Labour Market News

Want to find out more about local or provincial labour market history? The labour market news archive may be a good place to start.

In this section, you can browse archived news titles, whose links are no longer functional, for up to one year from the current date. The archived news can help you understand the labour market trends in geographic areas and industries that are of interest to you.

• Week of 2025-03-21 to 2025-03-27

  • This fall will see the opening of P.E.I.’s regional medical campus of Memorial University’s faculty of medicine at UPEI, which has recruited 99 P.E.I.-based doctors. Twenty medical students will be in the first class, who are expected to graduate in 2029.

    saltwire.com

  • Next week marks the beginning of the snow crab fishing season, but fishers on P.E.I. are faced with a 33% reduction in their allowable catch and trade concerns with U.S. and China. Crab stocks are on a downhill swing but are projected to rebound in 2027.

    cbc.ca

  • The RCMP hosted a P.E.I. symposium with the aim to attract more diverse members to the force. Interested applicants can apply through the Diverse and Inclusive Pre-Cadet Experience (DICE), the Indigenous Pre-Cadet Training Program or the regular program.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government announced $7M in funding to go toward the construction of $25M multi-use facility next to Summerside’s Prince County Hospital. The building will include a child-care centre as well as training and housing spaces for medical students.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Real Estate Association says that P.E.I. had a 7.7% increase in home sales year-over-year, compared to nationally which decreased by 9.7%. P.E.I.'s sales increase is believed to be due to interprovincial migration and lower interest rates.

    cbc.ca

  • A recent report released by the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC) on the Atlantic Physician Register found that there were no major improvements. The registry was designed to improve physician mobility within Atlantic Canada.

    cbc.ca

  • Health P.E.I. is posting 500 permanent full-time positions for its current staff, in order to change part-time and casual workers into full-time employees. The plan is to stabilize its workforce, make it easier to schedule staff, and help reduce overtime.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2025-03-14 to 2025-03-20

  • RDÉE PEI is launching a brand-new program called “Promotion des métiers et emplois verts.” This program, which is spread over two fiscal years, aims to raise awareness among high school students within the French-language school board of career opportunities in fields related to sustainable development and the environment.

    lavoixacadienne.com (available in French only)

  • SkillsPEI is hosting its Job Fairs on April 8 at the Delta Hotel in Charlottetown and on April 15 at the Credit Union Place in Summerside.

    princeedwardisland.ca

  • The P.E.I. government has paused solar rebates, which has clients and companies concerned. M.B. Eye Electrical says solar installations are 40-50% of their business and the pause could result in layoffs, while Polaron Solar has spent money to promote the rebate.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. health officials state that 101 job offers were made from recruitment trips to Singapore and Dubai, but the P.E.I. Nurses' Union says it hasn’t been told who they are or where they're working. The province has 200 nursing job vacancies posted.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s Auditor General says that the Island's Affordable Housing Development Program has 261 units approved by the program but has only resulted in 69 being completed. The auditor’s report cites slow development, a lack of availability, and increased costs.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will invest $2.57M in the P.E.I. BioAlliance to deliver Emergence 4.0, an initiative that helps bioscience companies with mentorship, investment support, and commercialization services. The goal is to help bioscience companies grow.

    canada.ca

  • The T3 Transit municipalities of Charlottetown, Stratford and Cornwall will receive $2.8M in funding over 10 years to upgrade, replace, or modernize its infrastructure. The money is being provided through the new Canada Public Transit Fund stream.

    canada.ca

  • Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association will receive $473K from ACOA for a two-year initiative to help grow and keep the aquaculture industry sustainable. The aim is to attract new investments and become more globally competitive.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2025-02-28 to 2025-03-06

  • The P.E.I. government has begun its first phase of its U.S. tariff response program, including the review of U.S. contracts and removal of U.S. liquor. P.E.I. will also double its trade missions abroad, work on new markets, and provide money to impacted sectors.

    cbc.ca

  • The Maritime Electric substation in Sherbrooke continues to have problems, which has resulted in Summerside Electric having to start its generators again to have enough power to supply the city. The power issue has cost the city $450K to date.

    cbc.ca

  • Transportation East will receive $650K in funding to buy four accessible and two hybrid vehicles to expand their transit services in Kings County. This will improve accessibility to affordable transit in order to attend work or other daily activities.

    canada.ca

  • Summerside will take over ownership of the Silver Fox Entertainment Complex and its debt in April. Volunteers have been running the curling club, marina, and complex. The city will maintain the building and lease the bar and grill to a private operator.

    cbc.ca

  • The fishing industry in the Maritimes is disappointed with the two-year extension to the moratorium on herring announced by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The DFO imposed this moratorium in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2022 to give the stocks a chance to recover. The DFO estimated that the herring stock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence would be 28,000 tonnes in 2023. The critical zone is set at anything below 52,000 tonnes, and the DFO is not optimistic about the coming years.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • The federal minimum wage will increase to $17.75 per hour as of April 1, 2025 and is in line with the year-over-year inflation rate, which rose by 2.4%.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2025-02-21 to 2025-02-27

  • Rural Victoria has put in place a five-year development plan, with its main goal to increase housing and expand its tax base. The area needs a daycare and seniors home to help attract more families to the area, which has an aging population of 139 people.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. will receive $2.7M in federal funding to invest in clean energy and energy efficiency projects. Besides partnering with First Nations, P.E.I. will focus on renewable energy production and storage, and expand innovation in clean technologies.

    canada.ca

  • The P.E.I. government is reviewing five development proposals that have been submitted for the former bridge fabrication yard in Borden-Carleton. The mayor has stipulated that he wants the proposals to be ranked and have sustainable jobs as a goal.

    cbc.ca

  • The University of P.E.I. was only able to attract just over half of the students that it can accommodate in its French as a second language Bachelor of Education program, which has 30 spots. This year, the Commission scolaire de langue française (CSLF) is offering scholarships of up to $5,000, which cover a portion of the tuition. However, the students who receive the scholarships must commit to working for the CSLF. For information purposes, P.E.I. has one of the highest rates of students taking French immersion.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • P.E.I. snow crab fishers are faced with a 33% federal reduction in crab quota in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, as well as a potential 25% U.S. tariff. The concern is that snow crab will become too expensive and brokers will buy less crab from fishers.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2025-02-14 to 2025-02-20

  • Black dot disease has been detected in P.E.I. potato crops, but isn't thought to be widespread on the Island. The P.E.I. Potato Board states that growers are keeping an eye out for the disease, which can be viewed by the eye, but can be difficult to spot.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. government has started a new provincial program called Grow the Herd, which will offer incentives to keep heifers and calves or buy new animals. The hope is to keep the Island's cattle industry growing, which has been faced with tight margins.

    cbc.ca

  • Many P.E.I. newcomers say that they are working multiple low-wage jobs and are struggling to cover groceries and rent. A recent CBC-Pollara survey reports that 82% of newcomers say that the Canada’s cost of living makes it difficult to settle in the country.

    cbc.ca

  • In P.E.I., the number of permits granted to remove asbestos from structures has doubled in recent years. According to business leaders, the demand is high, while the number of experts who are certified to carry out this delicate work is limited.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)
• Week of 2025-02-07 to 2025-02-13

  • Summerside operations are trying to help as power disruptions hit western P.E.I. Credit Union Place shut down before peak power usage time, Water Street Bakery had to shut down and throw out product, and Dairy processor ADL switched to its own generator.

    cbc.ca

  • The U.S. has imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico. Canada accounted for over 79% of all primary aluminum metal imported into the U.S. in 2024. The United Steelworkers union says it will hurt workers in Canada and the U.S.

    globalnews.ca

  • The Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund will deliver $86.2M in funding over 10 years to help accelerate housing development, increase densification, and meet the growing demand for affordable housing on P.E.I. Applications for funds will begin on May 1, 2025.

    canada.ca

  • A damaged Maritime Electric substation in Sherbrooke has led to power outages across western P.E.I. Although Summerside generates much of its own electricity, it shut down some municipal facilities in an effort to avoid blackouts.

    cbc.ca

  • Porter Airlines will add four weekly direct flight between Charlottetown and Toronto this summer. The Charlottetown Airport welcomes the news after both WestJet and Flair informed them that they were cutting back on their flights this summer.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2025-01-31 to 2025-02-06

  • The P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture has launched a new five-year plan for farmers to prepare and adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gases. The plan includes sharing ideas and resources to address issues such as soil health and sustainability.

    cbc.ca

  • While Charlottetown saw $250M in new developments in the past year and Summerside exceeded $100M in building permits, affordability remains a challenge. Work is underway to not only increase supply but add more social and subsidized housing as well.

    cbc.ca

  • The Island has pulled American liquor from P.E.I. liquor stores in response to the threat of U.S. tariffs. The province has stressed the importance of buying local, supporting Island suppliers, protecting jobs, and remaining competitive.

    cbc.ca

  • NuVista Psychedelic Medicine has opened a new ketamine clinic in Stratford, which offers an alternate treatment for people with mental health conditions. Psychiatrists review patient’s mental health history to determine if they are a good candidate or not.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. tourism broke records in 2024, with more than 1.7M visitors to the Island and an estimated $520.7M spent while on P.E.I. Traffic at the Confederation Bridge and the Charlottetown Airport also had record highs in 2024, as did cruise ship traffic.

