Search Prince Edward Island Hansard for the words themselves, or read this sitting in the archive.