Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly, Thursday 14 May 2026
On May 14, 2026, the Prince Edward Island Legislature opened with welcomes to guests, recognition of Moose Hide Campaign Day, and Members' Statements honouring the Parkdale Sherwood Lions Club, the Vernon River Catholic Women's League, and criticizing cuts to Employment Development Agency funding, with statement-based exchanges pressing ministers on Health PEI's culture, cell tower installations, supports for unhoused Islanders, AI/social media protections for youth, and reduced provincial park worker hours. In Routine Proceedings and Orders of the Day, the Premier tabled Supplementary Estimates and an amendment to the 2027 Estimates, opposition members tabled documents, Bill No. 27 (Supplementary Appropriation Act 2026) was read a first time, and the House resolved into Committee of the Whole. The remainder of the sitting was devoted to Committee of the Whole consideration of the Department of Health and Wellness estimates, with official Karen Stanley answering questions as divisions covering community health, pharmacy services, workforce development, public health, and health promotion were reviewed and carried. Discussion addressed drug programs, biosimilars, pharmacare rebates, recruitment programs, COVID vaccine cost overruns, the transition to the Live Well PEI action plan, and concerns raised by MLA G. McNeilly over cuts to wellness grant programs.
Members' Statements
Parkdale Sherwood Lions Club – 65th Anniversary
S. Dillon
Dillon recognized the 65th anniversary of the Parkdale Sherwood Lions Club, honouring long-serving members and highlighting the club's contributions including nearly $700,000 to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and over $100,000 in scholarships.
Employment Development Agency Special Projects
R. Henderson
Henderson criticized the government for cutting EDA special projects funding by half a million dollars, arguing the program supports workers with employment barriers and benefits the rural PEI economy.
Vernon River Catholic Women's League
B. Curran
Curran recognized the Vernon River Catholic Women's League for decades of community service including catering, food pantry contributions, holiday gift baskets, and weekly craft fellowship.
Leadership and culture at Health PEI (child/youth psychiatric unit)
M. MacFarlane
The Leader of the Third Party pressed the Minister of Health on frontline staff opposition to the placement of the child psychiatric unit and a pattern of ignored frontline expertise; Minister Deagle said it was an operational Health PEI decision, defended the cheaper repurposing of existing space over an $8-10M renovation of Unit 9, and said unions and staff had been consulted.
Cell phone service and micro-towers
P. Bevan-Baker
The Member for New Haven-Rocky Point questioned the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and AI on how many of the planned micro-towers have been installed and where, and whether the RFP's rural placement requirements were met; Minister Redmond acknowledged the frustration, said an RFP had gone out and that work continues with telecom and federal partners, and committed to seek the requested information.
Supports for unhoused Islanders in Summerside
T. DesRoches
The Member for Summerside-Wilmot asked the Minister of Housing about daytime options and wraparound services for the unhoused given shelter daytime closures; Minister Dollar cited added supportive housing beds and shelter capacity, declined to commit to a daytime trailer/space, but committed to meet in Summerside with the member and partners.
Social media and AI protections for youth
B. Curran
The Member for Georgetown-Pownal asked about engaging Island parents and ensuring ethical AI use to protect children; Minister of Finance Burridge cited federal and provincial levers, an existing government AI policy, and a school cell phone motion, and Minister of Justice Thompson announced a forthcoming provincial youth cyberviolence prevention strategy, said to be the first of its kind in Canada.
Provincial park employees' reduced hours
R. Henderson
The Member for O'Leary-Inverness questioned the Minister of Fisheries, Rural Development and Tourism over Cedar Dunes park workers receiving three fewer days of work, its impact on EI benefits, and cost savings; Minister Hudson noted his government had increased employment from 15 to 18 weeks after Hurricane Fiona and said the reduced weeks would still be sufficient for EI claims.
Routine Proceedings
Response on transportation costs in Housing department
Hon. K. Dollar
The Housing Minister responded to a question taken as notice, clarifying that a $700,000 budget line was a 'Shelter Support Line – Emergency Sheltering/Transport' grant for individuals who cannot use existing shelters, not a taxi budget.
Response on provincial committee for unhoused Islanders with complex needs
Hon. K. Dollar
The Minister explained the provincial committee for Islanders with complex needs experiencing homelessness is comprised of officials from Health and Wellness, Health PEI, Housing, social services, and Justice, working to stabilize individuals and improve long-term housing outcomes.
IRAC review and appointment response
M. MacFarlane
Responding to a Premier's statement, the Leader of the Third Party congratulated Rory Francis on appointment but argued a review of IRAC is unnecessary since its problems (patronage, lack of transparency and accountability) are known, urging the government to dismantle and reform it now rather than kick the can down the road.