    cbc.ca

  • Unions representing healthcare workers in P.E.I. dread the momentum towards the privatization of the public healthcare system following a statement from the president and chief executive officer of the provincial health authority. The statement specified that healthcare decisions should benefit patients and staff, whether the care comes from a public or private provider.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • Each oyster fishing area in P.E.I. officially has traces of MSX, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The agency put out an official statement on February 7. This announcement does not mean that all oysters are infected. However, the sampling done by the CFIA since the disease was first detected last summer indicates that there are infected oysters in every area of the province.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)
• Week of 2025-01-24 to 2025-01-30

  • P.E.I. potato growers and marketers want to see an advertising campaign aimed at U.S. customers on how U.S. tariffs would raise food prices. The P.E.I. Potato Board says over half of P.E.I.’s potatoes are shipped to the U.S., with an annual value of $250M.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The federal government is providing Canada Post with $1B in short-term financing for 2025/26 to help them stay solvent and continue operations. The corporation has faced significant losses since 2018 with rapid changes in mail and parcel delivery and high labour costs.

    vocm.com

  • An Indian restaurant in Summerside states that P.E.I.'s immigration cuts has hurt its sales and its ability to find employees. The House of Spice had plans to open a second or third location, but the lack of available staff has made it a challenge.

    cbc.ca

  • Point Lepreau's 248-day shutdown last year could cost P.E.I. power customers about $14.5M. Maritime Electric buys about 15% of its power from Lepreau and spent about $58K a day for outside power. The utility is looking to spend $427M to produce its own energy.

    cbc.ca

  • The city of Summerside surpassed the $100M mark for building permits in 2024. Growth has been seen in housing, as well as record investments in the commercial sector. Summerside had 183 permits approved, Cornwall had 346, and Charlottetown saw 447.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. will provide funding to help Island exporters remain competitive globally, amid the potential threat of U.S. tariffs. There is concern on the impact on P.E.I.'s agriculture, fisheries, bioscience and manufacturing, which account for 24% of P.E.I.’s GDP.

    cbc.ca

  • The Cavendish Boardwalk will add 10,000 square feet in space for shops and restaurants leading up to next summer’s tourism season. The multimillion-dollar upgrade will also include more common areas to sit and eat, and washroom and parking upgrades.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Home Builders’ Association warns that a 25% U.S. tariff could drive up construction and renovation costs. Canada annually imports $14B in primary metals, $3.5B of glass products, $2B in hardware, and over $3B in major appliances from the U.S. alone.

    globalnews.ca

  • The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is expected to open in September, and its medical home will reduce the family doctor waitlist by 10,000 patients in the coming years. The centre will have seven healthcare workers, and it will start accepting patients in October.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)
• Week of 2025-01-17 to 2025-01-23

  • The pediatric clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital has warned patients about long wait times as it has a shortage of doctors. When the medical team is fully staffed, there are six pediatricians and one neonatologist. Currently, staffing is down to 4.6, and the number will shrink further in the coming months until the beginning of 2026. Health P.E.I. stated that it is continuing its efforts to recruit.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • The P.E.I. Nurses' Union is pleased with the changes to Canada’s Health Act, which will nurse practitioners expand their roles in healthcare. Nurse practitioners can now open their own clinics and bill the health-care system like doctors can.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture says the Island is losing valuable agricultural land to residential development. P.E.I. has lost 12.3% of its farmland between 2016 and 2021. The federation wants a moratorium on development where there is no land-use plan.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.'s first private MRI clinic is set to open in Summerside in the spring. The clinic will be located at 107 Walker Drive and the clinic plans to recruit from across Canada and will try not to take staff from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.

    cbc.ca

  • A new wind turbine project is being proposed for the Kinkora area on P.E.I. The Wejipek Wind Project would build three wind turbine generators on privately-owned land. If approved the project could provide enough power for 4,000 homes and create jobs.

    cbc.ca

  • Health P.E.I. says it will open a medical home by October 2025 at UPEI's new medical school. Medical homes offer a range of services, with doctors collaborating with other health-care workers. When fully staffed it could give primary care to 10,000 patients.

    cbc.ca

  • Charlottetown Airport had a record-breaking year for passenger travel with over 410,000 travellers in 2024. The airport is served by Air Canada, Porter, WestJet and Flair. A terminal expansion project is underway and expected to be done by 2027.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2025-01-10 to 2025-01-16

  • P.E.I.’s oyster industry is concerned about the impact that the parasite MSX will have on their future. P.E.I.’s Fisheries Department says it will do surveillance sampling, research and development, support programming, and will increase its staff.

    cbc.ca

  • Health P.E.I. says hospitals across P.E.I. are over capacity, causing long wait times and limited beds available. Queen Elizabeth, Prince County, Kings County Memorial, and Western Hospital are all under pressure. Islanders are urged to seek alternate care.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s Nursing Home Association says that a shortage of long-term care beds is taking beds in hospitals. The province has 1,303 long-term care beds within nine publicly owned and 10 privately owned facilities. A tender to create 175 new beds is expected.

    cbc.ca

  • Police forces in Summerside and Charlottetown report that they have been able to fill vacancies despite losing some of their members to the RCMP. Officers with the RCMP can now be posted in a specific location. Police vacancies exist across Canada.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Council for Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) has launched a new online job platform, called Untapped Talent, for people with disabilities. According to CCRW there are over 740,000 Canadians with disabilities who are ready to work.

    cbc.ca

  • AquaBounty, an American company that produces genetically modified Atlantic salmon, permanently closed last December due to financial issues and production challenges. The company’s operations raised many concerns over the impact on the environment and human health. The company laid off around 25 employees.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)

  • The Government of Prince Edward Island cancelled a call for tenders for new electric school buses because the Quebec-based manufacturer Lion Electric was the sole bidder. The province is concerned about the manufacturer’s financial situation as it attempts to restructure operations.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • To improve shoreline protection and prevent erosion along the Route 2 Souris Causeway, the provincial government has begun a coastal engineering adaptation project. The project should be complete by March 2025.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)

  • P.E.I. firefighters and paramedics say that they are faced with increased workloads and rising emergency medical service delays. The Island is faced with a shortage of paramedics and the increased workload is making it harder to recruit and retain workers.

    cbc.ca

  • Charlottetown Police Services has recently hired and had six new constables sworn in, to help keep up as the city grows. Since 2023, seven officers have left for other law enforcement agencies, such as the RCMP.

    cbc.ca

  • Changes to Canada’s Health Act next year will allow nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives to bill the government for medical services typically provided by a doctor. The change is being made so patients will not have to pay for these services.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s French Daycare Association is looking for high school students to volunteer in its five Francophone daycare centres. Those that volunteer for 150 hours will receive a $1,500 post-secondary scholarship and an extra $500 if they pursue childcare.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2025-01-03 to 2025-01-09

  • Business insolvency filings rose in every province from Oct 2023 to Oct 2024, except for N.B and N.L. This trend is expected to continue into 2025. The hardest-hit sectors were construction, accommodation and food services, and transportation and warehousing.

    saltwire.com

  • Although Canada’s labour market varies, industries most in demand include health care and social assistance, accommodations and food, retail trade, professional, scientific or technical services, and construction. Sales and service has the most vacancies.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Comark Holdings will close all Ricki’s and Cleo retail clothing stores across Canada while seeking creditor protection. The chain was hit hard by the pandemic, a 2021 ransomware attack, and by online competition. Over 2,000 employees could be impacted.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2024-12-27 to 2025-01-02

  • The Prince Edward Island Crafts Council is expanding to a new building at 94 Water St. in Charlottetown. The space will have an educational facility for artists, working studios to help artists build their skills, and will host popup stores by local artists.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-12-20 to 2024-12-26

  • Health P.E.I. has negotiated a contract with a private MRI clinic in Moncton, which will help the more than 400 P.E.I. patients on the semi-urgent waitlist. Health P.E.I. will take care of the appointments, the paperwork, and will reimburse patients.

    cbc.ca

  • The vacancy rate for apartments on P.E.I. is the lowest rate in the country at 0.8%, despite approval for hundreds of units. Charlottetown is on track to build 1,500 new units by 2027. P.E.I. has seen large population growth, which has increased demand.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-12-13 to 2024-12-19

  • Maritime Electric is looking to spend about $427M on new equipment to help secure a reliable supply of energy for Islanders, as well as further support the integration of renewable energy on P.E.I. The utility wants to be more self reliant for its power.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of P.E.I. is investing slightly over $3.3M in emergency services for rural communities. This will allow multiple communities to modernize their fire protection equipment, renovate buildings, improve emergency services and community infrastructure, and to upgrade energy efficiency.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • Health P.E.I. says it will cover the cost for Islanders to travel to a private MRI clinic in Moncton, for cases considered semi-urgent. P.E.I.'s only MRI machine is in Charlottetown, which is in high demand, resulting in wait times as long as two years.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada Post will resume operations on Dec. 17 after the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered 55,000 employees back to work. A 5% retroactive wage increase will be implemented and staff will work under their existing contracts, which were extended until May.

