Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly, Friday 22 May 2026
On Friday, 22 May 2026, the PEI Legislative Assembly opened with greetings and guest recognitions, including a large delegation from the Early Childhood Development Association, followed by members' statements honouring a late constituent, highlighting community events, and the Third Party Leader criticizing the government's record. During Questions by Members, the opposition pressed government on electricity infrastructure, seniors' prescription renewals, coroner services funding, early learning and child care cuts, French-language supports, small business supports, and housing down payment assistance. The remainder of the sitting was taken up by ministerial statements, the tabling of documents including government responses to standing committee reports and petitions on early childhood pedagogical support funding, and the resumption of Committee of the Whole consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Land and Environment, covering inspection services, land use planning, development control, and the start of a review of the Forest, Fish and Wildlife Division and the forestry commission report.
Members' Statements
Remembering Marilla Millar
R. Henderson
Henderson paid tribute to Marilla Millar of Ellerslie, who raised six children, fostered 139 children over 40 years, volunteered extensively, and lived a full 95 years leaving a large family legacy.
Downtown Summerside Community Cleanup
T. DesRoches
DesRoches highlighted Downtown Summerside Inc. and Evermoore Brewery partnering with the City for a community cleanup along the Confederation Trail and downtown, ending with a barbecue at Evermoore.
Government Investments
M. MacFarlane
The Leader of the Third Party criticized the government as having no new ideas after seven years, arguing the spring sitting showed a lack of vision on health care, housing, affordability, education, child care and climate change.
Routine Proceedings
Government response to Standing Committee on Education and Economic Growth second report
Hon. R. Croucher
The Minister of Education and Early Years moved that government's response to the committee's recommendations be received and lie on the Table; carried.
Government response to Standing Committee on Health and Social Development second report
Hon. B. Thompson
The Minister of Justice moved that government's response be received and lie on the Table; carried.
Government response to Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability second report
Hon. D. Compton
The Minister of Land and Environment moved that government's response be received and lie on the Table; carried.
Government response to Standing Committee on Public Accounts second report
Hon. J. Burridge
The Minister of Finance and Affordability moved that government's response be received and lie on the Table; carried.
Tabling of additional signatures for pedagogical support
C. Simpson
The Member from Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park tabled additional signatures, bringing the total to over 2,800, obtained online in support of pedagogical support.
Tabling of petition and letters on pedagogical support funding
M. MacFarlane
The Leader of the Third Party tabled a petition from the Early Childhood Development Association with 2,458 signatures asking government to reverse pedagogical support funding cuts, and separately tabled 17 supporting letters including one from the CEO of the Canadian Child Care Federation.
Speaker reminder on tabling documents
Speaker
The Speaker reminded members that document tabling should include a summary rather than the full contents.
Orders of the Day
Motion to consider Estimates in Committee of the Whole
Hon. B. Thompson
The Minister of Justice moved that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole to consider the grant of supply; carried, with the Deputy Speaker taking the chair.
Estimates — Land and Environment, Inspection Services
P. Bevan-Baker
The Member questioned the department (with director of finance Kelli Bulger) on the salaries underspend, explained as unused temporary funding for the federal-provincial code acceleration fund, plus the code acceleration program and a Lean Six process review of inspection services.
Estimates — Unsightly properties and enforcement
R. Henderson
The Member from O'Leary-Inverness raised enforcement of unsightly properties, fire hazards from uncut grass and derelict vehicles; Minister Compton described the high cost of cleanups (e.g. $50,000 for one property), the use of liens, and advised working through incorporated municipalities to gain unsightly designations.
Estimates — Land Use Planning
P. Bevan-Baker
The Member pressed for a timeline on a province-wide land use plan; Minister Compton said consultations were in their second iteration and awaiting a report but there is no set timeframe. Discussion also covered the Leads land identification pilot in the Belfast area, the department's relationship with IRAC on the Lands Protection Act, and possible LPA legislation in the fall on land acquisition transparency.
Estimates — Development Control
P. Bevan-Baker
The Member asked about professional/legal services and the status of Cornwall's proposed annexation of land from Clyde River municipality; Minister Compton said he would bring back an updated status.
Estimates — Forest, Fish and Wildlife Division Management
P. Bevan-Baker
The Member began an extensive review of the 2024 forestry commission report, thanking and naming the commissioners, and signalled he would seek the implementation status of each of the report's 14 recommendations.
Other business
Opening greetings and recognition of guests
Multiple
The Premier and members welcomed colleagues, staff, Pages and gallery guests, notably a large Early Childhood Development Association delegation, and recognized events including the MacKenzie Memorial Walk/Run for Autism, the Junior Achievement PEI dinner (honouring Harvey Stewart, Kathy Hambly and posthumously Robert Irving), Camp Abegweit's 80th anniversary, Holland College graduates, Indigenous Awareness Week, and Hope House fundraiser.
Electricity grid and energy infrastructure
Hon. H. Perry
The Leader of the Opposition questioned the Premier on progress strengthening the grid, the status of the Northumberland Strait transmission line project, and why PEI lacks an approved Major Projects Office project; the Premier cited a regulatory review, a battery storage expression of interest, and ongoing federal discussions.
Prescription renewals for seniors
Hon. H. Perry
Perry pressed the Health Minister on seniors in community care facilities such as the Tignish co-op lacking family doctors and prescription refills; the Minister acknowledged the seriousness, committed to meeting the community care association, and said he had no update but would look into it.
Coroner services funding
R. Henderson
Henderson questioned the Justice Minister on a roughly $200,000 reduction to coroner services amid a growing population, and whether first responders are kept waiting for coroners; the Minister said the office was boosted with a coordinator, vehicles and staff and budgeted on a five-year average.
Early learning and child care funding
C. Simpson
Simpson challenged the Education Minister over cuts to pedagogical support staff, citing impacts on ECE recruitment and retention; the Minister defended record early years investments and blamed a $17 million federal shortfall.
French language supports
C. Simpson
Simpson asked what specific supports are coming for Acadian and Francophone families after a program was cut; the Minister said conversations between departments continue and details will come when available.
Support for small businesses
C. Simpson
Simpson questioned the Economic Development Minister about business closures exceeding openings and the wind-down of the Startup Zone, urging expansion of LaunchPad's mandate; the Minister pointed to Innovation PEI programs and a mentorship program.
Down payment assistance program
G. McNeilly
McNeilly urged the Housing Minister to raise the $110,000 income threshold and the $350,000 home price cap for the down payment assistance program; the Minister noted record uptake, recent threshold increases, and a review of the three first-time homeowner programs.
Early learning and child care funding (further)
M. MacFarlane
The Leader of the Third Party said he would table an ECDA petition with over 2,458 signatures and pressed the Premier over cuts to pedagogical support affecting a workforce that is about 95 percent women; the Minister and Premier defended investments and blamed federal funding shortfalls while declining to reinstate the funding.
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.