Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly, Wednesday 13 May 2026
On May 13, 2026, the PEI Legislative Assembly opened with member welcomes and recognitions, members' statements touching on Bill 108 amendments to the Electric Power Act, Mount Stewart's community culture, and Craig Noonan's Top 50 CEO recognition, along with a ministerial response on workforce data. Following Question Period, members heard three ministerial statements—including recognition of Marie Kenny's election as World President of the Associated Country Women of the World and a $110 million federal-provincial partnership with MDS Coating Technologies—received a petition, and tabled documents. The Assembly debated a private member's motion (Motion 55) urging renewed commitment to the Atlantic Summer Institute's 2022 'Mental Health in All Policies' recommendations for children and youth, saw Bill 110 amending the Employment Standards Act introduced, and considered Bill 108 in Committee of the Whole, where it was defeated on a recorded vote. The House then continued in Committee of the Whole on the Estimates for the Department of Health and Wellness—covering health policy, seniors health, emergency and community health services, long-term care beds, ambulance and air ambulance services, 811 Telehealth, and various grants—before reporting progress and adjourning until May 14, 2026.
Members' Statements
Amending the Electric Power Act (Bill 108)
P. Bevan-Baker
The Member for New Haven-Rocky Point spoke about bringing Bill 108 back for debate, outlining its three goals of a safe, modern, reliable electricity system at lowest cost while meeting climate goals, and framed the vote as choosing between Islanders' affordability and Maritime Electric's shareholders. He was invited to re-read his statement after being interrupted.
Community Culture in Mount Stewart
S. MacEwen
The Member for Morell-Donagh recognized the community of Mount Stewart for building culture through murals, free senior dinners, workshops, community gardens, events, and the new Joe MacLeod Rink, thanking the mayor, CAO, council, and residents.
Craig Noonan — Atlantic Business Magazine's Top 50 CEOs
T. DesRoches
The Member for Summerside-Wilmot recognized Craig Noonan, CEO of PEI Mutual Insurance and the only Islander on the 2026 Top 50 CEOs list, praising his leadership through Hurricane Fiona's $110 million in claims and the company's modernization.
Routine Proceedings
Matters of Privilege and Recognition of Guests
Multiple
Numerous members welcomed guests to the gallery, including Marie Kenny (World President of Associated Country Women of the World) and family, Women's Institute members, UPEI graduates, and former radio colleagues; members also noted community events, sports achievements, and the Walk in Silence for Family Violence Prevention Week.
Response to Question Taken as Notice — Workforce data
Hon. Z. Bell
The Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning provided workforce statistics, noting 93,500 people working in PEI in 2025 with 86.4 percent full-time equivalency, and stated he would table health employment data showing employment and hours in health care rose about 20 percent in Q1 2026.
Marie Kenny – World President of the Associated Country Women of the World
Hon. B. Thompson
The Minister of Agriculture welcomed Marie Kenny and family to the gallery and recognized her recent election as the first Islander and fourth Canadian to serve as World President of the Associated Country Women of the World, an organization of roughly nine million members across more than 80 countries. R. Henderson and K. Bernard offered congratulatory responses.
MDS Coating Technologies 2026 Expansion
Hon. J. Redmond
The Minister of Economic Development announced a $110 million joint partnership ($55 million each from provincial and federal governments) with MDS Coating Technologies for a new 50,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility at Slemon Park, expected to create up to 120 new jobs. C. Simpson and M. MacFarlane responded, welcoming the aerospace-sector investment.
Recognition of Guests – Phil Rodger (MDS CEO)
Hon. J. Redmond
The minister sought the House's indulgence to recognize Phil Rodger, CEO of MDS, who had arrived in the gallery, and thanked him for his work for PEI.
Petition for Access PEI centre in North Rustico
M. MacKay
The Member for Kensington-Malpeque presented a petition with 618 signatures from residents of North Rustico and surrounding areas urging government to establish an Access PEI centre at the Eliyahu Wellness Centre Canada Games Place. The petition was received.
Tabling of documents
Multiple
H. Perry tabled a Tourism PEI social media post supporting a Netflix application; K. Bernard tabled a letter from the Atlantic Summer Institute board on budgetary concerns for children and youth, and a CBC story about boys falling behind in school; and Hon. Z. Bell tabled health care employment data. All were received.
Motion 55 – Adopting a mental-health-in-all-policies approach
C. Simpson
G. McNeilly called Motion 55, which urges government to take an upstream, prevention-based mental-health-in-all-policies approach and to renew its commitment to the Atlantic Summer Institute's 2022 policy brief recommendations. Mover C. Simpson opened debate, recognizing ASI's Patsy Beattie-Huggan and arguing that child and youth mental health is interconnected with housing, education, poverty and community, emphasizing early upstream investment and better organization of existing resources rather than solely crisis response.
First reading of Bill 110, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act
M. MacFarlane
The Leader of the Third Party introduced and moved first reading of Bill 110, which repeals and replaces subsection 43(6) of the unproclaimed Employment Standards Act so employers cannot require a medical certificate for illness/injury leave, addressing confusion raised during debate on Bill 106; the bill was received and read a first time.
Orders of the Day
Committee of the Whole on Bill 108, An Act to Amend the Electric Power Act
P. Bevan-Baker
The Member from New Haven-Rocky Point moved the House into Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 108, brought stranger Michelle Patterson to the floor, recognized energy advocates in the gallery, and opened general questions, with the Minister of Fisheries, Rural Development and Tourism beginning discussion.