    cbc.ca

  • A weakening Canadian dollar is good news for some exporters on P.E.I., such as tuna exporters who largely sell to foreign markets in U.S. dollars. A weak loonie also makes a trip to P.E.I. an attractive bargain vacation, while Canadians travelling abroad will pay more.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Armed Forces has an ambitious plan dependent on additional defence budget spending to increase its regular force ranks to 86,000 (from the current 63,000), which could take decades to accomplish. Overall applications for the military have improved recently and trial programs have sped up the application process.

    saltwire.com

  • P.E.I. is looking to gain 37 internationally trained nurses, who recently graduated from the Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada. The program gives internationally educated nurses the education, skills and training required to practise in Canada.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-12-06 to 2024-12-12

  • The Canadian Energy Efficiency Scorecard says P.E.I. leads the country in supporting energy efficiency upgrades for lower income households and is tied for second place for energy efficiency programs overall. The report states that P.E.I. is a leader for energy efficiency.

    princeedwardisland.ca

  • The new Cataract Outpatient Clinic in Charlottetown officially opened, and its ophthalmologist hopes the clinic will eventually see up to 4,000 patients a year. About 90% of cataract surgeries on P.E.I. will be done at the clinic, which is funded by medicare.

    cbc.ca

  • The latest Conference Board of Canada report predicts that P.E.I.'s population growth will shrink from 3.0% to 1.6% in 2025 and down to 0.6% in 2026 and 2027. The slowdown is attributed to a reduction in immigration, as well as inter-provincial migration.

    infomedia.gc.ca

  • Tourism officials and organizers of the Sommo Festival say that moving the festival to September was a success and provided $30M in spinoff spending. Data shows that cottage and hotel bookings were up 5% and campground stays were up 16% compared to 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • AquaBounty Technologies states that it will shut down its Bay Fortune salmon hatchery in P.E.I. and will reduce staff in the coming weeks. The company had said earlier that it was selling its Rollo Bay location. The two sites had 37 staff at one time.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government announced that starting in January 2025, fishing licence holders in Atlantic Canada will now have access to maternity and parental leave. Licence holders can request a substitute to run their fishing business while on leave.

    canada.ca
• Week of 2024-11-29 to 2024-12-05

  • The City of Summerside is moving ahead with plans to build a new $11M fire station. The project is set to go to tender in fall 2025, with construction expected to begin in 2026. The station will have an enhanced training space and decontamination area.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada Post (CP) has presented the Canadian Union of Postal Workers with a new framework it hopes will achieve a negotiated settlement to the strike (now in its third week) of 55,000 postal workers. The framework includes proposals to bring greater flexibility to CP’s delivery model and shows movement on other key issues.

    citynews.ca

  • T3 Transit, who provides rural bus service on the Island, has bought new motorcoaches for some of its routes. The average daily ridership is up 35% over 2023 and T3 is expanding its service to Three Rivers, with extra routes to Georgetown and Montague.

    cbc.ca

  • Health P.E.I. plans to extend free virtual care to all patients in the province, not just the 35,000 people who do not have access to a family doctor. The agency hopes to expand the virtual care program at a cost of around $10M per year starting next fall.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • Ambulance calls on the Island have risen by more than a third over the past five years, resulting in higher wait times. P.E.I. has a shortage of paramedics, which the province is trying to fix by paying tuition fees for students enrolled in paramedicine.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-11-22 to 2024-11-28

  • The Canada Revenue Agency has laid off about 25 temporary employees on Prince Edward Island and 126 staff across the Atlantic region. Many of the staff being cut were hired in January 2023 and worked as debt collectors.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. Nurses' Union which represents about 100 nurse practitioners on the Island, have seen their role grow. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with extra training and earn between $58 to $68 an hour, with many providing primary patient care.

    cbc.ca

  • The Charlottetown Airport Authority reports that WestJet and Flair are cutting back on P.E.I. flights next summer. Flair Airlines won't offer any flights, while WestJet is cutting three weekly flights to Toronto and instead will focus on western Canada.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. potato producers say that if the U.S. goes ahead with a proposed 25% tariff, it would hurt the Island’s potato industry and increase prices for U.S. consumers. Almost 80% of P.E.I.’s international exports go to the U.S., with an annual value of $1.8B.

    cbc.ca

  • Physiotherapists in P.E.I. with specialized training can now order X-rays to optimize the use of health care resources. This expanded scope of practice is the result of a joint initiative between the Department of Health and Wellness, Health P.E.I., the P.E.I. Physiotherapy Association, and the P.E.I. College of Physiotherapy.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)
• Week of 2024-11-15 to 2024-11-21

  • Canada Post workers went on strike Friday after failing to reach an agreement with their employer. The union states that they have health, safety, and pension issues to resolve. Workers also want more than the employer’s wage offer of 11.5% over four years.

    cbc.ca

  • The town of Borden-Carleton has five proposals for redevelopment to consider for the former Confederation Bridge fabrication yard. The 45-hectare cliffside site has sat idle since the 1990s.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. Physiotherapy Association says that private and public physiotherapists on the Island are now able to order X-rays for patients after completing specialized training. The training can be expensive, but It is expected to help streamline patient care.

    cbc.ca

  • The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is still aiming for its first cohort to begin in 2025. The $91M facility at the UPEI Charlottetown campus is expected to accept 20 students in its first year. The goal of the new medical school in P.E.I. is to earn accreditation from the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools and to offer a joint program with Memorial University in N.L.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • The Guild, a Charlottetown arts and cultural centre, announced it has made changes to help improve its financial situation. The centre, which had to lay-off four staff, has received various government funding, but will no longer create its own productions.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-11-08 to 2024-11-14

  • Health P.E.I. continues to recruit heavily and has hired four associate physicians, one physician assistant and two specialists. Over the past 12 months the department has hired 37 physicians and in comparison, Health P.E.I. hired 24 physicians in 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • Health PEI was planning on transferring the patients of a hemato-oncologist who will be leaving soon to an oncologist, but he is planning on retiring next spring. Health PEI explained that current patients may continue their treatment in the province, but future patients may have to receive treatment outside the province.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • The Government of Canada is investing $50M over 2 years to launch the new Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative to provide support to the residential home construction sector and its supply chain. The goal is to advance innovative homebuilding solutions and boost manufacturing efficiency and output.

    canada.ca

  • The Department of Fisheries and Oceans estimates that 10-30% of lobster landings in the region are unreported and are working to map out criminal networks and money laundering in the sector. Reported lobster landing values have ranged from $1.2-$2B annually with unreported catches between $176-$681M.

    cbc.ca

  • The Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce's housing report was released, which stated that the limited supply of housing is proving difficult for employers to recruit staff. The report made eight recommendations on improving housing.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-11-01 to 2024-11-07

  • Preliminary stats on P.E.I.'s peak tourism season months suggests a good year, with Confederation Bridge traffic up 4% over 2023 and Charlottetown Airport showing similar increases. Passenger numbers from cruise ship visits were also up 60% compared to 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • The Construction Assoc. of PEI says developers are faced with a backlog to get approvals for building permits for commercial builds, apartments and even single-family homes in Charlottetown. The city states the delays are due to a shortage of planners and inspectors.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government has announced draft regulations to implement an oil and gas emissions cap. The new regulations will give producers 4 years to phase in emission cuts to 35% below 2019 levels, but do not limit production. Final regulations aren't expected until spring 2025.

    cbc.ca

  • Innovation P.E.I. held a two-day symposium with theatre directors to brainstorm ideas on how to return to pre-COVID levels. Theatre attendance as dropped to as low as 20%, while average costs have risen 35% since 2019 and people stay home to save money.

    cbc.ca

  • An internal consultant's report states that P.E.I. needs to expand its afterschool daycare programming, ideally offering it in all public primary schools by 2030, enabling more parents to work. The report says 47 P.E.I. schools don’t offer afterschool care.

    Guardian

  • The Acadian Tourism Association of Prince Edward Island is receiving provincial support to hire staff. The province has committed to paying 50% of the costs associated with hiring full-time management for the period up to the end of March 2026. For 2024-25, PEI Tourism is also granting $64,500, which is the same amount that it gave in 2023-24.