Message from the Lieutenant Governor - Supplementary Estimates
Hon. R. Lantz
The Premier presented a message from the Lieutenant Governor transmitting the Supplementary Estimates in support of the Supplementary Appropriation Act 2026 for fiscal year ending March 31, 2026; the message was read and the estimates ordered to lie on the Table.
Orders of the Day
Supplementary Estimates received and referred
Hon. R. Lantz
The Premier moved that the Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure be received and lie on the Table and that their consideration be added to the Orders of the Day in Committee of the Whole; both motions carried.
Amendment to Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure 2027
Hon. R. Lantz
The Premier presented a Lieutenant Governor's message transmitting an addendum to pages 105-106 of the 2027 Estimates, explaining a $2.1M grant remapping under Medical Affairs and an $8.5M transfer within Acute Care Hospitals with no total expenditure increase; the amendment was received and referred to Committee of the Whole.
Tabling of documents by Opposition
Hon. H. Perry
The Leader of the Opposition tabled Moody's ratings changing PEI's outlook to negative and a PEI Nurses' Union member update on negotiations; the motions carried.
Tabling of documents on nurses
G. McNeilly
The Member for Charlottetown-West Royalty tabled a document on Health PEI's reliance on private agency nurses and another on the scope of violence against nurses on PEI (137 surveyed, 35% experiencing violence more than five times in 12 months); the motions carried.
Bill No. 27, Supplementary Appropriation Act 2026 - first reading
Hon. J. Burridge
The Minister of Finance introduced and read a first time Bill No. 27, the Supplementary Appropriation Act 2026, noting its schedule lists total special warrants approved under the Financial Administration Act since the last sitting.
Committee of the Whole - Health and Wellness estimates (Community Health Programs)
Multiple
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole with Karen Stanley as witness to consider Health and Wellness estimates on page 97, Community Health Programs; members questioned gender-affirming care funding and a trans health navigator, professional services fluctuations, primary care policy and the mental health alliance grants.
Committee of the Whole - chronic pain, pharmacy clinics, blood, organ/fertility programs
Multiple
Members questioned funding for chronic pain management and a forthcoming strategy with public consultation, pharmacy-led clinics tied to Pharmacy Plus, a 15% increase to the provincial blood coordinating program (which PEI voted against), organ/tissue donation utilization, the $1.1M IVF/fertility program details and potential retroactivity, hospice PEI funding, and living donor reimbursement promotion.
Community Health and Policy estimates
Multiple
Members questioned funding for living organ donor advertising, a $100,000 increase for Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, stable salary lines due to eliminated temporary vacancies, and race/ethnicity data collection projects (a partnership with Health PEI and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer starting April 1, 2026); the section carried at $59,905,800.
Pharmacy Services estimates
Multiple
Members discussed a $3.9 million reduction in the high cost drugs line tied to a switch to anti-VEGF biosimilars, Pharmacy Plus utilization, the growth hormone program, glucose sensor and ostomy supply reimbursement concerns, pharmacare rebates (~$20.5M utilization-based), national pharmacare diabetes/contraception funding, the substance use harm reduction program replacing opioid replacement therapy, financial assistance under the Social Assistance Act, and the transplant drug program; the section carried at $76,164,200.
Health Workforce Development estimates
Multiple
Members reviewed underspent salaries due to unfilled nursing positions, the internationally educated nurses bursary pilot, the physician practice ready assessment (paying Nova Scotia $175,000 per seat for five seats, with return-of-service), RN bridging and Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada programs, removal of the English language testing line, RN recruitment/referral funding ending January 2026, and an unimplemented accelerated medical administrative assistant program; the section carried at $3,687,200.
Chief Public Health Office estimates
Multiple
Members questioned a nearly $1.5 million overspend in materials, supplies and services attributed largely to higher-than-anticipated COVID vaccine costs, the PEERS Alliance drug-checking harm reduction grant (2% economic increase), the heat alert response system (HARS) climate change program, and casual staffing dollars; the section carried at $9,886,600.
Population Health Assessment and Surveillance estimates
Multiple
Members discussed the professional services line budgeted in case outsourcing is needed and the section's role in surveillance of communicable and chronic diseases, substance monitoring, population-based research and program evaluation; the section carried at $642,400.
Health Promotion estimates
Multiple
Members discussed the discontinuation of the small Live Well PEI grants in favour of broader initiatives, the new Live Well PEI wellness action plan with community action networks (including alcohol reduction) replacing the expired 2018 wellness strategy, and changes to the tobacco cessation program moving into pharmacies; G. McNeilly argued for a formal wellness strategy and more upstream investment.
Health and Wellness budget estimates — wellness grant funding cuts
G. McNeilly
McNeilly criticized reductions to wellness grant funding, arguing more should be invested in upstream wellness activities; official Karen Stanley confirmed the Live Well PEI wellness grants were cut from $137,000 to zero and that the Mental Health Alliance funding was eliminated, with remaining funds directed to the 1-800 quitline and other organizations.
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.