Vote on committee report and defeat of Bill 108
The Speaker
On a recorded division the committee report was accepted (13 yeas to 7 nays), meaning Bill 108, An Act to Amend the Electric Power Act, was defeated.
Consideration of the Estimates — Health Policy and Planning
Multiple
In Committee of the Whole on the grant of supply, members questioned finance director Karen Stanley on the Health Policy and Planning section, covering the elimination of the strategic initiatives unit (three FTEs embedded into other areas), grants to Healthcare Excellence Canada/Atlantic health quality collaborative, professional services, travel/training overspends being reined in, and potential duplication with Health PEI; the section carried.
Consideration of the Estimates — Seniors Health
Multiple
The Leader of the Opposition questioned Karen Stanley on the Seniors Health section, notably the at-home caregiver grant's $500,000 increase based on utilization trends, whether the $1,500 monthly maximum would be raised (no provision in this budget), and eligibility of palliative patients (still under consideration but not reflected in this budget).
Seniors Health estimates — palliative eligibility, Tignish Seniors Home, Alzheimer's Society
Karen Stanley
Members raised palliative patient eligibility (no budget changes but being reviewed), operating support for the Tignish Seniors Home Care Cooperative (funding agreement expired Dec 31, 2025 but unallocated grants remain available), and a 2 percent increase to the Alzheimer's Society of PEI First Link operating grant.
At-home care benefit, Aging with Dignity funding and private nursing home infrastructure
Karen Stanley
Officials clarified spending figures reflect actuals to Feb 28, explained the $5.3 million Aging with Dignity spend (roughly $3 million infrastructure for cooling/heating in private and community facilities, plus allied health and an interRAI information system) and noted federal Aging with Dignity funding ($19 million over five years, ending March 2028) fully funds the infrastructure with no ongoing operating costs.
RFP for 175 new long-term care beds and design standards analysis
Karen Stanley
The RFP for 175 private nursing home beds (distributed across Kings, Queens and Prince) was revised after the initial 2024 RFP was pulled when construction cost estimates proved too low; the final number may exceed 175 based on county needs, and an outsourced comparative analysis of private long-term home design standards was completed.
Aging with Dignity allied health pilot
Karen Stanley
A one-year pilot launched in March 2025 supports allied health services (primarily OT and PT) in private long-term homes, allowing homes to assess needs and options while Health PEI evaluates impact on grants.
At-home caregiver grant details and evaluation
Karen Stanley
There are currently 394 open cases with 377 receiving payment in February, an average cost per case of $1,183; program terms have not changed and an evaluation only started this calendar year.
Seniors health salaries and director of licensing
Karen Stanley
Salaries rose by $149,000 due to collective agreement increases and a full year's funding for a new director of licensing position; PEI intends to replace its licensing board with a director of licensing (aligning with other provinces) through legislative and regulatory changes targeted for the fall following consultation.
Seniors health materials, conference, professional services and medical alert grant
Karen Stanley
A materials overspend reflected the first Making the Connection seniors conference (ticket-funded and revenue-neutral), professional services were underspent by about $100,000 due to unbilled work, and a $300,000 medical alert monitoring grant is transferred to Social Development and Seniors.
Emergency Health Services estimates — ambulance agreement and first responder training
Karen Stanley
The committee reviewed the new ground ambulance service agreement (five years plus two three-year extensions, effectively up to 11 years, retroactive to April 1, 2025) with expanded response-time KPIs monitored monthly and repercussions for non-compliance; the increase includes an allowance for anticipated paramedic wage increases. Medical first responder training funding increased as Island EMS will now provide training directly to fire departments.
Air ambulance services and 811 Telehealth budgeting
Karen Stanley
Air ambulance funding rose about $700,000 due to rising volume since COVID and a new CPI-adjusted agreement with the primary Nova Scotia provider (whose price had been frozen since 2014), with multiple providers retained for redundancy. The 811 budget was underspent by about $400,000 but kept high pending a new agreement, with officials reviewing multi-year trends before reducing it.
Community Health Programs estimates — Hospice PEI, IVF/fertility, CHANCES Best Start
Karen Stanley
Hospice PEI's grant remained stagnant though the department has provided extra December funding when available; the IVF/fertility budget increased with new announced spending set to go out the door; and the CHANCES Best Start home visiting program (moved from Education about three or four years ago) received a 2 percent increase, partly to adjust worker salaries.
Committee reports progress and House adjourns
Multiple
On a motion by Hon. C. Deagle the committee reported progress and begged leave to sit again, the report was adopted, and on a motion by M. MacKay the House adjourned until Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
Private Members' Business
Motion to renew commitment to ASI 2022 Mental Health in All Policies recommendations
Member from Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park
The mover spoke at length about the Atlantic Summer Institute policy brief, arguing for upstream investment in early childhood and mental health promotion, citing social determinants of health, adverse childhood experiences, brain and child development, economic returns on early investment, whole-of-government/society/community approaches, Indigenous-led collaboration, and Winter Wellness Day, and asking the House to reaffirm Motion 83 (2022).
Seconding remarks on the Mental Health in All Policies motion
K. Bernard
The seconder welcomed ASI representatives, read from the ASI letter criticizing budget cuts (a $1.4 million cut to early learning and child development centres) and citing child poverty, food insecurity, a 60% increase in Kids Help Phone calls, and social media impacts; she spoke on the need for upstream investment, honouring child development, risky play, potty-training and EA/complex-needs pressures in kindergarten, wraparound family supports, and making schools community centres, then adjourned debate.
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.