    L'Acadie Nouvelle (capacadie.com) (available in French only)
• Week of 2024-10-25 to 2024-10-31

  • Over $33.5M in housing projects will be awarded through the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. to 5 Atlantic organizations: Wenjikwom Housing Commission Society (Truro), Tawaak Housing Assoc.(Halifax), Native Council of PEI, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Ksalsuti Wellness Resources (Oromocto).

    canada.ca

  • Health P.E.I. says its focus is to hire hundreds of health-care staff and reduce wait times. P.E.I. plans to open 30 more patient medical homes, requiring 56 doctors and nurse practitioners, registered and licensed practical nurses, social workers, and others.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will provide $305K to West Prince Ventures (CBDC Western PEI) to deliver the Consultant Advisory Services (CAS) program. This program is expected to help P.E.I. companies grow by providing access to professional services.

    canada.ca
• Week of 2024-10-18 to 2024-10-24

  • In P.E.I., standard electricity meters will be replaced by smart meters. The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission authorized Maritime Electric to make this change for its 86,000 clients. The $67M project (including $20M from the federal government) will increase the price of electricity by 2.7%.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • The Town of Stratford received $500K to support the new Stratford Waterfront Gathering and Event Space. The new space is part of a waterfront development plan to help with health and wellness, increase tourism, and develop new business opportunities.

    canada.ca

  • Summerside city council has adopted a new official plan, which will allow it to access $5.8M in federal money through the Housing Accelerator Fund. The city will now allow four-unit buildings to be built across the city, to address the lack of housing.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. Real Estate Association says the Island’s housing market is in a balanced state, so lower interest rates won’t play a big role. P.E.I.’s market has about the same number of people selling homes as there are buying homes.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-10-11 to 2024-10-17

  • Prince Edward Island is setting a new standard for attracting and retaining educators. With a 50% increase in educators’ pay over three years, P.E.I. has surpassed other provinces, including Quebec. For example, the pay for an entry-level educator is $30/hr. in P.E.I. compared to $20/hr. in Quebec.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • The federal government will fund up to $6.8M over 5 years to the Organic Federation of Canada to help them partner on research into the benefits of sustainable farming practices and address challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, soil health and water quality.

    canada.ca

  • Tourism P.E.I. says its partnership with the NHL has generated nearly $32M in combined marketing value and tourism spending. The province paid $2.5M for the first year of the deal, which lists P.E.I. has the official travel destination partner of the NHL.

    cbc.ca

  • Health P.E.I. is looking to recruit two full-time blood cancer doctors, as one of its hematological oncologists is set to retire in November. Being a difficult position to recruit for, Island patients may have to travel outside the province for treatment.

    cbc.ca

  • The Association of Atlantic Universities states that international student enrolment has dropped by about 11% or 3000 people in Atlantic Canada. According to a consultant group those students would have added around $163M to the economy.

    thewave.ca

  • After opening in September 2020, Cavendish Farms research facility has grown from three greenhouses to six greenhouses. Researchers at the $12.5M facility plant 100,000 plantlets a year in order to develop the best attributes in a P.E.I. grown potato.

    cbc.ca

  • The Atlantic Economic Council’s latest research report “Shifting Gears Toward an Electric Vehicle Future.” highlights barriers to EV growth in Atlantic Canada that include higher up-front costs and limited access to charging stations. PEI has the country’s 4th highest EV adoption rate at 7.4% (2023), while N.L. ranked second last at 2.8%.

    vocm.com
• Week of 2024-10-04 to 2024-10-10

  • As mental health-related calls to police increase across all jurisdictions, P.E.I. police agencies want officers and mental health professionals to respond to calls together. Other provinces have seen success in diverting people from entering the system.

    cbc.ca

  • The fall lobster fishing season in Zone 25, in the Northumberland Strait, is deemed satisfactory by the industry even though the volume is lower due to the warming water. The price per pound is $8.75, whereas the price last year was around $7 per pound.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • P.E.I.’s new psychiatric hospital is still in the concept stage and the completion date pushed back to 2027 or early 2028. Adjustments have had to be made to scale back plans due to higher-than-expected costs. All of the bids on the project were over $200M.

    cbc.ca

  • The destruction of Valley Truss and Metal in Kensington, one of P.E.I.'s major truss manufacturers, is expected to have a substantial impact on P.E.I.’s construction industry. The other three Island truss and floor manufacturers are looking to step up.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. Shellfish Association says the government needs to get started to address the Island's MSX-infected water, which is deadly to oysters. The association wants to see Island hatcheries working to breed resistant oyster seeds to combat MSX.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. Association of Social Workers states that a shortage of social workers is leading to burnout and causing long wait times. Workers are being asked to do more and work longer. The Island has many vacancies, but no school of social work of its own.

    CBC Website

  • P.E.I.'s At Home Caregiver Benefit, which aims to keep seniors in their homes and out of long-term care, only approved 37% of Islanders who applied for the program. Some are calling to expand the eligibility criteria and increase the $5.2M budget.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-09-27 to 2024-10-03

  • Valley Truss and Metal Ltd. in Kensington was destroyed in a fire this week. Kensington’s Mayor states that he hopes the company rebuilds, which employs 22 staff, and stated that top company officials were on hand to evaluate their next steps.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The multinucleate sphere X (MSX) disease in oysters is present in other cultivation areas in Prince Edward Island, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The disease is now also confirmed in the areas surrounding the East River, Malpeque Bay, and Rustico.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • The minimum wage is increasing to $16 per hour in P.E.I. Additionally, legislative changes on the number of paid sick days are coming into effect. Some workers are now entitled to three paid sick days per year.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • New changes are in effect with the Temporary Foreign Worker program, which are aimed to shrink the program and push employers to invest more in local employees. Canadian employers will be restricted to a new hiring cap of 10% of their workforce and a 1-year limit to contracts for low-wage positions.

    cbc.ca

  • ACOA announced that it will invest $1,725,333 to support six tourism operators to undertake 10 projects to help improve and advance P.E.I.’s tourism industry. The province will also add $986,575 to go toward nine of the projects.

    canada.ca

  • Port Charlottetown has had a busy cruise season and recently had four cruise ships in at the same time. P.E.I. had 98 scheduled visits between April and October. Cruise ships help extend the tourist season, with the last ship arriving in mid-October.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s minimum wage increased by 60 cents to $16 an hour on Oct. 1. The minimum wage in Ontario also increased to $17.20 an hour this month, as did Saskatchewan to $15 and Manitoba to $15.80. B.C. has the highest provincial rate at $17.40 an hour.

    ctvnews.ca
• Week of 2024-09-20 to 2024-09-26

  • Ottawa and the province announced a $21M budget to expand and modernize the François-Buote school and the Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean in Charlottetown. The goal is to double the capacity. The project is scheduled to begin next summer.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)

  • T3 Transit has had record demand on its Summerside-Charlottetown bus route, with some passengers stating that it is hard to book a seat online. The provincewide bus service is subsidized by the P.E.I. government and T3 is looking to add another bus.

    cbc.ca

  • According to Eckler's third annual Compensation Planning Survey, the three Maritime provinces are projected to have the lowest average base salary increase in Canada for 2025. While the national average is projected to be 3.6%, N.B., N.S., and P.E.I. are expected to increase by 2.8%.

    Guardian

  • Health P.E.I. is committed to getting the intensive-care unit at Prince County Hospital in Summerside back to full capacity but needs more critical care nurses. Four internal medicine doctors have been hired, as well as five nurses so far.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s population growth rate has fallen below the national average of 3.0% but is the fastest-growing province in Atlantic Canada at 2.8%. The Island had a reduction in the number of new non-permanent residents and less interprovincial migration.

    cbc.ca

  • Walmart Canada will invest an extra $92M in pay increases to its 40,000 hourly retail and frontline associates. The retailer will also invest in in skills training and education for its associates. For the holidays more hours and workers will be added.

    globalnews.ca

  • Corn farming is increasing in P.E.I. With more than 23,500 acres dedicated to corn covered by insurance, an increasing number of farmers are investing in grain dryers. A significant portion of the harvest is sold to livestock feed manufacturers.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)
• Week of 2024-09-13 to 2024-09-19

  • Air Canada and its airline pilots have reached a new tentative agreement, which if approved will see pilots get a nearly 42% raise over four years. The head of the union says the deal offers improved pay, retirement, and work rules for its 5,200 pilots.

    theglobeandmail.com

  • A public meeting was held to discuss the future of the 45-hector Confederation Bridge fabrication yard site in Borden-Carleton. Roughly 100 people were in attendance, with many supporting the proposal to build a golf course, but no decision has been made.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government is reducing the number of international student permits issued by another 10%, allowing 437,000 permits for 2025 and 2026. The Immigration Minister has told post-secondary schools they need to adjust their recruitment practices.

    cbc.ca

  • The City of Charlottetown, the Town of Stratford and Cornwall, as well as ‘Pat and the Elephant’ will receive a combined investment of $1.2M from the federal and provincial governments. The money will go toward improving sustainable public transportation.

    canada.ca

  • According to Statistics Canada, the number of P.E.I. police officers per 100,000 population has gone from 148.3 in 2017, to 132.9 in 2023. Although the number of police officer has increased to 231 officers and 22 vacancies in 2023, the population grew by 16%.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-09-06 to 2024-09-12

  • Many businesses on the Cavendish Boardwalk and at Avonlea Village are staying open a little later this season, to capitalize on people attending P.E.I.'s Sommo Festival. The mid-September event is billed as a two-day celebration of music, food and drink.

    cbc.ca

  • Rental cars have been in high demand in Atlantic Canada this summer, despite high prices and low inventory. Car rental inventories dropped during COVID, then supply chain issues made it hard to rebuild. A lack of cars has some tourists cancelling plans.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Health P.E.I. says the current wait time on the Island for a routine MRI is more than two years. The Island has been short two MRI technologists for most of 2024, causing delays. Some islanders are paying to get MRIs done at a private clinic in Moncton.

    cbc.ca

  • The leek moth is threatening garlic and onion harvests in Prince Edward Island. The moth has been present on the island for decades, but it has caused much more damage in recent years. One possible reason for this could be the increasingly warm temperatures in the spring and summer.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • Some potato farmers in Prince Edward Island are concerned for their harvests due to the low rainfall in August

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)
• Week of 2024-08-30 to 2024-09-05

  • The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is undergoing contract talks with Canada Post, but will meet with union members next week and discuss a strike vote. CUPW’s key contract issues are job security, wages and improved working conditions.

    thewave.ca

  • Charlottetown council has given approval for a 147-unit affordable housing project to proceed on Malpeque Road. The P.E.I. Housing Corporation will own and operate the two buildings, which will be used for social housing.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will provide $6.9M to P.E.I.-based Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation to do four years of research into sustainable agriculture. A large portion of the funds will go toward researchers, including recruiting students.

    cbc.ca

  • Wild blueberry growers on P.E.I. are faced with a second year of low prices, which could cause some growers to leave the industry, already faced with higher costs. Growers are being offered 42 cents per pound this year, compared to 70 cents in 2022.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-08-23 to 2024-08-29

  • A new store called Soika, featuring Ukranian food and beverages, has opened in the Kirkwood Mews in Charlottetown. This is the second Soika store to open in the Maritimes, after another store opened this summer in Dartmouth.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released its latest study and says that the living wage in P.E.I. is $22.76 per hour, well more than P.E.I.’s minimum wage of $15.40. Part of the calculation is based on expenses such as food, shelter, and childcare.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. government is hiring 120 additional staff for the 2024-25 school year, including 66 teachers, 51 educational assistant positions and three bus drivers. The school system has had a growing enrolment and more diverse needs.

    cbc.ca

  • A P.E.I. hatchery plans to triple its production of oyster seed in the next year to meet the demand from oyster farmers who are dealing with the MSX disease. The Bideford Shellfish Hatchery, which is owned and operated by the Lennox Island Development Corporation, could produce 30 to 45 million seed annually compared to the typical 10 million.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • Since mid-August, about 30 lobster boats from Area 25 in the Northumberland Strait have been able to use striped bass as bait. It is a pilot project that was launched by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which aims to collect data to better control this species. The use of striped bass may be more cost-effective.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • A P.E.I. horse owner estimates that there are about 800 horses on the Island that do not have access to a veterinarian, due to a shortage of vets. The Atlantic Veterinary College has 71 students, but grads can get higher pay in the U.S., Ontario, and elsewhere.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal labour board has ordered more than 9,000 railway workers to return to work, shortly after CN Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City halted shipments. Both sides will begin binding arbitration to settle the contract on August 29.

    thewave.ca

  • The Charlottetown Airport is looking at another record year for passenger travel, but officials are hoping to see the return of direct flights to Halifax and southern destinations. The airport set a passenger record in 2023 and is up 6% so far in 2024.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-08-16 to 2024-08-22

  • Despite P.E.I. not having rail service since 1989, the Island is still concerned about the looming national train strike. The Island gets goods by rail through N.B. then transfer them to trucks. Farmers are concerned about propane supplies and getting product off-Island.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. customers of Maritime Electric are expected to eventually see rate hikes down the road, as the re-opening of Point Lepreau faces further maintenance delays. The shutdown is expected to cost Maritime Electric an extra $12M plus 4.55% of repair costs.

    cbc.ca

  • Two facilities in N.S. and P.E.I. are turning previously wasted poor quality wool and converting it into wool pellets. The pellets produced by N.S.’s Taproot Fibre Lab and Knit Pickers PEI can be used as fertilizer and provides a new revenue stream for wool farmers.

    cbc.ca

  • T3 Transit, the company responsible for public transit in PEI, is adding more buses to some of its routes in Charlottetown. There will now be 8 routes instead of 13. These changes will come into effect on August 27.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • P.E.I.'s tourism strategy is focused on revenue and despite tourism growth, volunteer groups and cultural organizations are struggling. In 2024 around $11M was spent on tourism marketing, $17M on parks and golf courses, and only $2M on cultural funding.

    cbc.ca

  • The Dental Association of P.E.I. says that more dentists are signing on to the federal senior’s dental program. Some clinics aren't signing on because they can’t take on new patients, citing a shortage of dentists, hygienists and dental assistants.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-08-09 to 2024-08-15

  • The federal government will invest $2M over three years to establish a Net-Zero Communities Accelerator (NCA) program in Atlantic Canada. Charlottetown and the town of Three Rivers have signed up to develop local green energy projects.

    canada.ca

  • PEI has become the first province in Canada to recognize family medicine as a standalone specialty after the provincial government signed a new five-year agreement. Under the agreement, PEI family physicians will now rank among the top three highest-paid across Canadian provinces.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)

  • The PEI Government announced a new five-year agreement with doctors, which represents a $188.3M investment in physician services. The funding will help to improve recruitment and retention in family medicine.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)

  • The Canadian airline industry has been reducing flights particularly to small and medium-sized areas. While average passenger capacity at Canada’s 30 biggest airports is 98% of 2019 levels, COVID saw a drop in flight school enrolment and a shortage of pilots.

    globalnews.ca

  • The P.E.I. government is in the process of making regulatory changes to allow registered nurses (RNs) with advanced certification to prescribe, dispense and administer certain drugs. The move is being made to help provide better access to health care.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has found a presumptive positive test result for MSX on P.E.I.'s North Shore. This is the fifth P.E.I. waterway to test positive for the oyster parasite. Ottawa is spending up to $1M over to years to do MSX research.

    cbc.ca

  • Postmedia has been given court approval to buy SaltWire, Atlantic Canada's largest newspaper chain, for $1M. The company has said that there will be job cuts among SaltWire’s 363 employees and 800 contractors, but no specific details have been provided.

    globalnews.ca
• Week of 2024-08-02 to 2024-08-08

  • The Port of Charlottetown had over 16,500 cruise visitors in July 2024, a 62% increase over the previous record set in 2019. Tourism P.E.I. states that cruise ship passengers spend an estimated $138 per day while in P.E.I. and 60% will return for a vacation.

    cbc.ca

  • Maritime farmers now have a beef cattle market insurance program, which will give cattle producers in the province more financial stability. The program will help manage the risk amid fluctuating market prices for beef.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. government has a new five-year agreement that covers how doctors are treated and compensated. The province will invest $188.3M in physician services, which includes increased compensation, reduced admin duties, and an incentive program.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. announced that its Steps to Success training program will be extended to attract workers to its daycare centres. The initiative offers training to its candidates and an allowance for travel and related expenses.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • The P.E.I. government announced a scholarship program to facilitate the recruitment of internationally educated nurses. The program provides a reimbursement of up to $10,000.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • The lobster fishing season began in Area 25, which corresponds to the western part of the Northumberland Strait. A total of 722 fishermen from three provinces (N.B., P.E.I. and N.S.) took to the seas on Wednesday morning.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • Island Structural Systems Inc. (ISSI) will receive a $2M repayable contribution from ACOA, to support the company to expand and establish an automated truss manufacturing facility. ISSI’s new 25,000 square foot facility will help to increase productivity.

    canada.ca

  • The P.E.I. government will spend $1.5M to install generators at 45 gas stations across the province, to ensure that fuel is available during power outages, with first responders getting first priority. The generators are expected to be installed and running by the fall.

    cbc.ca

  • Two levels of government will spend $1.3M over five years to fund the P.E.I. Agriculture Resiliency Program, which will fund research on climate change, infrastructure resiliency, and farmer’s health. Farming is P.E.I.’s biggest industry and key to the economy.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-07-26 to 2024-08-01

  • P.E.I. has hired 32 new physicians in the first six months of 2024, compared to 24 physicians hired in all of 2023. Of the 32 new hires, 11 are family physicians, and most are specialists. In 2024 there have also been 12 doctors who've stopped practising.

    cbc.ca

  • Five Star Shellfish, a major oyster processing plant in Western P.E.I., says that the MSX parasite has already cost the company around $100K. The company has lost sales as a result and has caused uncertainty for growers, harvesters and processors

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s Tourism Industry Association says despite good traffic to the Island, spending appears to be down. The P.E.I. government reports that air, bridge and ferry traffic have all increased from last year, but spending appears to be a bit softer.

    cbc.ca

  • Postmedia has agreed to purchase SaltWire, Atlantic Canada's largest newspaper chain, and hopes to close the deal by August 26. Saltwire has over 20 papers including Halifax’s Chronicle Herald, The Guardian in Charlottetown, and The Telegram in St. John's.

    cbc.ca

  • Health P.E.I. has opened one-third of the 54 new long-term care beds as part of its $25M deal and is proposing an additional 175 beds in privately run homes over the next two years. The province is also trying to raise the wages of private-facility workers.

    cbc.ca

  • The MSX disease in oysters from P.E.I. was discovered in Bedeque Bay in mid-July. Since then, the CFIA has confirmed that the disease is present in three other areas: Boughton, New London, and Lennox Island to the Black Banks. Test results are pending.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)

  • P.E.I. signed contracts with 32 new physicians between January 1 and June 30, 2024. Of these physicians, 15 have already begun to practise, 13 will begin in the second half of 2024, 3 will begin in 2025, and 1 in 2026.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)

  • A new private ophthalmology clinic opened in Charlottetown. In September, an orthoptists practice will open within the clinic. In a few months, a surgical division will open there as well. The physicians hope to perform between 2,500 and 3,000 operations there in the first year.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)

  • Nova Scotia has more spots for students at the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island. There are now 24 spots compared to 16 before. The province is investing $50.8M over five years.

    Radio-Canada Atlantique (available in French only)
• Week of 2024-07-19 to 2024-07-25

  • A developer wants to add additional cottages, as well as build a 14-room hotel, restaurant, and Nordic spa to the property it bought in Chelton in 2023. Cottage Dream Vacations fixed up the five cottages last winter and would like to operate year-round.

    cbc.ca

  • A tentative agreement has been reached between the P.E.I Government and its physicians. The five-year Physician Services Agreement aims to support physician recruitment and retention efforts. Members will vote later this month to ratify the deal.

    princeedwardisland.ca

  • P.E.I.’s solar energy production has more than doubled since two large-scale solar farms became fully online in 2024. With Summerside’s SunBank and Slemon Park, solar energy has jumped from about 1,475 MWh a month in 2023 to more than 6,000 in April.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has placed more P.E.I. oyster licences under quarantine, as more sites are presumed to be positive for the parasite – MSX. There are concerns about the future impact on the industry and financial help could be provided.

    cbc.ca

  • Charlottetown-based pharmaceutical developer and manufacturer BioVectra Inc. is being sold to Agilent Technologies of California for $1.25B. The sale is not expected to impact local staff. BioVectra employs 450 people in P.E.I. and 200 in N.S.

    cbc.ca

  • Amar Seafood in Victoria has been given approval to expand by the local council. The company wants to triple its workforce to 32 staff and expand its wolffish and halibut farm. An environmental assessment is required before a development permit is issued.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-07-12 to 2024-07-18

  • Funding has been secured to build a new landing pad and wharf in Keir Shore, so that Malpeque Bay mussel boats can have a safer option. Various fishing boats have run aground in Malpeque Harbour over the past 19 years, despite regular dredging.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.'s oyster industry are hoping that a parasite found in the oysters in Bedeque Bay hasn’t spread. The parasite is not harmful to humans, but can hinder growth and increase oyster mortality. P.E.I. is the largest oyster producer in Atlantic Canada.

    cbc.ca

  • Future Seafoods in Fernwood is concerned that it may have to shut down its plant or lay-off employees, as a result of Bedeque Bay being closed to shellfish harvesting. Staff have been preparing oysters from other areas, which are being tested for a parasite.

    cbc.ca

  • After a year of suspending the training program for bilingual care attendants, Collège de l’Île announced that the program will be back in September. The school has received 10 to 15 registrations. As a result, the president at the Collège wants to encourage students from the Island or other parts of Canada and let them know that they can obtain $5,000 bursaries to pay for half of the course.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)
• Week of 2024-07-05 to 2024-07-11

  • PEI health care incentive will provide up to $10 000 for allied health professionals in return of a service commitment of 1,950 working hours or a one full-time year equivalent.

    ctvnews.ca

  • PEI Public Library Service is extending operating hours at French service libraries located in Abram-Village, Charlottetown and Summerside by adding more hours to the staff and additional days. The goal is to allow the growing Acadian and Francophone community to have better access to the resources in French.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The Mi’kmaq Nation Government of Prince Edward Island and the Government of Canada reached an agreement to create the 48th national park in Canada. The park, named Pituamkek, will be composed of a chain of barrier islands on the northwestern shore of P.E.I. This project is the first of ten new national park reserves that the Government of Canada has committed to creating by 2026.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)

  • Summerside Shipyard property, located in Summerside’s waterfront, gets $700K makeover from a local developer. The investment aims to become a year-round restaurant and events space.

    cbc.ca

  • The second edition of the "Opportunités ÎPÉ” forum took place on June 26 in Charlottetown to support Bachelor of Education students from the University of Prince Edward Island. There were 15 exhibitors at the event allowing Francophone students to network in hopes of retaining these future teachers in the province.

    La voix acadienne (available in French only)

  • A new report released by the P.E.I. government shows that P.E.I. had the fastest growing economy among provinces in 2023 and also had a record-high employment average of 89,000. Farms cash receipts ($815M) and international exports ($2.3B) were also records.

    ctvnews.ca
• Week of 2024-06-28 to 2024-07-04

  • The Canadian military has new stricter rules on personal grooming, after relaxing the rules almost two years ago. The changes come after the military heard that many members disagreed with the relaxed rules. Hair and beards must be kept neat and tidy.

    cbc.ca

  • WestJet and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association union representing about 680 mechanics have reached a new tentative agreement, ending the recent strike. The 5-year agreement includes an immediate 15.5% wage increase, followed by a pay increase of 3.25% in year 2 and 2.5%/year in years 3-5.

    cbc.ca

  • ACOA will invest $1.5M in 5 Western P.E.I. based businesses to help them compete and reach new markets. Royal Star Foods will get $621K, Malpeque Bay Oyster Farm ($291K), Sweet Oyster Company ($97.5K), Livingston Steel ($351K) and $152K for R&M Welding.

    canada.ca
• Week of 2024-06-21 to 2024-06-27

  • The Canadian Federation of Independent Business states that about 80% of Atlantic businesses are not expecting to see revenue growth during the summer tourism season. Issues include increased costs and weak demand in the hospitality and retail sector.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The Canadian health-care sector is increasingly using the temporary foreign worker program to fill staffing shortages. The largest share of that growth was for nurses aides and orderlies, nurses, and family doctors. There were 2,514 approvals in 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. has signed a $94.5M Canada Community Building Fund deal with Ottawa for housing infrastructure, such as street building, wastewater treatment, and transit lines. P.E.I. has been experiencing a housing crunch since 2019.

    cbc.ca

  • Summerside's Prince County Hospital has hired two internal medicine physicians, as well as additional respiratory therapists and nurses, to help stabilize care at the facility. More staff is still required to restore the hospital’s ICU.

    cbc.ca

  • Talks are still underway to keep Saltwire operating, after the company applied for bankruptcy protection in March. One unnamed buyer is being considered. Some of Saltwire’s affiliated companies will be shut down or sold, while Door Direct will continue.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-06-14 to 2024-06-20

  • A new eight-storey, 85-unit apartment building is being proposed for Great George Street in downtown Charlottetown. The building if approved would be on the same block as the Holman Grand Hotel and would have commercial space on the ground floor.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. lobster fishermen just have a few weeks left in the spring lobster season, but are frustrated by low prices, which are the same as 18 years ago. Fishers are getting up to $7 a pound, while the cost of fuel and bait has increased substantially.

    cbc.ca

  • The City of Summerside is in the early stages of a 10-year project to revitalize the city and make it more attractive. The first priority is the downtown waterfront, which has seen businesses move out or close or be replaced by short-term businesses.

    cbc.ca

  • Statistics Canada reports that prices for P.E.I. farmland increased by 83% from 2018 to 2023, the biggest increase in the country. P.E.I. farmers paid $6,432 per acre in 2023, which is 30% higher than the national average and makes it hard for farms to grow.

    cbc.ca

  • Details have been released on the tentative deal for Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers, which includes a 15.7% wage increase over four years, retroactive to June 2022. The agreement also has improved provisions for shift scheduling.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2024-06-07 to 2024-06-13

  • After consulting with Victoria residents, Amar Seafood P.E.I. has reduced its proposed expansion of its fish farm operation for now. The company originally wanted to triple the operation to 40 acres but has since reduced the rezoning request to 15 acres.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers have reached a tentative agreement with the federal government. The more than 9,000 workers will receive wage enhancements and other benefits. Further details will be released this week.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The P.E.I. Nurses' Union has struck a deal with Health P.E.I., which will see some health-care workers receiving time-and-a-half or double-pay for critical shifts. It is hoped it will be an incentive for workers to take shifts, so others can take vacation.

    cbc.ca

  • Phase two of repairs are underway at the Hermanville Wind Farm, which will see repairs and upgrades that are expected to be completed by the end of August 2024.The wind farm has generated $21.8M in electricity, despite damage from high winds in 2023.

    princeedwardisland.ca

  • The Inn at Bay Fortune received $220K through the Tourism Growth Program (TGP), which will support modernizing its facilities as well the creation of a 3,300 ft2 Farmhouse Event Space. The Inn wants to market itself as a top culinary destination resort.

    canada.ca

  • After a 30-year ban in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, redfish fishing is permitted this season. The season begins on June 15 with a total allowable catch of 60,000 tonnes. Around 15% of the quota is reserved for ships under 20m long, and 60% has been allocated to ships over 30.5m long.

    L'Acadie Nouvelle (capacadie.com) (available in French only)
• Week of 2024-05-31 to 2024-06-06

  • Amar Seafood P.E.I. in Victoria states that its fish farm needs to expand to be financially successful. The company hatches and grows juvenile wolffish and halibut and is proposing to build a 70,000-square-foot grow-out centre and an interpretive centre.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. oyster growers state that if their Fiona compensation claims aren’t processed soon, they may have to declare bankruptcy. KBM Oysters, off P.E.I.'s North Shore, had half of its operation wiped out and suffered damaged to its floating workstation.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch is looking to hire 50 substitute bus drivers for this coming school year. The branch currently has 261 permanent bus drivers, with many of its permanent drivers in recent years being former substitute drivers.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. has a shortage of psychiatrists, with wait times as long as nine months for psychiatric care. Health P.E.I. currently has 16 full-time psychiatrists and 10 vacancies, but as P.E.I. grows it’s forecasted that 36 psychiatrists will be needed in 10 years.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-05-24 to 2024-05-30

  • P.E.I. dairy farmers are being advised to watch for any sick or dead birds in their area as a precaution for avian flu. The H5N1 virus has only been detected in U.S. dairy cattle, which can result in decreased milk production, loss of appetite and fever.

    cbc.ca

  • Health P.E.I. has announced that a new outpatient cataract surgery clinic will open this fall. The clinic will be funded by the province and is expected to do 2,000 procedures in its first year and 4,000 in the following year, and reduce wait times.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government has passed a bill that will ban federal companies from using replacement workers during a strike. There are over a million federally regulated workers employed with ports, airports, railways, telecoms, banks and Crown corporations.

    globalnews.ca

  • Island EMS has hired 17 new paramedics to staff P.E.I.’s ambulance service and are always looking for more staff, on top of the 160 paramedics it now employs. Most of the new staff are graduates from Holland College's primary care paramedicine program.

    cbc.ca

  • Dry weather this spring has been good for P.E.I. farmers planting potatoes, but rain will be needed soon for those that farm small grains like cereals, soybeans and corn. Nearly 80% of the Island's 2024 potato crop have already been planted.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers have voted 96% in favour of strike action, as it prepares to secure a new contract. Issues include wages comparable to other Canadian law enforcement, flexible work options, retirement benefits and hours of work.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Despite some issues with its communication and recruitment process, Health P.E.I. has made nearly 50 job offers to new nursing graduates, with nearly half being for full-time positions. Full-time nursing offers include a $13-$16K recruitment bonus as well.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. and federal governments will provide $17M in funding to build a new Abegweit First Nation recreation centre in Scotchfort. The net-zero facility will create new jobs and 10% of the funding will support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis projects.

    canada.ca
• Week of 2024-05-17 to 2024-05-23

  • Summerside’s mayor is concerned that reducing the number of immigrants working in food service and retail will hurt the city. The retail and wholesale and hospitality industries together account for 18% of P.E.I.’s workforce and employ about 17,000 workers.

    cbc.ca

  • A Charlottetown company, Locarius, is now providing a local ticketing platform to many clients across P.E.I. and Atlantic Canada. Locarius only charges about 2.79% fee on each ticket's cost, compared to about 30% for Ticketmaster.

    cbc.ca

  • A recent report by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada shows that Alberta produced 21.8% of Canadian potatoes in 2022, while P.E.I. produced 21.6%, and Manitoba was at 21.3%. The P.E.I. Potato Board says the Island’s potato production is near capacity.

    cbc.ca

  • Some P.E.I. snow crab harvesters are using a free ropeless gear lending program that will allow harvesters to continue fishing on the edge of a closed area due to a right whale sighting. The program is operated by the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

    cbc.ca

  • The Island’s aquaculture industry is facing hard times, as only 43 claims out of 116 financial relief claims have been approved, two years after suffering losses from Fiona. Some growers have had to pay out of pocket for replacement gear, while others have held off on hiring.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-05-10 to 2024-05-16

  • Once P.E.I. creates its own medical school, which is expected to create 20 seats, the four seats at Memorial University and possibly the six seats at Dalhousie will no longer be available to Island medical students. The end result will be a gain of 10 seats.

    cbc.ca

  • Immigrants who have primarily worked in sales and service are being told by the province to seek training in high-demand sectors, to improve their chances for work permit extensions. Priority jobs include nurse aides, transport truck drivers, and cleaners.

    cbc.ca

  • Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation's definition of affordable housing is considered to be 30% of your gross monthly income or $1500 a month if your annual income is $60K. The 2021 census says that the average household income on P.E.I. is $60K.

    cbc.ca

  • The P.E.I. chapter of College of Family Physicians held a conference in Charlottetown to talk about research and ways to improve. Issues include a lack of resources, such as allied health professionals, but the use of medical homes has resulted in more collaboration.

    cbc.ca

  • A report released by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) states that Canada needs more and better training for truck drivers. Canada has Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT), but it isn’t implemented across all provinces and minimum training can vary.

    cbc.ca

  • The Kings Playhouse in Georgetown will reduce its staff and hours to focus more on events. A full program of theatrical performances will continue, but only two Employment Development Agency employees will be hired instead of four.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-05-03 to 2024-05-09

  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp (CMHC) reports that in the first three months of 2024, P.E.I. and N.S. had three times the number of apartment starts compared to N.B. Back in September, both P.E.I. and N.S. eliminated sales tax on new rental construction.

    cbc.ca

  • Midwives have joined the list of health-care providers that are in short supply on P.E.I., with 49 parents-to-be on the waitlist. It is estimated that there are 100 vacant midwifery positions in Canada and there are no Maritime schools that offer the program.

    cbc.ca

  • According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, P.E.I. shellfish aquaculture accounts for 60% of national production. In 2021, P.E.I. oyster farming was valued at $21.3M and mussels at $30M, compared to N.S. which were valued at $4.7M and $1.2M.

    cbc.ca

  • WestJet and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association have reached a tentative collective agreement. The union represents around 670 aircraft maintenance engineers and skilled trade groups, who will need to ratify the deal with the airline.

    citynews.ca

  • The P.E.I. government wants a company to set up a modular home fabrication plant on the Island to help address its housing crisis. The facility could qualify for incentives or be provided a site, but would have to mainly serve the P.E.I. market for 5 years.

    cbc.ca

  • Some P.E.I. foreign workers are concerned with changes to the province's immigration strategy that will reduce the number of permanent residency nominees by 25% in 2024. P.E.I. is also focused more on retaining health care, child care and construction workers.

    cbc.ca

  • East Coast artists say it’s a difficult time to make money in music. Artists are seeing rising expenses, while people have less disposable income to support developing artists. Some tour, sell CDs, or get their music in movies, TV and games to earn money.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada has announced over $9.8M in funding to Springboard Atlantic. Made up of 19 Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institutions, the group brings researchers and industry together to commercialize ideas in key sectors like advanced manufacturing, ocean sustainability and clean energy.

    canada.ca
• Week of 2024-04-26 to 2024-05-02

  • Coverage began May 1 for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for seniors 70 years and older, which will eventually cover about 25% of Canadian residents without private dental plans. Until July, only dentists that have signed up can provide services.

    cbc.ca

  • Ottawa will cap work hours at 24 hours a week this September, for international students who work while studying. The prior 20-hour cap had been temporarily waived, but there were concerns that study permits could be used as unofficial work visas.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada's biofuel industry is welcoming $1.27B in proposed federal funding to help build new biofuel facilities, better compete with U.S. subsidies and reduce dependence on U.S. imports. There is currently $10B worth of operational or biofuel facilities being built in Canada.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I. cattle farmers are showing interest in expanding their beef farms with the current high prices that are being offered, but face a number of barriers. The supply of calves is down in Canada, while calf prices are high and finding land to buy is hard.

    cbc.ca

  • Non-binding offers were made to buy all or part of SaltWire Network Inc., including some who want to keep the business running. The media companies employ about 800 independent contractors and 390 staff. Binding offers will be required by May 24.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-04-19 to 2024-04-25

  • P.E.I. had 394 housing starts in the first three months of 2024, the best first quarter since 1979. Winter months are typically a slow time for housing starts, but apartment starts also set a record with 287 units started.

    cbc.ca

  • Southeastern P.E.I. lobster fishermen are about to start their season earlier than usual to avoid catching lobsters in their reproductive stage. The lobster marketing board expects to see higher prices this year, as catches in Maine and N.S. are down.

    cbc.ca

  • A group of construction stakeholders will travel to England and Ireland in order to recruit skilled tradespeople. P.E.I.’s Construction Association says that the island has an immediate need for 1,000 workers in order to keep up with the housing demand.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s tourism industry has a new five-year strategy that involves stretching the season past the summer, more air access, addressing workforce challenges, and initiatives with sports and leisure, and culinary and wellness.

    cbc.ca

  • The Summerside and Charlottetown chambers of commerce say that the P.E.I. government’s plan to reduce its nominees for permanent residency by 25%, has already resulted in foreign workers leaving and will hurt the service and retail sectors.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.'s French language school board is faced with a shortage of substitute bus drivers. They currently have 34 full-time drivers and 12 to 15 substitutes, but were unable to get a substitute for one of the buses last week.

    Cape Breton Post

  • An arbitration decision has awarded unionized RCMP officers an 8% salary increase over two years. The increase will apply to 20,000 RCMP members ranging from constable to staff sergeant major. A constable could earn up to $106,576 as of April 2022.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal budget will provide $71.9M in funding to create Canada's 11th national park reserve at Pituamkek, a chain of islands in northwestern P.E.I. The Lennox Island chief says they will welcome visitors and create employment opportunities.

    cbc.ca

  • The Dental Association of P.E.I. says recent changes to the federal government's dental program will make it more likely that P.E.I. dentists will use it. A big change is that dentists will not have to sign up and will be able to just submit for payments.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-04-12 to 2024-04-18

  • P.E.I. farmers are unsure how the federal tax changes or the new carbon rebate for small businesses will affect them, but like that the size of interest-free government planting loans has more than doubled. These loans are paid off when the crops are sold.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Although the federal government announced that provinces will get more money for housing, the Construction Association of P.E.I. is concerned that the budget didn’t address the shortage of skilled trades or support for training.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s fisheries minister is exploring insurance options for the aquaculture industry, which sustained about $70M in damages after post-tropical storm Fiona in 2022. The hope is to get help from the federal government similar to the agriculture sector.

    cbc.ca

  • Health P.E.I. has recruited over 100 new nurses from overseas to work on the Island. Eleven are currently working, while 96 have signed conditional contracts. There is a need for about 200 nurses by mid-2025 to address retirements and turnover.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.'s justice minister has cancelled the vendor licence for Maritime Home Services, disallowing the company from selling water treatment systems on P.E.I. Customers Residents complained of high-pressure tactics and misleading statements.

    cbc.ca

  • The CUPE union that represents 1,000 P.E.I. health-support workers has stopped bargaining with the P.E.I. government and wants to go to conciliation. The province had offered a wage increase of 10.5% over three years, which the union says is not enough.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-04-05 to 2024-04-11

  • The P.E.I. government has announced that it has signed 23 new doctors this year, compared to 24 that were hired in 2024 and will spend an additional $25M to open 54 new private long-term care beds. Critics argue that P.E.I.’s doctor waitlist keeps growing.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Fishermen in Atlantic Canada will vote this spring on whether to match the U.S. in increasing the minimum size limit of lobster they catch. Maine will increase its size limit to 84mm in 2025, then 86mm in 2027. Lobsters below that limit cannot be sold in the U.S.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s Tourism Industry Association is hoping for another strong tourism season with 96 cruise ships scheduled to arrive in Charlottetown this year. The Island will host four big fish conventions, as well as festivals and events from the summer into the fall.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) reports that the average home price on P.E.I. has dropped by 8.8% over the past two years. The average residential home price as of last month was $376,429. New listings were also up almost 30% compared to last year.

    cbc.ca

  • Although 1.6 million seniors have signed up for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which is set to provide coverage next month, sign-up by dentists appears to be slow. Dentists state they are concerned with the paperwork required and lack of details.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.'s paramedics have a new regulatory body that oversees paramedics – the P.E.I. College of Paramedicine. The college will deal with public and internal complaints, and issue credentials to practice. Self-regulation will allow EMTs to expand their role.

    cbc.ca

  • Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers will hold a strike vote next week after contract talks stalled last September. The 9,000 members have been without a contract for two years and issues include wages, job security, and access to telework.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2024-03-29 to 2024-04-04

  • APM group’s proposed Port House Development apartment building is nearing final approval after three years of delays. Construction of the 158-unit apartment building in downtown Charlottetown is hoped to begin in the fall at a estimated cost of $35M.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government will commit $6B in new funding for the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. Provinces will be able to access the money if certain conditions are met such as expanding infrastructure and allowing more multi-unit buildings and homes.

    cbc.ca

  • All four Atlantic Canadian provinces increased their minimum wage hourly rate on April 1. Newfoundland and Labrador now has the highest minimum wage at $15.60, followed by P.E.I. at $15.40, N.B. at $15.30, and N.S. at $15.20.

    globalnews.ca

  • A biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada says the herring stock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is not improving due to warmer water temperatures. Herring is used as bait by lobster fisherman on P.E.I. and there has been a moratorium on herring since 2022.

    cbc.ca

  • Charlottetown's city council approved about $168M in spending for its capital and operational budgets. The money will go toward various infrastructure and public works projects, as well as hiring five new police officers and two new fire department supervisors.

    cbc.ca

  • Ottawa announced over a $1B in early childhood education (ECE) initiatives as part of its 2024 budget. It will expand loans and grants for public and non-profit child-care providers to expand or renovate, train more ECEs, and increase student loan forgiveness.

    thewave.ca
• Week of 2024-03-22 to 2024-03-28

  • Nearly 90% of the dentists surveyed by the Dental Association of P.E.I. say that they won’t sign up for the Canadian Dental Care Program. Dentists are concerned that many people believe the dental services will be free, when that will not often be the case.

    cbc.ca

  • O'Leary and Wellington will receive $1M in funding from the Housing Accelerator Fund, which will help build 27 new housing units in the two communities over the next three years. Part of the goal of the fund is to speed up construction and reduce red tape.

    cbc.ca

  • Island workers will being entitled to up to 3 days of paid sick leave a year, when the P.E.I. sick-day legislation takes effect on Oct. 1. In order to get the three full paid days, a worker would have to be employed for 36 months with the same employer.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association wants to recruit and train more foreign-trained veterinarians, as well as establish a testing centre for internationally educated vets. The industry is struggling with labour shortages and mental health issues.

    charlottefm.ca

  • The federal government announced it will invest $4M in 13 different businesses around central P.E.I. in order to improve and grow their operations. Funds will be used to help explore new markets, for facility upgrades, automation, and acquire new equipment.

    canada.ca

  • The national minimum wage will increase from $16.65 up to $17.30 an hour on April 1, a 3.9% cost of living increase. This applies to all federally regulated businesses and will affect about 30,000 employees nationwide.

    charlottefm.ca

  • Some P.E.I. employers are concerned about Ottawa’s plan to reduce the proportion of temporary residents down to 5% across Canada. Retail trade, restaurants, hotels, seafood processors and others depend on temporary foreign workers to fill openings.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-03-15 to 2024-03-21

  • P.E.I.'s lobster exports in 2023 was $265M, which is down from 2022 levels ($310M) and 2021 when exports values for lobsters exceeded $400M. According to Industry Canada, frozen lobster accounts for the largest portion of products exported by P.E.I.

    cbc.ca

  • The RCMP's experienced officer program has opened on P.E.I. to help address the Island’s high vacancy rate of RCMP positions at 16%. The program allows police with a minimum of two years' experience in other forces to apply to the RCMP.

    cbc.ca

  • The Rodd Charlottetown on Kent Street in Charlottetown is undergoing more than $10M in renovations. The nearly 100-year-old property will update all of the hotel's 115 rooms, as well as fix structural issues and replace the outside bricks.

    cbc.ca

  • The Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I. job fair was held at the Delta Hotel in Charlottetown, which saw more than 1,500 job seekers looking for work. Forty-six tourism businesses were on hand looking for servers, tour guides, hotel clerks and more.

    cbc.ca

  • Three Rivers is getting $3.4M through the Housing Accelerator Fund to help fast-track the building of 116 housing units over the next three years. The money will allow the town to expand its water and sewer system to accommodate new housing.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s Health Minister is considering approving a proposal from a group of ophthalmologists and optometrists who want to open a private eye clinic in Charlottetown. P.E.I. has about 2,500 people on a waitlist for cataract surgery.

    cbc.ca

  • A new report by the recruitment firm Hays says 71% of Canadian workers want to leave their job and find a better opportunity this year. The Hays report states that nearly half are unmotivated to work, and are dissatisfied in their role, pay and benefits.

    ctvnews.ca
• Week of 2024-03-08 to 2024-03-14

  • The federal government will invest over $1.5M to support eight green development projects in Eastern P.E.I., with five also getting $900K from the province. Montague’s AKA Energy Systems and Abegweit First Nation were among those getting support.

    canada.ca

  • The P.E.I. government is offering low-interest loans to private long-term care providers to add hundreds of additional beds, in a bid to address the immediate needs for long-term care. About one in seven hospital beds has a long-term care patient in it.

    cbc.ca

  • The use of travel nurses on P.E.I. has been growing in recent years, with $1.34M spent last year and another $8.77M forecasted for 2023-24. The cost of a travel nurse is about $120 per hour and can create issues with regular staff, who are paid less.

    cbc.ca

  • The Confederation Centre in Charlottetown will gets $47M in funding to create the National Cultural Leadership Institute. Abbott Brown Architects will do the design work for the project, which is forecasted to cost $65M and be completed in spring 2026.

    cbc.ca

  • P.E.I.’s Canadian Home Builders' Association says it needs more time to implement the National Building Code updates that will come into effect on March 31, 2024. The association welcomes the changes, but wants to analyze the new code and its impact.

    cbc.ca

  • The trucking industry in Atlantic Canada wants the government to do more about companies that employ drivers as independent contractors. This practice allows companies to make more money because the drivers don’t get benefits like sick days or overtime.

    cbc.ca

  • SaltWire Network Inc., the owner of 23 Atlantic Canada newspapers, has filed for creditor protection with $94M in debt. The company has 14 weekly papers, as well as the Chronicle Herald and Cape Breton Post in N.S., the Telegram in N.L., and the Guardian in P.E.I.

    cbc.ca